An Annotated Reading List Bell, Gordon. The 1st Book. Toronto: Turnerbooks, 1998. This book is part of a Personal Finance Series and discusses the essentials of the first experiences we all face in our financial lives. It's useful, understandable, practical, and easy-to-read. Whether you are just entering the workforce, leaving school, heading out for university, or suddenly find you have the money to spend, invest, and put to work, this book is for you. Topics covered include: "Your First Loan," "Renting Your First Apartment," "Your First Car," and "Your First Investment." Bodnar, Janet, Dollars & Sense for Kids: What they need to know about money — and how to tell them. Washington, D.C.: The Kiplinger Washington Editors, 1999. Bodnar addresses a multitude of money concerns for all ages, including a case of the grocery-cart "gimmies," determining an appropriate allowance, and the ins and outs of college students and credit cards. She offers creative ways to teach children how to earn, save, and budget money and spend sensibly. Each chapter includes real-life questions and answers from her Dr. Tightwad column; at the end of many chapters, you'll find stumpers that kids toss your way — along with appropriate responses. A highlight of this resource is found on pages 79 through 82. Here you'll find an extensive list of games, books, and software about money for kids of all ages. Burkett, Lauree and L. Allen Burkett. 50 Money-Making Ideas for Kids. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997. This book presents 50 money-making ideas for kids (hot dog stand, car wash etc.). It is presented using biblical advice. Godfrey, Neale S. A Penny Saved: Teaching Your Children the Values and Life Skills They Will Need to Live in the Real World. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. This book helps parents teach their kids the value and uses of money. It applies to preschoolers through to the teenage years and gives parents a concrete structure to teach values and essential life skills. There are worksheets, quizzes, teaching games, and age-appropriate exercises to give kids hands-on opportunities to work on their practical skills. One reviewer calls the book "a cross between Dr. Spock and Adam Smith." From page 13 — "Money is always a social issue; it never exists in isolation. You can get it, save it, spend it, share it." Lermitte, Paul. Allowance Dollars and Sense: A Proven System for Teaching Your Kids about Money. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1999. YTV reported that in 1998 Canadian "tweens" (kids between the ages of 9 and 13) had a startling $1.5 billion of disposable income! The author contends that now, more than ever before, parents need to ensure their children have the tools they need to manage their money. Lermitte ( a registered financial planner from B.C.) presents a step-by-step system for teaching children about money based on giving them a regular allowance. In a friendly and easy-to-read style, he provides checklists, skillsheets, and lots of illustrations to show parents how to adapt this system to fit their own family's values. The book covers the basics of setting up an allowance and managing requests for loans to handling marketing hype targeted at your children. If you have the following questions, this book should answer them: How can you teach your kids to value money when they don't work for a living? When do you start an allowance and how much should it be? How do you start them saving for the medium- and long-term? Where do you draw the line between "wants" and "needs"? What do you do to help them make wise buying decisions? How can you be generous with your kids without spoiling them? Overall, this book does a good job of teaching parents and their children the fundamentals of money management that will make them money-smart consumers. Pulver, Lana Marks et al. First Class: The Original Financial Guide for High School Students, A Novel Approach. Vancouver: Raintree Communications Inc., 1996. The authors of this book believe the key to successful money management is education. It was written for high school students with the hope that they will be financially prepared for the future. The book is in story format and tells the tale of a class in high school. It is a "Wealthy Barber (Chilton) for juniors." A few good exercises are included at the back of the book. Schultz, Michael. AGF Financial Life Skills — A Three-Step Program. Resource Workbook. Toronto: CoED Communications, 1998. This is a 16-page booklet, available free of charge, that focuses on educational, career, and financial success. AGF also has a good web site and sponsors an excellent scholarship program. (Refer to the Links section.) Silver, Don. The Generation Y Money Book: 99 Smart Ways to Handle Money. Los Angeles: Adams-Hall Publishing, 2000. Money-smart ways to think about money. Visit www.canadaone.com to read an article/excerpt by the author entitled "Ten Ways to Think Money-Smart." Weltman, Barbara. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Raising Money-Smart Kids. New York: Alpha Books (Macmillan), 1999. This is a parent-and-child primer on the basics of financial management, spanning from when they're barely old enough to reach the piggy bank to their college years. It contains: proven strategies for teaching kids sound money values; important guidelines for determining allowances; commonsense advice on when to entrust your teens with credit cards and investment decisions; expert tips on explaining the basics of taxes and bank statements; and savvy instruction on helping them learn to budget, save, and borrow smartly! What Every Canadian Should Know about Family Finance. Toronto: Canadian Securities Institute, 1999. This information-packed book is the essential financial reference for the everyday Canadian family. It covers everything from credit cards to old age security, mortgages to education savings plans, and it will help you gain confidence and control over your family's finances. Wyatt, Elaine and Stan Hinden. The Money Book and Hideaway Bank: A smart kid's guide to savvy saving and spending. Toronto: Somerville House Publishing, 1999. This 64-page book is highly readable and comes shrinkwrapped with an actual bank (disguised as a book) that can be used for saving coins. It is geared to kids and has a wealth of tips and helpful hints about earning, budgeting, banking, spending, and saving money. It has received a few awards from parent groups and toy-testing councils.