8 MUST-READ BOOKS FOR KIDS AND TEENS TO LEARN FINANCIAL LITERACY
These books teach how (and why it’s important) to budget and invest responsibly.
Being financially literate means being able to weigh the pros and cons of every financial option and confidently choosing the right one. And according to the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, financial literacy has five components: earn, spend, save and invest, borrow, and protect. Of course, parents and guardians want nothing but success and happiness for their kids, including a healthy relationship with money. Besides leading by example, you can help your kids achieve financial literacy by encouraging them to read financial literacy books. We searched for the best ones, and the titles below cover the five financial literacy components and more.
Growing Money: A Complete Investing Guide for Kids by Gail Karlitz and Debbie Honig
Recommended for ages 6-11. This book is a comprehensive and straightforward guide that explains everything there is to know about savings accounts, bonds, stocks, and even mutual funds. Best of all, 6 to 11-year-old readers will discover that all explanations are kid-friendly and easy to understand. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
Recommended for ages 7-9. A children’s chapter book, Get to Know: Money is currently available for pre-order and will be released on December 20, 2022. The book promises a jam-packed guide for kids with infographics, colorful illustrations, and historical facts. The book includes details on various finance topics from personal finance tips to the ins and outs of traditional and digital banking systems like Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
The Startup Squad Book Series (Autographed Box Set) by Brian Weisfeld and Nicole C. Kear
Recommended for ages 7 to 13. Signed by co-author Brian Weisfeld, this boxed set of The Startup Squad series comes with all three books, The Startup Squad (Book #1), Face the Music (Book #2), and Party Problems (Book #3). The Startup Squad was recommended by the American Library Association as a diverse and inclusive read that teaches kids about money. And of course, entrepreneurship! Each book shares how Resa, Harriet, Didi, and Amelia—the Startup Squad—apply valuable skills linked to entrepreneurship when managing a lemonade stand, raising funds, and supporting a friend’s business during a crisis. The back of each book also profiles a real-life young girl entrepreneur and her biz and features startup tips for kids and teens starting and running their own businesses. Get an autographed boxed set of all three books here.
Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest and Grow Money by Dylin Redling and Allison Tom
Recommended for ages 8-12. A bestseller in Amazon’s “Children’s Money” book category, Investing for Kids introduces the concepts of “risk” and “reward” to young readers. The book also empowers kids to imagine a bright future with more-than-enough money in the bank, after they set up and accomplish a savings and investment plan. Kids learn about the accomplishments of famous investors, too. Plus, there are prompts for parents and guardians so they can guide their kids on the book’s interactive activities and discussions. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
Dollars & Sense: A Kid’s Guide to Using — Not Losing — Money by Elaine Scott
Recommended for ages 9-12. Part history book and part guide book, Dollars & Sense teaches kids and pre-teens about money’s role in society and how the U.S. economy works. The book also provides practical advice on making important decisions about personal finances. Sidebars, timelines, diagrams, and illustrations by David Clark help younger readers retain information from the text-heavy chapters. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
The Survival Guide for Money Smarts: Earn, Save, Spend, Give by Eric Braun and Sandy Donovan
Recommended for ages 9–14. Part of a book series, The Survival Guide for Money Smarts recounts true and inspiring success stories about real kids who made wise financial decisions. There’s also a “Choose Your Own Spending Ending” where readers are given hypothetical challenges to make the right money management choice. The book highlights financial terms in vocabulary boxes and encourages readers to answer the quizzes and review the checklists. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
Recommended for ages 10+. This book from American Girl helps girls build money confidence and find their money management style with quizzes, practical business tips, and quotes from other girls. With over 90 pages, A Smart Girl’s Guide: Money is part of American Girl’s bestselling book series, A Smart Girl’s Guide, with topics ranging from money to manners and 17 other book titles. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
Recommended for ages 10–14. From the people behind BizKid$, How to Turn $100 into $1,000,000 introduces finance to kids and pre-teens and challenges them to think (and earn, save, and invest) like a millionaire. The book also explains clearly how kids can set money goals and stick to a budget, get a job or start a business, and invest their hard-earned cash. Buy it on Amazon or Bookshop.
Gaining financial literacy at any age can set your girls’ financial success long into their future. And if your girls dream of owning a business, financial literacy will empower them to plan better, apply critical-thinking skills, and take responsibility for every dollar.
If you need more reading materials on the topic, you can check out our recommended books on economics and money. We also have tips on raising a financially confident kid so you can help your girls understand and explore the steps to financial independence.
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2 Comments
Swiftz Finance
- January 31, 2023 at 12:00 amThis is a great post! I believe that teaching financial literacy at a young age is crucial for shaping the future of our children. These 8 must-read books are a great starting point for parents and educators to help kids and teens understand the basics of managing money. It’s never too early to start learning how to budget, save, invest, and make wise financial decisions. Thanks for sharing this valuable information!
Brian Weisfeld
- January 31, 2023 at 11:55 amOur pleasure. Thanks for the support!