Customer Reviews

Making Cents

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A group of resourceful kids are saving up their pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and paper bills of various denominations in order to purchase supplies for a fabulous new project. Along the way, the kids describe to the reader the monetary value of different coins and bills, some interesting tidbits about the physical appearance of the currency, and examples of items of increasing value that can be purchased with the money. The cheerful illustrations and straightforward text will appeal to children who otherwise may object to a dose of math and economics. The helpful facts and clear presentation in Making Cents can readily empower children to learn about money and take their first steps toward gaining financial literacy.

Money, math and a children's book! Making Cents shows kids a side of math that will help them hear about, visualize and understand money.

What can a penny buy? What does a penny look like? How many nickels make up a quarter? How many quarters make a dollar? What is the smallest silver coin? Whose likeness is on the hundred dollar bill? So many questions-and Elizabeth Keeler Robins helps kids learn and understand the answers.

Making Cents is unique because there really aren't any children's books (that I'm familiar with) that talk about money-the facts and interesting but little known stories about U.S. currency. But Making Cents is more than giving information about money. Its shows kids how they can take the money they have and buy different things, and when they're done, they have something pretty special.

Bob McMahon's illustrations are attractive, but also lend themselves to those visual learners who must 'see' the process rather than just hear about the process.

Armchair Interviews says: A great book for schools and homeschoolers.

Making Cents certainly makes sense! This book explicitly teaches the `nuts and bolts' of our monetary coins and bills, while cleverly weaves a captivating story about five children who genuinely need to purchase nuts and bolts to build a community clubhouse. Elizabeth Keeler Robinson's premier book is one that every elementary teacher should have on his or her shelf. Not only does it teach about money, but I love seeing the ingenuity of the children as they figure out ways to earn money to build their clubhouse. Bob McMahon's illustrations are a perfect marriage to the prose poetry. Brilliant. Clever. A big thumbs up!