Birthday Bling (Dollars to Doughnuts Book 1)

November 15, 2023
All that glitters is not plastic. When Lucy receives a gift card for her 10th birthday, she assumes it's like the credit card that trendy classmate Avery shows off. But when Lucy attempts to buy an expensive sweatshirt, she realizes that her card has a strict spending limit. The experience upsets Lucy, though her frugal friend and neighbor Julian attempts to comfort her. Later that evening, their teenage babysitter, Oona, teaches them the differences between credit, debit, and gift cards and gives them a hands-on lesson in how interest works. The allure of a high credit limit dims as Lucy learns just how easily debt can snowball. Lucy's material envy gives way to a thrifty alternative thanks to Julian, whose in-story Moola Man comic closes out the book. Kote's illustrations capture the emotions and diversity of Lucy and Julian's neighborhood well. Each chapter heading includes an illustration of a gift card next to a credit card, helping readers notice the unique details of each. The financial lessons are sound and clearly conveyed, and though this is a purposeful book, with an obvious takeaway, Lucy's interest in sports and horror movies makes her a more well-rounded character than she might otherwise have been. Lucy appears tan in the grayscale illustrations, while Avery is lighter-skinned, Oona is dark-skinned, and Julian reads as Asian. An important lesson in both finance and in weighing wants versus needs. (tips for saving money while shopping) (Fiction. 7-10)

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January 1, 2024

Gr 1-4-The first in this new financial literacy chapter book series features two friends, Lucy and Julian, who are looking forward to Lucy's upcoming 10th birthday. Lucy is given a gift card by her aunt but doesn't understand how it works. She's heard the new girl Avery talking about how she buys things with a credit card her parents gave her, which confuses Lucy and Julian all the more. Lucy finds herself in an embarrassing situation at a store when her gift card doesn't have enough money to pay for the sparkly sweatshirt she would like to buy. With the help of teenager Oona, Julian's babysitter, Lucy and Julian both get a lesson in the difference between credit, debit, and gift cards, and learn about the perils of late fees and interest on owed balances. Black-and-white illustrations capture the characters and help move the story along. The message is clear without being overly didactic. For the intended audience, this title aptly covers important financial literacy elements. Adults trying to instill some important fiscal lessons will appreciate the opportunity to share this book with young spenders as well. VERDICT Informative without being preachy, this story will be of interest to young shoppers who want to experience financial independence, but need to learn some important lessons in money management first.-John Scott

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