• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

What happens to your money after you hand it to the cashier?

You pay for that cool pair of shoes or a new CD. But what happens to that money once it leaves your hands? Who actually pockets it or puts it into the bank? This lively, kid-friendly book answers these questions and more:

• Why are designer jeans so much more expensive than no-name ones?
• Why does a burger cost $4.50 when the ingredients only cost $1.38?
• How do credit cards work?

Discover the trail your money takes as it goes to pay for everything including the raw materials used to make a product, the workers who produce it, and the advertisers who promote it.

Humorous illustrations demystify the process by providing a visual breakdown of all the elements involved in monetary transactions. Accessible and fun, Follow Your Money is a vital introduction to the way money flows.

 

KEVIN SYLVESTER est auteur laure´at, illustrateur, journaliste, animateur de radio, re´alisateur et documentariste. Il a e´crit les livres de la se´rie MiNRS et Neil Flambe´, ainsi que les livres documentaires Gold Medal for Weird et Sports Hall of Weird. Kevin est reconnu pour son habilete´ de faire un souper dernie're minute avec ce qui est moindrement consommable dans son frigo. Il peut aussi transformer des cercles en chats et des cornets de cre'me glace´e en dragons. Kevin habite a' Toronto.

 

KEVIN SYLVESTER is an award-winning writer, illustrator, reporter, radio sports host, producer and documentary maker. His books include the MiNRS and Neil Flambé series. Kevin's claims his superpower is that he can take a puck off the head and STILL finish a hockey game. He's also known for his ability to be able to make a last-second dinner from whatever smells reasonably edible in the fridge. And he can instantly turn circles into cats and ice cream cones into dragons. Well, cat and dragon cartoons anyway. He lives in Toronto, Ontario. Visit him online at www.kevinsylvester.online.

 

Kevin Sylvester's profile page

Michael Hlinka was born in Toronto. He did both his undergrad degree and MBA at the University of Toronto. He is a tenured professor at George Brown College, runs the Passing the CFA Program through the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies, and does business commentary for CBC Radio. He lives in Toronto.

Michael Hlinka's profile page

• Short-listed, Information Book Award, Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada
• Short-listed, Red Cedar Book Award
• Joint winner, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
• Joint winner, Recommended Reads List, Canadian Toy Testing Council

“Presents a unique approach to economics and money, hopefully enabling readers to be smarter consumers.” 

School Library Journal, 12/13

“Sylvester and Hlinka . . . have written a book about a very complex subject and made it accessible and entertaining.”

Resource Links, 06/13

“An appealing guide. Highly recommended.”

Kristin Fontichiaro, Librarian, University of Michigan School of Information, 10/26/13

“An eye-opening look at the route [money] follows.”

Waterloo Region Record, 03/30/13

“Sylvester and Hlinka . . . have created a captivating series of chapters detailing why pizzas, mp3 players, cell phones and laptops cost what they do.”

Canadian Teacher, 11/13

“Simply by explaining how a credit card works or why energy companies make a dollar on seemingly every transaction, readers will find themselves wondering about transparency and the ownership of natural resources.” 

Kirkus Reviews, *starred review, 05/13

“This book is FANTASTIC! . . . A definite plus for a finance class but a solid addition to any library.”

Novel Nutritious, 10/22/13

“The book provides young people with a good introduction to the way money flows.”

Canadian Children’s Book News, 04/13

“An interesting, informative and much-needed introduction to money plus savvy consumer advice for  . . . tweens and teens.”

Exeter Times-Advocate, 11/14/13

“Insightful and easy to understand.”

Professionally Speaking, 12/14

“A very effective method of getting the reader to think about where things come from.”

The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature, 07/14

“Uses a multitude of engaging scenarios and calculations to determine the profit and hidden costs of common . . . goods.”

Book Links, 09/13

“Will make readers of any age think carefully. Highly recommended.”

CM Reviews, 09/13