Big Money: What It Is, How We Use It, and Why Our Choices Matter

by Rebecca Donnelly

Overview

In this basic introduction to money, readers learn about various economic models throughout history with compelling illustrations and probing questions that explore the real world circumstances surrounding spending, selling, and saving.

Big Money aims to explain economic principles in a way that combines the weird and the meaningful, like Planet Money for kids. Organized in seven chapters, each posing a general question and answering it through real-world examples, this book explores the consequences of our everyday economic choices by connecting the dots between young consumers and the larger economic and social systems around them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250853134
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	10/31/2023
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	261,514
Product dimensions:	6.25(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.75(d)
Lexile:	1040L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Donnelly is the author of several books for young readers including the middle grade nonfiction title Total Garbage and the Green Earth Award longlisted title Green Machine: The Slightly Gross Truth about Turning Your Food Scraps into Green Energy.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2023

Gr 3–7—Experienced nonfiction and fiction author Donnelly has produced an informative title that combines zany humor and dead seriousness to explain a wide range of topics related to money, economics, and wealth. Employing innovative examples, she weaves together historical facts, big economical concepts, and calls to action. Occasional quirky illustrations add visual appeal. Citing instances of strange items like giant stones used historically as currency, Donnelly explains the difference between money as a concept and money as a physical object, kicking off seven chapters filled with information relatable to kids. Her introduction to economic concepts like supply and demand, market economy, and inflation employs brownie sundaes and quotes from philosopher/economist Adam Smith to relay information at a surprisingly suitable level for a range of young readers. The text encourages conversation with trusted adults, particularly the latter chapters, which discuss traditional employment vs. gig work, Gross Domestic Products in the United States and around the world, and how economic choices can affect young people. After frank discussions of income inequality (using sandwiches as currency), and the effect of big business on the environment, the book comes to a close with a series of questions and suggestions to get kids considering plans for the future and examining their own money-related values. VERDICT Although the topic may not immediately appeal to a typical browsing reader, a teacher or librarian could easily book talk this charming title into a middle grader or middle schooler's backpack.—Deidre Winterhalter

School Library Journal

2023-08-12
Big concepts relayed on a small-enough scale for young readers to relate to.

This is a book about money in the big-picture sense. The first chapter covers different forms of money throughout history and around the world, but from there the narrative broadens in scope to include behavioral economics and systemic wealth gaps. The final chapter brings it all home to practical matters such as the kinds of questions to ask trusted adults about money and the power of compound interest and diversified portfolios. The narration is self-aware enough to acknowledge the dryness of lessons about, for instance, the GDP. Thankfully, trivia peppered throughout adds flavor to each lesson, from the ironic origin of the Monopoly board game to the use of giant coins on the Micronesian island of Yap. The book’s broad umbrella means that readers might skim through the volume, starting off on workplace benefits, for instance, before becoming absorbed by Bhutan’s gross national happiness measurement. Injustice and inequity are addressed in their many forms, including along workplace, environmental, racial, gender, and political lines, enough to give readers food for thought. Chapters are structured thematically and logically, and Donnelly emphasizes that structural issues play a far bigger role than individual decisions. Final art not seen.

A wide-ranging conversation about the role money plays in the world and our lives. (bibliography) (Nonfiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews