A Smart Girl's Guide to Money: How to Make It, Save It, And Spend It

Contains quizzes, tips, and advice on money, and includes a section with 101 moneymaking ideas.

Grade 5 Up Presented in a colorful and fun format, this book is attractive and practical. Examples used are timely and age appropriate. Quizzes throughout reinforce the concepts presented and will help readers question current spending habits. The 101 money-making ideas are practical and doable and range from completing chores to using individual talents and skills to start a business. Some of the ideas suggested could be used for fund-raising activities. Customer satisfaction, writing contracts, and sharing responsibilities are clearly discussed and will help prevent future problems. This book will be an excellent tool to promote the concept of saving money and having it work for you. A Web site is provided for printable items and business cards. A first purchase. Kathleen A. Nester, Downingtown High Ninth Grade Center, PA
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Gr. 4-7. This new offering in American Girl's A Smart Girl's Guide series offers advice on earning, saving, and spending money. Holyoke addresses topics such as feelings about money, launching a business, becoming a smart shopper, and investing. Most subjects are tackled on a generously illustrated double-page spread, which may incorporate tips, quotes, and a quiz intended to help kids discover their attitudes about money. The text is upbeat and informal, but although the information is appropriate to middle-school readers of both genders, the emphasis on clothing and makeup and the absence of boys in the illustrations are likely to deter male browsers. Appended with a list of 101 moneymaking tips, this book is an engaging introduction to personal economics. Libraries wanting to capture a wider audience may prefer Jeanne Kiefer's Jobs for Kids (2003) or Andrew Clements' fictional Lunch Money (2005). Kay Weisman
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