The Everything Kids' Money Book Review

Kids have a lot of questions and confusion when it comes to money. How do we get money? Why shouldn't we spend it immediately? What's the point of saving it? Often, parents are unsure how to answer these questions, and unfortunately, financial accountability isn’t always taught in schools.

"The Everything Kids' Money Book: Earn it, save it, and watch it grow!" by Brette McWhorter Sember takes on the challenge of explaining to kids how money works, and it does so in a kid-friendly manner, without being either condescending or too technical.

"The Everything Kids' Money Book" is more than just an instruction manual. It's a hands-on workbook designed to lead kids to a better understanding of how money works in our society. While the language is easy enough for children to comprehend with little difficulty, it still conveys the important concepts. Worksheets throughout the book help kids to understand finances and allow parents to help out, if desired. The book also introduces the important idea of charitable giving and using money to promote good works in the community -- an important concept for any responsible citizen.

This book teaches kids everything they want to know. It takes kids through an explanation of how money is made and also how we use money both to buy both fun things we want as well as things we require to survive. Kids will also learn the basics of how credit works, with a simplified explanation of compound interest and how that can work either against you or in your favor, depending on the situation. Methods of growing money including savings accounts and stock investments are also discussed. Online banking transactions are introduced as well as the societal benefits of charitable donations.

Pros: The Everything Kids' Money Book is well-organized and appealing to children, particularly those in their "tweens." Kids can read through it on their own, or parents can join in to help. The book encourages kids to start their own savings accounts and introduces important real-world concepts like credit and financial accountability. The last chapter of the book is dedicated to charitable giving and encourages kids to donate to a charity of their choosing.

Cons: Although the book is listed as being for "ages 9 and up," older kids, especially teenagers, may feel like the book is too simple. Some kids may get bored with the historical information presented in the book, and other kids, particularly younger ones, may feel overwhelmed by the hands-on activities. Parents should be prepared to read the book ahead of time, so that they are able to answer any questions.