THREE CUPS

Name: THREE CUPS
Author: Tony Townsley
ISBN: 978-1-4003-1749-3

by Tony Townsley & Mark St. Germain & illustrated by April Willy ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 8, 2011

A good introduction that should be paired with some other books to round out and develop kids’ understanding of money and...

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Three mismatched teacups from the cupboard are not exactly what a 5-year-old boy hopes to receive for a birthday gift, but with some parental guidance, they help set them on a path to sound financial well-being.

An accompanying envelope holds the very first installment of his allowance and the promise of future “adventures.” “Saving, Spending, and Giving.… Doing all three things as you keep growing up … that’s the adventure.” And he is off to a good start. A trip to the bank to open a savings account teaches the boy about interest, several weeks of scrimping allow him to finally buy a baseball glove and a school food drive for needy families puts his giving cup to good use. While the boy and his family are idealized, and “experiences” or “opportunities” might better replace “adventures” for literal-minded young readers, the three-cup system is an excellent way to instill lifelong money habits in children, and this book does a good job presenting it. Willy’s soft-focus illustrations are full of warmth, clearly showing the emotions that accompany each of the child’s monetary decisions. Backmatter includes a parent’s guide to beginning the three cup system. Missing, though, are any guidelines on how to divvy up the money among the cups percentage-wise. And while readers learn that the boy used his savings for college, there are no discussions about other ways his money could be used.

A good introduction that should be paired with some other books to round out and develop kids’ understanding of money and allowances. (Picture book. 5-10)

Pub Date: Nov. 8, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-4003-1749-3

Page Count: 24

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Review Posted Online: Nov. 1, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2011

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS

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LITTLE DAYMOND LEARNS TO EARN

by Daymond John ; illustrated by Nicole Miles ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 21, 2023

It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists.

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How to raise money for a coveted poster: put your friends to work!

John, founder of the FUBU fashion line and a Shark Tank venture capitalist, offers a self-referential blueprint for financial success. Having only half of the $10 he needs for a Minka J poster, Daymond forks over $1 to buy a plain T-shirt, paints a picture of the pop star on it, sells it for $5, and uses all of his cash to buy nine more shirts. Then he recruits three friends to decorate them with his design and help sell them for an unspecified amount (from a conveniently free and empty street-fair booth) until they’re gone. The enterprising entrepreneur reimburses himself for the shirts and splits the remaining proceeds, which leaves him with enough for that poster as well as a “brand-new business book,” while his friends express other fiscal strategies: saving their share, spending it all on new art supplies, or donating part and buying a (math) book with the rest. (In a closing summation, the author also suggests investing in stocks, bonds, or cryptocurrency.) Though Miles cranks up the visual energy in her sparsely detailed illustrations by incorporating bright colors and lots of greenbacks, the actual advice feels a bit vague. Daymond is Black; most of the cast are people of color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

It’s hard to argue with success, but guides that actually do the math will be more useful to budding capitalists. (Picture book. 7-9)

Pub Date: March 21, 2023

ISBN: 978-0-593-56727-2

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2022

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2023

Categories:

CHILDREN'S CONCEPTS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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A BIKE LIKE SERGIO'S

by Maribeth Boelts ; illustrated by Noah Z. Jones ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 4, 2016

Embedded in this heartwarming story of doing the right thing is a deft examination of the pressures of income inequality on...

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Continuing from their acclaimed Those Shoes (2007), Boelts and Jones entwine conversations on money, motives, and morality.

This second collaboration between author and illustrator is set within an urban multicultural streetscape, where brown-skinned protagonist Ruben wishes for a bike like his friend Sergio’s. He wishes, but Ruben knows too well the pressure his family feels to prioritize the essentials. While Sergio buys a pack of football cards from Sonny’s Grocery, Ruben must buy the bread his mom wants. A familiar lady drops what Ruben believes to be a $1 bill, but picking it up, to his shock, he discovers $100! Is this Ruben’s chance to get himself the bike of his dreams? In a fateful twist, Ruben loses track of the C-note and is sent into a panic. After finally finding it nestled deep in a backpack pocket, he comes to a sense of moral clarity: “I remember how it was for me when that money that was hers—then mine—was gone.” When he returns the bill to her, the lady offers Ruben her blessing, leaving him with double-dipped emotions, “happy and mixed up, full and empty.” Readers will be pleased that there’s no reward for Ruben’s choice of integrity beyond the priceless love and warmth of a family’s care and pride.

Embedded in this heartwarming story of doing the right thing is a deft examination of the pressures of income inequality on children. (Picture book. 5-8)