World Book Day is coming up on 6 March, and while it’s a fun chance for your children to dress up as their favourite characters, it’s also a great opportunity to introduce them to books about finances.
Talking to children about money from an early age can help them develop valuable habits that will serve them well in the future. However, research from the Money and Pensions Service found that just 47% of children in the UK have had a meaningful financial education at home or school.
So, why not use this World Book Day as a chance to explore engaging books that make learning about money fun and accessible?
Read on to discover six children’s books that can teach them about finances.
1. Lemonade in Winter (ages 3 – 7)
This delightful story by Emily Jenkins and G. Brian Karas follows siblings Pauline and John-John as they take on the ambitious challenge of setting up a lemonade stand in the middle of winter.
With its engaging, rhythmic refrain – “Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LIMEADE! Lemon lemon LIME, Lemon LEMONADE!” – young readers will love joining in while being introduced to basic concepts such as counting and money.
Lemonade in Winter is a fun and interactive way to spark curiosity about spending, earning, and entrepreneurship from an early age.
2. The Four Money Bears (ages 5 – 10)
The Four Money Bears is an engaging and educational book that introduces children to the different ways of using money and teaches them about the importance of a balanced approach.
Written by Mac Gardner, a certified financial planner, the book follows the story of four bears who all have a distinct way of using their money. There’s the Saver Bear, Spender Bear, Investor Bear, and Giver Bear.
Through their unique personalities and interactions, the story teaches valuable lessons about how their different attitudes to money can all be beneficial, and how the bears, with their varying approaches, can work together to find solutions.
3. Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock (ages 7 – 10)
In this rhyming story, twin brothers Rock and Brock learn an important financial lesson from their grandpa.
Every week, the brothers receive a small amount of pocket money, with the promise that their grandpa will double their savings if they resist spending.
Rock is excited to buy new things, but Brock decides to save. So, each week when Rock gets just $1, Brock’s savings get matched. By the end of the summer, Brock has $512, while Rock has nothing.
Through Rock and Brock’s journey, children are introduced to the concept of saving and compound interest in a fun and relatable way.
Written by Sheila Blair, Rock, Brock, and the Savings Shock combines real financial expertise with a playful approach, making it a fantastic tool for teaching kids about the power of saving.
4. National Geographic Kids: Everything Money (ages 8 – 12)
Everything Money is a comprehensive guide from National Geographic that takes pre-teen children on a fascinating journey through all things money related.
Written by Kathy Furgang, the book explores everything from the history of money and its evolution to how cash is created and why it’s essential.
It’s filled with colourful images, photos, and exciting infographics. And children can also explore money from around the globe through the book’s “Explorer’s Corners”, which look at different financial systems from around the world.
A perfect blend of education and adventure, Everything Money is a great resource for young learners who are curious about how money works.
5. Cash is Queen (ages 14 – 18)
Cash is Queen is the world’s first financial book designed specifically for teenage girls – though of course, it’s suitable for all genders.
Written by financial expert Davinia Tomlinson, this book aims to empower young women by tackling topics like saving, spending, and managing finances, while helping them to build a positive and confident attitude towards money.
Research shows that women often shy away from financial discussions, which can lead to setbacks like not engaging in salary negotiations, being overly cautious when investing, and having lower average retirement savings than men.
Cash is Queen aims to break these barriers by encouraging girls to develop the knowledge and confidence to make financial decisions that will set them up well for the future.
6. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? (young adults)
Written by Carl Siegel, Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? was originally created as a guide for his own children to help them understand key financial concepts as they entered adulthood. After seeing how the book helped them, Siegel published it as a guide for teenagers and young adults.
The book offers eight essential financial lessons, grounded in 99 practical principles. Topics include how to budget and save, the value of being a smart shopper, understanding bank accounts, loans, and credit cards, as well as knowing what to do if you fall victim to fraud.
Siegel takes a real-world approach, drawing from his own experiences to simplify complex topics into accessible lessons. Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School? is a great book for any young adults looking to develop their financial literacy and confidence.
Get in touch
A financial planner can help you and your family build long-term security. They can create a tailored strategy to help ensure stability for generations to come.
Email us at hello@vwmwealth.com or call us on 0141 229 4004.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.
The value of your investments (and any income from them) can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
