What Is Money? (First Facts)

Long: Mary Firestone has written more than thirty children’s books. Her books have been recommended by the National Science Teacher Association, and she has received a Best Writing in the Arts award from the Minneapolis Neighborhood Press Association. She has an MFA in Creative Writing and is currently acquiring her teaching license in Language Arts. Mary currently lives in St. Paul, Minnesota with her son Adam and their cat Rigley. Their home is near the Mississippi River park system where they spend time outdoors riding bikes and soaking up the wonders of local wildlife. Short: Mary Firestone has written more than 30 children’s books. Her books have been recommended by the National Science Teacher Association, and she has received a Best Writing in the Arts award from the Minneapolis Neighborhood Press Association. Mary and her son, Adam, love riding their bikes near their St. Paul, Minnesota, home. Their cat, Rigley, waves from the window.

Reviewed with Mary Firestone's Earning Money.

K-Gr. 3. These new First Facts titles offer youngsters basic information about economics. Earning Money explains the concepts of wants and needs; skills, services, and goods; and how prices are determined. What Is Money? considers bartering, coins and bills, currency around the world, and how money is made. Both titles employ simple, direct sentences and highlight specialized vocabulary. Frequent crisp, full-color photographs and charts appear on nearly every page, helping to break up the text and clarify its key points. Intriguing fun facts (for example, "Shells, beads and stones were used as money in early cultures") appear throughout, offering additional information. Attractive and uncluttered, these books will be a welcome adjunct to social studies classes. A hands-on project, a glossary, a bibliography, and a Web link close each volume. Kay Weisman
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