cover image Neale S Godfreys Ultimate Kids Money Book

Neale S Godfreys Ultimate Kids Money Book

Neale S. Godfrey. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, $19.95 (132pp) ISBN 978-0-689-81717-5

Godfrey (Money Doesn't Grow on Trees), a syndicated columnist and former president of The First Women's Bank, appears to know kids as well as she knows finance. Rather than delving into detail in any area, her chatty, pun- and trivia-filled narrative touches on a broad range of topics: the history of money, budgeting, banking accounts, credit cards, supply and demand, starting a business, taxes, the stock market and other investment choices. Information is presented in brief, easily absorbed blocks of text, surrounded by extended captions, comments from characters, etc. Numerous sidebars include some with recurring themes. Under the heading ""Word Bank,"" for example, Godfrey defines finance-related vocabulary (promissory note, entrepreneur); under ""A Penny for Your Thoughts,"" she challenges readers to consider various money matters (""Would you rather buy stocks or keep your money in a savings account?""); and under ""Take Your Pick,"" she offers some speculative questions and math puzzlers. On occasion, Godfrey stretches the idea of reader participation a bit thin (as when she asks readers to ""imagine that you're a check"" and to describe whom they meet and any trouble they encounter). Yet for the most part, Godfrey's light-handed approach--reinforced by Verougstraete's sometimes silly cartoon and collage art--is right on the money. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)