Priceless Facts about Money

by Mellody Hobson, Caitlin Stevens (illustrator)

Debut author Mellody Hobson, barrier-breaking pioneer in the world of finance, demystifies money for kids with a look at some wild and weird facts about what makes the world go round.

What is the meaning of all those symbols on US bills (and why are they so hard to counterfeit)? What’s with people calling money “bacon” or “cheddar” or “smackeroonies”? With savvy and wit, financial expert Mellody Hobson sheds a friendly light on a daunting subject, from the meteorites that created the first mineral deposits to the ancient Maya who used chocolate as currency to the beginnings of the banking system itself. Readers learn about bartering, profit and loss, the origins of credit, ATMs, and even fun facts about money around the world. In her first children’s book, Mellody Hobson brings excitement to the realm of financial literacy and gives kids the tools they need to navigate money now and in the future. Featuring energetic artwork by debut illustrator Caitlin Stevens, amusing skits starring a cat and bunny who converse in money idioms, and inserts depicting the author and her business partner as kids just learning how money works, Priceless Facts about Money is an inviting, entertaining, and richly educational resource for every child.

Genres: Nonfiction, Finance, Parenting, Money, Self Help

80 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

About the author

Mellody Hobson is co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, the first African American-owned mutual fund in the United States. She is the Chairman of Starbucks Corporation and serves on the board of directors at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Princeton University, her alma mater, is building a new residential college in her name—the first to be named after a Black woman. Time magazine listed her as one of the 100 Most Influential People. She is married to filmmaker George Lucas, and this book was inspired by their young daughter. Mellody Hobson splits her time between Chicago and San Francisco.

Reviews

[Emma Griffioen]

Priceless Facts about Money is a children's book that introduces financial literacy to youth in a fun, accessible format. It fills a gap in children's literature that, especially right now, is very important. Even as an adult, I learned some really cool facts about money, and its evolution throughout history while reading this, and the illustrations are beautiful!

I had the pleasure of meeting Mellody Hobson at an executive forum event that was hosted by my work this past Tuesday in Toronto. My role at the event was to walk the panel speakers from the AV area to the stage and to cue them on stage, and not only was Mellody a very kind, and cool person, the advice and stories she shared during her panel discussion were so smart, and applicable. Shout out to her assistant, Serena, who was very very kind, and got me a personalized signed copy of this book without me even asking or her knowing I am a book reviewer! 🥹

I am incredibly inspired by Mellody, and if you are a teacher, librarian, or have young children and don't know how to introduce financial literacy, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Priceless Facts about Money!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everyone touts this as a great book for kids about financial literacy but all we got out of it was cool facts about money. Literal money. There was a little about compounding interest, receiving allowance, what banks offer, and inflation. But what about budgeting and paying bills?!? Yes kids don’t pay bills but the concept that saving money isn’t to spend on purchases and there are important things that you have to dedicate money towards. Idk. We didn’t get it from this book. But the money facts were cool.

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ran across an interview of Mellody with a fave of mine, Oprah and she explained money with such ease that I simply had to read/have her book. I actually learned a ton about not only the USD but money in general! I have added it to my library and will revisit it many times again. A magnificent books for every kid and adult in your life!!

[Julie Gazca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two cool things I learned - Harriet Tubman will be on our $20 bill by 2030! Andrew Jackson will be phased out, and Harriet Tubman will be phased in; and it takes roughly 2 cents to make 1 penny. Like, why do we even have that coin???

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

When kids ask for a book about money, Priceless is probably exactly what they want. Hobson (a Black woman, president of Ariel Investing and Chairman of Starbucks) takes a child friendly approach, with a young version of herself and her friend John (probably age 9-10) engaging in a series of dialogues that trace the evolution and use of money. An opening conversation introduces bartering (here, a cupcake for a drawing), which leads to a tongue-in-cheek gatefold timeline: dinosaurs/no humans, humans/no dinosaurs/money still not a thing, farming begins/still no money, 5,000 years ago/money becomes a thing!, all accompanied by beautiful, realistic watercolor illustrations with pen-and-ink detailing. The timeline continues past the gatefold, covering the invention of coins, the first corporations, and the introduction of checks and credit cards. The text frequently meanders down interesting side roads, such as an exploration of world currencies, money slang, and a cogent discussion of inflation, but always makes its way back to Mellody and John. The delightful text could even work as a one-to-one read aloud for young kids who want to learn more about money – maybe with the grownup reading a section per night or with the adult reader and child each taking on the role of Mellody or John. John (often appearing with his basketball) and Mellody are adorable and the use of two successful Black business people will send a powerful message. The book also includes an index, making it useful for research. With its inviting look and informal but precise language, this unique offering will find many fans among children in grades 2-6 who have questions about money, banks, credit, and economics. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[OpenedBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Priceless Facts about Money by Mellody Hobson is an engaging and accessible introduction to the history and mechanics of money. The book does a fantastic job of tracing the evolution of currency, from barter systems to modern financial tools, making complex topics easy to grasp.
One of the book’s strengths is how it introduces a wide range of financial concepts, including cheques, credit cards, and loan interest. The material is presented in a way that feels lively rather than overwhelming, thanks to clever dialogues that break up the information and keep it entertaining. Fun illustrations further enhance the reading experience, making abstract financial ideas more tangible.
While the book is mostly universal in its approach, a few pages lean toward an American perspective. This doesn’t take away from the overall accessibility, but it’s worth noting for readers outside the U.S. One noticeable omission is the lack of discussion on cryptocurrency and virtual money—an increasingly relevant part of today’s financial landscape. Including these topics would have made the book feel even more up-to-date.
Overall, Priceless Facts about Money is an excellent resource for anyone looking to understand the foundations of money in a fun and engaging way. It’s a great read for young learners or anyone curious about how financial systems work.

[Kim S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I thought this was billed as a book on finances for young adults. I wanted to give it to every young person I know! But I would like to hear from kids... at what age is this engaging? Maybe 5? Maybe 10? I really don't know. It would be helpful to have a range printed on the flap of the book or something. I'm going to try giving it to my niblings, ages 12 and 14, but I just know it's too young for them. There's a lot of fun interesting trivia, like where do we get our dollar sign symbol from, and I think it promotes healthy talk about money (which we don't talk enough about in healthy ways)... and there is a GREAT index at the back (yay for indexes!!) My niblings are in need of a book to put them on the road to understanding how to MANAGE their money now and into the future... and this isn't it unfortunately, this is more like entertainment. Maybe Mellody Hobson will write another book! Are the workbooks more like what I'm looking for? I wish the flaps or last page gave a "what next" step!

[Donna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is made for children and I purchased it for my Grandson in 3rd grade for his Easter Basket. I read the part Mellody wrote and he got to read John.
What a delightfully fun book.
I learned as much as my grandson.
When they talked about Cacao I let him taste the real thing.
We played with a 100 dollar bill and I let him make the mushroom, find the clues, and see where the bill was printed. He loved that part.
I also put out a bunch of coins and let him have them if he could count them correctly.
We had so much fun with this book.
I'm keeping it at my house and we will read it again.
I recommend you give this to your grandchild so he learns things about money and you read along with the child.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book on television and picked it up. I think it will make a great gift for children to know more about money and the types of money. The use of money and the kinds of things used as money around the world. Our paper money and its history and pictures on the money and why and how they were chosen. And the funny names people give for money. Showing the reader kinds of money used around the world and similarities and differences. The math in doubling a penny every day and what would happen to the amount after 30 days. Why the faces on the paper money change and why the presidents were picked. Great non-fiction book about money.

[Kelly Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Priceless Facts about Money is a brilliantly approachable introduction to finance for young readers. Mellody Hobson’s engaging voice, combined with Caitlin Stevens’ lively illustrations, makes complex concepts like credit, profit, and currency both fun and understandable.

The book’s playful approach complete with cat and bunny skits and historical tidbits turns learning about money into an adventure. It equips children with practical knowledge while inspiring curiosity about the world around them.

A must-read for kids, parents, and educators seeking a creative, informative, and entertaining guide to financial literacy.

[Britany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic children’s book that makes learning about money both fun and educational. While it’s geared toward kids, I still found it interesting and full of valuable insights. The book presents financial concepts in a simple, engaging way, making it a great resource for parents looking to introduce their children to money management. The illustrations are adorable and help bring the lessons to life. Though there aren’t many Canadian references, the information is still relevant and applicable. A great read for families!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect, and I no longer remember how this ended up on my "to read" list, but I liked it.

It's a basic introduction on the history of Money, as a currency. It includes some basic information of barter, money as a means of exchange, things like that. It's intended for elementary readers, as it includes a lot of pronunciation guides, but I liked it as an adult. It's going on the list of "books I give as gifts" at baby showers.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This was an interesting look at the history of money, as well as a number of fun facts about nicknames for money, currencies around the world, explanations of inflations, etc. There's a cool timeline as well. This ended up being a little more elementary than I suspected; it's more of a picture book.

[Symone New · Rating 5 out of 5]

Massively charming, humorous, and such valuable information

Highly recommended. Great information; energetic pacing; beautiful illustrations. And, so powerful to see such successful Black businesspeople hearken pack to their childhood selves to bring this life changing information to new generations.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to see if I should get it for my nieces. It’s a cute overview of information about the history of money, basic concepts of economics, and facts about US (and world) currency. The watercolor & pen illustrations are charming and the layout is approachable. The voice is playful and, of course, you learn why a piece of yarn in fictional Melody’s wallet is “priceless.”

[Jill Jemmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book about the history of and fun facts about money! Money has been used around the world for thousands of years, made of different materials and in different currencies. There are interesting details on our modern bills to prevent counterfeit money being created. This is a great book for kids and adults!

Priceless Facts about Money is a fun and fascinating book!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

EARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This is a great introduction to a wide variety of economic topics, and it is presented in a straightforward (and sometimes humorous) manner. There is also a good balance of text and illustrations so that even young readers will enjoy.

[Nena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent books for kids on how money came to be and how it is used today. I would recommend this book to anyone with kids between the ages of 8 and 12 (like mine!). Kids would benefit from this book.

[Abigail · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in my 30s and I read this out of curiosity. I learned things that maybe I should have known but I didn't; for that, I'm grateful. I'm definitely adding this to my "gifts list" for parent with young kids. I'd love them to learn (more) about money earlier than some of us did.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrated introduction to money (and a bunch of interesting nicknames for it) for young readers.

[A Sole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read if you want to learn several facts that are universal all the other information is related to the US.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction to young children about money. Short, illustration filled, and facts about money.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👦🏻👧🏻 reviews: thumbs up 👍 Thid is very informative and the illustrations are helpful and easy to understand and follow. Great book!

[Emily Perales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very adorable book, I can see my daughter enjoying it.

[Mahna Ghafori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book that helps break down any limiting beliefs about money as it’s written as a children’s book! Fun, entertaining, and informative facts about money from the beginning of time to now!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great book for kids. We need to talk more openly about money and the value of things with our children. This book is a great introduction.

[Chanel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great children’s book and introduction to money. I am looking forward to the next one.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. What an adorable book about money! It’s meant for kids, but I enjoyed it. The illustrations are great, too!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful art!