The Go-Around Dollar [Hardcover]

Barbara Johnston Adams (Author), Joyce Audy Zarins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Every dollar travels from person to person in a different way. Matt finds a dollar on his way home from school and uses it to buy shoelaces from Eric. Eric spends the dollar on bubble gum at the corner store. Jennifer, who happens to be the next customer, receives the dollar as part of her change.

A dollar bill is something we all see and use every day of our lives. But do we know how it's made? The meaning of the symbols that are shown on the front and back of the dollar? How long the average dollar stays in circulation?

In this fascinating and informative book, Barbara Johnston Adams weaves together a fictional narrative about the travels of a single dollar with facts and anecdotes that are sure to delight young readers.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-- Two things are going on at the same time here. One is a story of a one-dollar bill as it is passed from one person to another, eventually ending up in a picture frame as the first dollar earned by a new store; the other is factual information about dollar bills. Each double-page spread includes a blown up picture of a bill (in black and white as required by law). The book concludes with labeled pictures of a dollar bill that explain what the symbols and various numbers mean. The full-color illustrations in the story include people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds; however, the faces have a lifeless, wooden look about them. Nevertheless, Adams provides sound information to help youngsters understand the basics about our paper currency. Use it as a companion volume with lighter fare such as Dollars and Cents for Harriet (Crown, 1988) by Betsy Maestro. --Laura Culberg, Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Barbara Johnston Adams has published a number of nonfiction books for children including Winners: Women and the Nobel Prize (under the name Barbara Shiels) and The Picture Life of Bill Cosby, both chosen as the Child Study Association of America's Children's Books of the Year. She lives with her family in Virginia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (March 31, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027000311
• ISBN-13: 978-0027000313
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 10.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #476,866 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #50 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Money

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting information about the dollar bill!, October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Go-Around Dollar (Hardcover)

I am a third grade teacher and this is a super book to use when teaching about money. It's a story about how a dollar gets passed on from person to person. At the bottom of every page there are interesting facts about the dollar bill, such as the serial number, what a dollar bill is made of, etc. Students will find this book enthralling!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mix facts with fiction to keep attention!, December 19, 2007

By 

Tracy Foote "Author: Kid's ROTH IRA Handbook:... (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Go-Around Dollar (Hardcover)

At the time of this review, this book is listed for ages 9-12 but as a picture book, I would recommend it for age 4 up to 9. The facts introduced are intriguing enough for older ages, even adults, but as a picture book, it is very hard to imagine a twelve year old actually reading it.

Children are often surprised to hear that when they deposit a dollar bill to a bank, they will never get that exact same dollar bill back. While this book does not address bank deposits, it certainly demonstrates the flow of money through society. The story is nicely woven with facts that children will find interesting, such as how long a dollar bill lasts, how many are lost in a day, and how many make a pound. Do you know what a "star" bill is? I didn't.

As a mom, I especially liked the humor of the forgotten dollar bill making it through the wash! I was also pleased to see "spending" is addressed when one character makes a list of what to buy with the dollar. We can never start too early to teach good money habits. This is an excellent book mixing money facts with fiction to hold children's interest.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, February 17, 2010

By 

M. Suire (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Go-Around Dollar (Hardcover)

Great book for my 6 year old...she is learning about money and this was a very good and interesting book for both of us to read!