We are never too young to begin our financial education. Kids begin engaging with currency from the day they begin to talk and go to the store with their caretakers. From trading candies and toys with neighborhood kids to understanding the basic concepts of money management and saving, there are so many simple skills kids can learn so they are prepared to engage with the transactional world.
There are a variety of kid-friendly financial resources available, and here are 34 of our favorites! Pick up and few and sew the seeds of saving in your little ones.
1. If You Made a Million
David M. Schwartz and Marvelosissimo the Mathematical Magician are here to teach your kids their first money lesson in this charming personal finance book. Its aim is to educate and inspire young go-getters to make smart decisions with their money.
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2. One Cent, Two Cents, Old Cent, New Cent: All About Money
Cat in the Hat's learning library never fails to entertain and educate with Bonnie Worth sharing her witty wisdom regarding the fascinating history of money. From copper coins to dollar bills and everything in between, read the rhymes together and get money savvy!
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3. Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday
An important lesson about how money doesn't last by Judith Viorst. Little Alexander falls on some tough times when he goes from rich to poor after receiving a dollar one weekend and spending it little by little until it's all gone!
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4. Bunny Money (Max and Ruby)
Max and Ruby are your personal budget trackers in this adorable tale by Rosemary Wells telling how they hope to buy their grandmother the perfect birthday gift. The simple story incorporates basic math concepts to start readers off on their money education journey.
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5. M is for Money
In a world where the subject of money and finances can feel taboo, this kid-friendly story changes the narrative to encourage kids to ask all their curious money questions!
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6. Money Ninja: A Children's Book About Saving, Investing, and Donating
Money Ninja presents the basics of money in a funny and super simple way that kids can get on board. From jokes regarding instant gratification to beginning money management skills, there are valuable lessons hidden in this comedic picture book.
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7. Something Special for Me
In this beloved story of giving and the value of sharing by Vera B. Williams, it will be young Rosa's birthday soon. Her mother and grandmother have been saving their change in a jar to buy Rosa a birthday present. But when Rosa realizes how long it takes to save money, she wants to make sure her gift will bring joy to all of them!
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8. How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000: Earn! Save! Invest!
Here is your child's ultimate guide to finances, how to earn them, save them, and invest them! With plenty of relatable examples and lessons on saving with fun illustrations, your young money monster will be ready to venture out and make some doe!
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9. Make Your Own Money
Danny Dollar, the “King of Cha-Ching,” is here to lay down your kids' educational foundation through clever business sense, ideas for using and making an allowance, and the basics of saving.
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10. Follow the Money
Loreen Leedy presents money for kids from a whole new perspective, a newly-minted quarter coin! Readers follow George the quarter as he goes all around town being spent, lost, washed, found, and finally delivered to the bank. An engaging beginner lesson on economics.
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11. Money Madness
An important part of teaching kids about money is understanding the purpose and function behind money, from its beginning until the current day. This financial literacy book starts readers off with a general overview of economics and how we have evolved in our use of currency over time.
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12. A Dollar for Penny
Selling lemonade for a penny can really add up! An adorable story introducing money goals, entrepreneur ideas, and small-business concepts in a way children can understand and try on their own!
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13. Meko & The Money Tree
Even though we know money comes from paper that is made from trees, we also know the common phrase, "money doesn't grow on trees". The idea behind Meko & The Money Tree is to inspire kids to realize they are their own money tree, and they can use their brains and skills to make and save money!
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14. The Penny Pot
With kids, it's best to start small and work up. This introduction to money and math, a kid-friendly story covers all the coins and how they can combine together and add up.
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15. Madison's 1st Dollar: A Coloring Book About Money
This interactive coloring book has money activities parents can use to facilitate an educational foundation for their children. Each page has rhymes regarding Madison's choices for what to do with her money; when to save and when to spend, accompanied by coloring pages and cut-out money in the back!
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16. I Got Bank!: What My Granddad Taught Me About Money
You're never too young to begin saving, and this informative book breaks down complex ideas regarding opening up a bank account in a way kids can understand. From the perspective of two boys living in the city, they show us how sowing the seeds of saving can blossom into a bright future!
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17. Personal Finance Through Everyday Stories From Around the World
Your kids' first lesson in saving starts now! This cute money management guide gives examples and accounts about money education from all over the world. Follow along with your kids as they learn about the basics of saving, investing, and earning in various applicable ways.
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18. Little Critter: Just Saving My Money
This classic series will teach your little critters the basics of money management through a simple story of a boy wanting to buy himself a skateboard. This lesson in saving will help them realize the value of money and the things it can buy.
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19. Earn It! (A Moneybunny Book)
Now here is the first in a 4-book series by Cinders McLeod about business sense broken down into small bite-sized pieces. Each book covers one important concept of money management for your kids to get familiar with and begin trying on their own. From earning to saving to giving, and spending.
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20. The Berenstain Bears' Dollars and Sense
Learn how money matters with one of childhood's favorite bear families, in this cute story about risk, saving and spending money.
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21. A Bike Like Sergio's
Maribeth Boelts gives us a relatable story about the power of money and also the ethics behind missing money. When Ruben sees a dollar fall from someone's pocket he picks it up, but when he gets home he realizes it's actually $100! Does he use this money to buy his dream bicycle, or is that unethical?
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22. The Everything Kids' Money Book: Earn It, Save It, and Watch It Grow!
With so many books about money available, here is one designed to be your kid's guide to all things in the financial literacy field. From how to use a credit card, to lessons on saving with fun illustrations, this educational children's book is the kid-friendly financial resource you've been looking for.
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23. Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest and Grow Money
Looking to give your kids a solid foundation in the variety of money management options they have as they grow up? Here is an introduction to money and all the ways they can invest, save, and plan for their futures in a smart and savvy way!
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24. Make Your Kid A Money Genius
The concept of money can be taught to kids as young as 3 years old and continues to play a role in their lives just changing as they grow and gain more funds. What are the best strategies and methods for earning, saving, and spending money? Learn what works best for your kids here!
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25. What are Stocks? Understanding the Stock Market
A beginner's guide to the stock market. This concept of money can seem complicated for young minds to understand, but the basics are broken down and explained in this money book.
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26. Mansa's little Reminders: Scratching the Surface of Financial Literacy
A cute story with an important message about financial inequality and resource distribution put in a kid-friendly way to teach readers the basics of financial literacy. Mansa is Mark's little squirrel friend who helps guide Mark in the simple ways he can start saving money to achieve his big dreams.
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27. Bitcoin Money: A Tale of Bitville Discovering Good Money
Bitcoin may seem like a complex idea to parents, but this relatable story brings this modern currency to light in a way kids can understand and use if they wish to move forward.
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28. A Dollar, a Penny, How Much and How Many?
Now here is a fun story that will build a solid foundation regarding copper coins and dollar bills your kids will laugh out loud reading. These goofy cats know all the dollar denominations to improve math skills as well as financial literacy.
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29. What Is Money?: Personal Finance for Kids
A great initiation to money talk with your kids. This financial literacy series explains the importance of being frugal, knowing when to save, and when it's appropriate to spend.
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30. Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money
This fun story teaches the basics of money management and money goals to your kids through these two adorable entrepreneurs. They are not deterred by the cold winter, they want to make some money, and a lemonade stand is their ticket to some big bucks!
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31. Those Shoes
A relevant story with an important message about fast fashion and fads. When all the kids in school start wearing these cool new shoes, Jeremy wants a pair of his own. But his grandmother shares some key wisdom with him about things we want versus things we need.
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32. Johnny's Decisions: Economics for Kids
At the heart of money matters is economics, which covers how we make financial decisions and what this means in terms of our savings, future investments, and work requirements. Kids are never too young to learn how to make educated choices regarding how they spend their money.
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33. A Chair for My Mother
A heartwarming story of what a little extra money can mean for a family. A young girl wants to help her mother and grandmother save coins so they can buy a comfy chair for their apartment.
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34. Money Monsters: The Missing Money
Now, this type of book not only has money management skills, but the money monster storyline is imaginative enough that your kids will want to reread this for every bedtime story! It teaches the true story about the risk we've all experienced when a machine eats our money and what happens to it.
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