Tag Archives: finance

Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future With Bonds by Craig A Robinson (Book Review)

Bull and Bear are back with another exciting adventure that teaches young readers about the power of investing in bonds! At the advice of their trusted advisor and friend Piggy Banks, Bull & Bear visit Eagle, who manages the Moneyland Treasury, to learn about how bonds work to build new schools, parks, and roads and why they’re essential for making communities better. They also discover how bonds can help protect their savings while helping others. Through fun and engaging illustrations, this story shows kids how they can be part of building a brighter future by diversifying their investments. Perfect for young readers curious about money and how it helps create the world around them!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Bull and Bear return with another captivating adventure, this time delving into the educational world of investing in bonds.

Are you interested in teaching your kids or students about bonds, assets, diversifying, and other money-related terms but don’t know where to start or how to simplify the information? I recommend reading Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds, starting with its dictionary. Understanding key terms like municipal (mun) bond, diversify, bear and bull market, stocks, and maturity will assist readers in understanding the story more. Yes, the writer did a fabulous job weaving money terms, such as principal and yield, into the story; however, reviewing the words in the glossary might clear up any confusion for younger audiences going forth in this creative and informative story.

After familiarizing yourself with the glossary, it’s time to embark on a journey with Bull, Bear, and their friends in Moneyland. Adding a city map with creatively named streets and landmarks, such as Shareholder Square and Bond, Risk and Reward River, provides a unique opportunity to expand your financial knowledge. These names can serve as talking points for families and classrooms, inspiring readers to delve deeper into the world of finance. Plus, the map was just plain cute. Especially seeing the two friends ride down Wall Street on their bikes. Nice red helmet, Bear!

As we follow Bull and Bear to Moneyland Treasury, Eagle breaks down how bonds help our community and are a stable investment in this topsy-turvy economy. Help your city while earning interest… it was a no-brainer for Bear and Bull. It was, in their words, the best thing to do.

While Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds is designed for children aged 5-10, it offers a fun and engaging learning experience for readers of all ages. The delightful characters and rhyming sentences, courtesy of the talented Craig Robinson, make learning about bonds an enjoyable experience. Share this book with your family or students and consider adding bonds to your portfolio.

Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds did have an extensive glossary; however, kids might be puzzled by the financial sphere, which was not listed in the book’s dictionary. Also, while fans should recall the Golden Rule, this term might be foreign to new readers; therefore, I suggest adding it to the dictionary. All in all, Bull & Bear Build a Bright Future with Bonds does what the other books in the series do: it educates through creative storytelling and likable characters!

Check out every Bull and Bear money-themed book; they are educational and fun!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 

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Meet the Author

Author Craig A. Robinson has worked in the investment management industry for over twenty years, Craig has firsthand knowledge of our country’s lack of financial literacy and what it costs the average American. He wrote a children’s book to introduce the topic of financial literacy to children.

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On Your Mark, Get Set, INVEST! by Luke Villermin (Book Review)

A KID’S GUIDE TO SAVING MONEY, SPENDING WISELY, AND INVESTING IN THE STOCK MARKET

Feet thumping and arms swinging, Thrifty Tortoise and Ritzy Rabbit set off on a race to the finish line. At the end awaits a brand-new bike! Follow this competition to see who can earn, save, and invest their way to the ultimate prize. Lots of money decisions will be made along the way—some good and some bad—but you’ll get to learn from them all!

Geared for kids ages 8 to 12, On Your Mark, Get Set, INVEST provides seven engaging chapters to simplify the essential concepts of personal finance and money management…many of which are not taught in schools. You will find answers to questions like:

  • Where does money come from, what do I need it for, and where do I store it?
  • Why will I be better off later if I spend less and save more now?
  • How does creating a budget help me reach my money goals?
  • What is the stock market, and how is compounding a kid’s most awesome superpower?

With over a dozen interactive worksheets, fun illustrations, and kid-friendly examples, this book will get you closer to the finish line with every turn of the page.

Reading Age: 8 – 12 years

 

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

On Your Mark, Get Set, INVEST! by Luke Villermin is a kid’s guide to saving money, spending wisely, and investing in the stock market. As caregivers (parents and educators), we need to take the time to educate children on the value of money and not just a quarter is worth 25 cents, a penny is a cent, and so on. Kids need to realize the importance of money coming into a home and money leaving home and (also) planning for their future. 

On Your Mark, Get Set, INVEST! teaches real-world money lessons through familiar characters (Tortoise and the Hare), simple explanations, charts, and graphs. Despite the cutesy images, this book might be best suited for upper elementary students and older. 

There are numerous bolded words and phrases that would be extra beneficial for teachers when they are developing a lesson plan. Besides the vocabulary lesson, On Your Mark, Get Set, INVEST! by Luke Villermin has plenty of hands-on activities to help a teacher or parent help explain key financial areas: complete the chart, track your savings, personal budget worksheet, and even a stock wishlist. I loved the book discussed debt, bills, and taxes. Three subjects that kids will be facing sooner than they think. Time does fly! 

I wish I had this book when my daughter took a junior high finance course last year. She aced the course but had a lot of questions, and her instructor didn’t simplify it as this book did. 

When my children want a big ticket item, I have them work for it. It teaches them to appreciate the money they earn and makes them rethink if they’re going to spend it on their “I got to have it now” item. On more than one occasion, once they’ve saved up the necessary funds, my children changed their minds about spending their hard-earned dough.

Parents, and educators, I implore you to share this book with your family and class. It makes learning about money management fun. Plus, adults might learn a thing or two as you share this book with them. For instance, I learned the symbols for several currencies around the world. 

Review written/submitted to Reedsy on 8/3/22. #KamsPlace

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤

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About the Author

Luke Villermin opened a retirement account and started investing at fifteen years old. His only regret…he didn’t start earlier. Since then, he’s become the best-selling author of the Invest Now Play Later series and has shared his investing knowledge on multiple podcasts and interviews.

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