Three Cups

by Tony Townsley, April Willy, Mark St. Germain

Teaching children how to save, spend, and be charitable can be as simple as 1, 2, 3.

All parents want to teach their children good money habits from an early age. Many start by giving them an allowance. But it's equally important to teach children a positive, generous attitude as they learn to use money responsibly.

Filled with warm, memorable illustrations by award-winning painter, April Willy, Three Cups is the story of one family's unique and effective method of teaching personal financial management-and how one boy reaped first the small, then the immeasurably great rewards of the lessons he learned.

Families will be delighted with the heart-warming tale and want to integrate the three-cup system in their own children's lives.

Genres: Picture Books, Christian

26 pages, Hardcover

First published November 8, 2011

Reviews

[Yin Chien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three Cups is a great book for kids. It teaches them how to manage their money wisely with a simple concept.

The three cups in this book are the saving cup, the spending cup and the giving cup. The money in the saving cup will be kept in the bank once the cup is full.

The money in the spending cup is used to buy something that the kids want. Kids will learn to spend money wisely, and differentiate between what they want and what they need.

The money in the giving cup serves a noble purpose: to help people who are in need. The money will be put to good use, and kids will understand that it is important to contribute to the society, because there are always people out there who really need a helping hand.

Three Cups teaches kids to be disciplined, responsible and charitable - it also helps children to understand that having a lot of money is not the main point, but rather how to manage and spend it.

With eye-catching illustrations, an easy-to-follow narrative and a simple yet profound introduction to a better way of life, Three Cups will certainly make a lasting impression on your kids' lives.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The current issue of this book lists Tony Townsley as the author and St. Germain as a “contributor”.


3CupsBook.com explains that the system used by the fictional family in this charming picture book was originally devised by Townsley & his wife for their children. St. Germain wrote the text of the book.

The Townsleys tried to teach their children that it is not how much money you have that is important, it’s how you use it and devised a game of three cups (Spend, Save, Share) ‘to help them develop positive habits early on that would last them the rest of their lives.’

I don’t even want to think about the politics and legalities of that attribution situation, but I do know that this book makes wonderful sense. If you have small (or even older) children or grandchildren, I recommend you check it out.

Stacie at Simply Stacie first brought this book to my attention back in 2010.

5 stars

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very nice childrens' book with an easy method for learning how to manage your money, no matter your age.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little story to teach about money management.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of teaching children how to save, spend, and share their money, because my father taught me and my sister early on how to make use with what we have wisely. Because I could relate with the premise, I signed up to review Three Cups written by Tony Townsley and Mark St. Germain and illustrated by April Willy, through Booksneeze.

The whole story is thought-provoking and makes me, as an adult, want to read it again and again until I got the whole teaching process of money management for children right. And this, my friends, prompts me to express my opinion that Three Cups is more of a book for adults (parents, really) rather than for children. The illustrations doesn't help either. It is evident that the illustrator can draw really well but the illustrations are not attractive and appealing, so says the child in me. And to think that the main character started his three cups of giving, saving, and spending at the age of five!

But I will not begrudge the production of this wonderful teaching tool; I will put my review in the context of Three Cups being meant for parents. The simple story started with a boy receiving three cups on his fifth birthday--the cup of saving, the cup of spending, and the cup of giving. His parents taught him to divide the allowance he would receive weekly, promising him that by doing so, he will have “adventures” later on. Weeks passed by and the money in the cups increased. His mother proposed that they put the money in the cup of savings in the bank. The boy used his spending cup to buy a new baseball glove and a present for his sister while he used the giving cup to buy food for families in need. When the boy turned into a man, he used the same principles to teach his son.

What I really love about the book is the way it injects ideal principles, such as putting money in the cup of giving, engaging in the “adventure” of sharing with others, and increasing one’s savings through a bank. I also admire the close guidance of the parents who helped the boy count his money, accompany him to the bank, and explaining well that doing all three things--saving, spending, and giving--is the real adventure in life.

Three Cups teaches parents how to teach their children to be wise, disciplined, and generous. Thankfully, it doesn’t focus on the idea that having a lot of money to save, spend, and give is great, but rather it centers on the responsibility of dividing one’s resources wisely in order to be able to save, spend, and give.

Overall, this is the kind of money management I would like to teach to my own children. Parents, don’t hesitate to put this one on your TBR list as well.

(I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Inc. through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

Nancy @ Simple Clockwork
http://www.nancycudis.com

[Mikejencostanzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

For each kid in or family, three colorful margarine tubs came out every Saturday for “Allowance Time.” Dad would divvy out our funds, tithe in the red tub, savings in the blue, and some spending money in the yellow tub. As it turns out, our quirky family tradition is nearly identical to the concept behind the book Three Cups. Here, we join a little boy on his own journey of learning to use his allowance money according to those same three categories.

While this book is produced by a Christian publisher, there is very little in it that earmarks it strictly for a Christian audience. An atheist family would probably have no problem using this book, aside from one sentence in the appendix which references “your local church.” Growing up in my family, the concept of giving was inextricably tied to giving back to God, but here the authors walk a more politically correct line, choosing to describe it as giving to the charitable organization of your choice.

While some may consider the broad appeal of this book a plus, I found myself wishing for it to be a little more explicitly Christian. For example, as an adult reader, I finished the book asking, “How does this 3-cup system represent a God-honoring understanding of finances and stewardship?” And then, “How might I explain this system to my children in a way that firmly ties it to our faith?” I realize that no single book can do it all, and the purpose of the Three Cups book is not purely didactic. However, I wish there had been some acknowledgment of principles like “Everything we have comes from God” and “We want all the ways we use our money to please God.”

Overall though, Three Cups successfully creates a colorful, tender way to bring wise financial principles to life for young kids. It appears to be written for an audience of 4 to 7 year olds, judging by the age of the characters in the illustrations, and the fact that the author starts his own 5-year-old son on the 3-cup system. I fully intend to use it with my own kids in the future.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

--Jen

[Jamie Therriault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estimate of age level of interest: K -5th grade
Estimate of reading level: 3rd-5th grade depending on the individual

Brief Description: In this story, a child receives three cups for his birthday and learns from them, lessons about money.

Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book:
This book is written for children. It teaches concepts of money to students through the information it presents. The ideas and concepts the book teachers are factual and information that are essential for children to learn.
Realistic Fiction "Realistic Fiction consists of stories that could happen. These stories reflect a wide variety of experiences.." (Chance) Although this story is written to inform children, it's clearly written for young adults, or adults to read. This story is written about a little boy receiving cups and information from his family about money and how to save, spend, and donate it. This could really happen in real life; this does happen in real life with families and young children.
#2. Color - "Colors can evoke strong emotional connections in readers." (Chance) The illustrations in this story are in a neutral pallet. The book teaches serious, and important skills. The neutral pallet matches the seriousness. The illustrations match the text nicely, but do not take away from the text with crazy colors. This natural, muted color pallet complements the text and does not distract from the important lessons being taught to the reader from the text.

In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?
This is an excellent resource for introducing and teaching concepts of money to any student. As a teacher, after reading this story you can try out the activity with your student and three cups playing with different money scenarios and what students might choose to do with their money when they receive it.

* Part of the Reading Is An Investment Program (www.vermonttreasurer.gov)

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple story parents can use to teach children the basics of managing money. The illustrations are sweet and may help younger children understand the book better, though the story is simple enough for school age children. The authors include a short guide for parents at the end with 10 simple steps to begin using this method with one's children. This method includes not only the basic ideas of saving, spending and giving, but briefly introduces banking principles as the boy in the story takes his savings cup to the bank. Though my daughter is not quite old enough for an allowance. I will definitely be keeping this idea in mind for future use!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a young boy turns 5, he is given his first allowance and 3 cups. One cup is for saving, one for spending and one for giving. Each week his parents help him split his allowance into the three cups and begin to teach him how to use the three cups. Eventually, they help him open a bank account for his savings cup. They help him find ways to give.

The book includes a parent's guide with steps to incorporate the 3 cups idea into your own home. I like this quote that it includes: "Remember, it's not how much money one has, but rather how one uses it that really matters."

I appreciate that it is simple and could be implemented easily and effectively by any family willing to use this simple approach.

[Christine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I downloaded this book for my Nook and read the whole story in about 5 minutes or less. It was a simple story of a boy that got three cups labeled Save, Spend and Give for his 5th birthday. I am disappointed with the size of the book. I didn't realize with illustrations, it had only 19 pages. I was expecting a feel good story of how this little boy did with his money. We give our 5 year old an allowance and have taught him how to give to others; such as buying a Toy for the Toys for Tots program this past Christmas. It's a nice idea on the book but I wished I had kept my eight dollars in the savings cup and not purchased this book.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read for all parents! Great way to teach your children about money. In the book the boy is given 3 cups from the cupboard on his 5th birthday. One cup for spending money, one for savings, and one for giving to others. The parents then started giving him a weekly allowance and the money was divided up between the cups. Such a wonderful character building life lesson for anyone. To instill this good habit in a young child is a gift for a lifetime.

[Melissa ♥ Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable illustrations and valuable lessons fill this book. It teaches children from a young age the simple tools needed to save money. And on top of that it also encourages the importance of giving as well. I think that even adults would do well to be reminded about how easy it is to save and that most of us...if we think about it…also have the capacity on some level to give as well.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids loved it!

I gave it 5 stars because it was a nice book. It was a good and creative idea. I want to have 3 cups for saving, spending and giving. By E age 7

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for teaching kids about money.