Dirt Cheap

by Mark Hoffmann

A young entrepreneur sets out to earn some money and discovers the value of a dollar (and of dirt)!

Birdie doesn't know much about money. All she knows is that she wants a new soccer ball that costs $24.95. The fastest way to that $24.95 is going into sales, but what to sell?

All her belongings?
Not much of a market for those.

Birdie needs something that she has in abundance and that everyone needs. So when she sees everyone in her neighborhood working on their yards, she realizes she's hit pay dirt. Literally!

Soon Birdie is raking in the dough, with profits of all varieties: quarters, dimes, nickels, pennies, even dollar bills! Now she can buy that soccer ball, but does her business plan have any holes?

Genres: Picture Books, Money, Mathematics, Humor, Childrens, Fiction, Entrepreneurship

40 pages, Library Binding

Published April 21, 2020

Reviews

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dirt Cheap by Mark Hoffman PICTURE BOOK Alfred A. Knopf (Penguin Random House), 2020 $18. 9781524719944

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The cost of a new soccer ball is about $25, so this little entrepreneur has some great ideas to raise some money. When a yard sale doesn't do it, she decides to sell dirt, by the bag for .25 a bag. Boy, is she popular! People are coming from all over to buy her dirt and soon she raises enough capital to buy the soccer ball. But now, she has no yard to pay with it in - she sold it all as dirt. Now she'll have to think of something else, because replacing her yard with topsoil is expensive.

An interesting way to teach children the value of money. There was a clever illustration that showed all the different ways to make .25 no one paid in paper money so she had to drag a huge bag of coins to the sporting goods store. That's a heavy bag. While I applaud her ingenuity, I didn't love the story - the voice that explains things to her "there's lots of ways to make 25 cents" was strange - I wish it had been a character - if it's an adult, they certainly weren't very helpful as the girl got herself into quite a pickle.

Lisa Librarian
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[Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

Consumerism, resource extraction, and child labor are at the heart of this story that will likely be funny for some adults and baffling to children. If the message is "you have to work for what you want," its a cruel way to teach it. The child is unsupported by their family and neighbors who seem happy to take advantage of the child's naivety.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birdie's plight is similar to that of many youngsters. But in her case she figures out a smart--and legal--way to solve her dilemma. Birdie desperately wants a new soccer ball, but she can't afford it. It seems that nothing she has is worth very much until she has a brainstorm and figures out what she can sell. Her plans work out well, and eventually she is able to sell enough dirty to purchase the coveted soccer ball. The only trouble is that she no longer has much yard in which to play. But Birdie is unflappable, and concocts another plan that will provide money for her own grassy lawn. Although I doubt that any parent would allow his/her child to dig up the yard as Birdie does, I have to give her credit for being a good problem-solver and not giving up on her dream. Created with acrylics and colored pencil, the illustrations show just how hard Birdie is working and how a little bit of money can mount up. Although the dirt she sold was quite cheap and affordable and the soil she purchased was much more expensive, in the end, everyone got what they wanted. As I finished the book, though, I wondered why Birdie didn't start her own lawn care business initially and save herself all that trouble. Clearly, she is quite a good little entrepreneur, but all that labor may leave little time for soccer.

[Holly Griffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This light-hearted and comical tale briefly follows Birdie on her endeavor to earn money for the XR1000 Super Extreme soccer ball and soon after a couple of unsuccessful sales, Birdie soon finds a route that will lead her to the soccer ball she has been so desperately trying to get. After selling bags of dirt for only 25 cents (I know... what a great price) she soon earns enough pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters to buy herself the XR1000 Super Extreme soccer ball. However, once she purchases the ball, Birdie soon realizes, she shoveled and sold away all of her yard and now has to find a way to earn money to rebuild herself a field to play with her super extreme ball. Readers even gain a mini-math lesson as one page describes and renders the various forms twenty-five cents can appear in, through two dimes and one nickel, 4 nickels and 5 five pennies, twenty-five pennies, and so forth. The book even provides a humorous take on finding practical ways of earning money as a young person and overall can prompt the reader to close the book with a smile on their face. The book however, does not make crystal clear who is asking Birdie all of the questions throughout the tale and the overall message is not as clear as well. I give the book a 3.8 rating. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and the obnoxiously oversized yellow frames that circle over Birdie's face.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cost of a new soccer ball is about $25, so this little entrepreneur has some great ideas to raise some money. When a yard sale doesn't do it, she decides to sell dirt, by the bag for .25 a bag. Boy, is she popular! People are coming from all over to buy her dirt and soon she raises enough capital to buy the soccer ball. But now, she has no yard to pay with it in - she sold it all as dirt. Now she'll have to think of something else, because replacing her yard with topsoil is expensive.

An interesting way to teach children the value of money. There was a clever illustration that showed all the different ways to make .25 no one paid in paper money so she had to drag a huge bag of coins to the sporting goods store. That's a heavy bag. While I applaud her ingenuity, I didn't love the story - the voice that explains things to her "there's lots of ways to make 25 cents" was strange - I wish it had been a character - if it's an adult, they certainly weren't very helpful as the girl got herself into quite a pickle.

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[Carrie Charley Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entrepreneur lessons are expertly woven into the underlying features of this story. Outside of money equivalency, kids won't realize they are being taught about supply/demand, prices, and business because it evolves so naturally. There are lots of opportunities for kids to think of solutions along with the main character, some with page-turn potential, which amps up suspense. It will make them invested in the main character's well-being. The twist at the end is one that the reader can discover throughout the story without the main character thinking ahead to the surprise. This is another great way for them to stay vested in the story... to see how the main character handles the surprise when she discovers it.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this picture book about a young child (Birdie) looking to earn some money to buy the XR1000 Super Extreme soccer ball of her dreams. She decides to sell dirt at the dirt cheap price of $0.25 a bag. Reaching her goal, she buys the ball and realizes she has no where to play because her yard has been completely torn up! So she starts a lawn care business to make money to buy...dirt.

Would be a great read when students are learning about money. One page in particular shows seven different ways to make twenty-five cents.

A fun story to remind kids that hard work and earning money can help you buy what your heart desires.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdie wants to get a new soccer ball but she does not have the money. She decides to sell things to earn the money only no one wants her stuff. So she decides to sell dirt and she is selling it for cheap. Through the book Birdie learns about money and also consequences. What happens when you have sold all the dirt from your yard once you purchase your soccer ball. Birdie shows that with a little creativity and hard work all things are possible and are usually a learning process as well. This would be a fun book to share with budding entrepreneurs as well as those that need to learn the value of a dollar. I would recommend its purchase to most public and school libraries.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever book that provides mathematical and economic themes in a very accessible way to young readers. Main character Birdie's desire for a special soccer ball sets her on a mission to make money eventually by selling cheap dirt. Various ways that people paid her 25 cents is featured on one page. She reminds young readers that they can find ways to make the money they need for the things they want.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little bit of math (love the combinations of coins to make 25 cents) and a little bit of economics (she sold the dirt too cheaply because she didn't understand its value), and a little bit of The Gift of the Magi but with just one person (she bought the soccer ball, but can't play because she has no yard anymore).

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute story, and it uses math in a marvellously easy way to demonstrate what Birdie is trying to do.
Birdie wants a super special soccer ball, but she has no money to buy it. She tries to sell things but then realizes she is standing on something that is what a lot of people might need. She sets out to make enough money, but then later realizes she has to get busy replacing what she sold!
Great illustrations. Fun story.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you want a new soccer ball—really really want a new soccer ball—but you don't have the money, it's time to become an entrepreneur. But dirt isn't actually dirt cheap if you know what you're doing.

This book almost lost me in the first half, but the funny twist and the ending made me laugh, so I encourage you to keep going. It touches on basic math skills and considering consequences, but it doesn't take itself too seriously.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdie really wants the fancy new soccer ball-- but she doesn't have the money for it. What can she do to earn some? Sell some dirt, and for dirt cheap! There's just one problem... what happens when you can't use your new ball because you've run out of lawn? Dirt Cheap is a funny little book that interacts with the main character and helps to teach the value of money for just $17.99 USD!

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some positive things from this book: it can be used when talking about money (especially coins), thinking things through, and the value of hard work. I also like how the author included diverse characters within the book and the spirit of entrepreneurship. Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birdie has set her sights on a soccer ball for the price of only $24.95. The only problem is Birdie doesn't have the money, so Birdie decides to come up with a plan to earn the amount needed to purchase the ball. What follows is a lesson on economics and supply and demand that Birdie won't soon forget.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was part of the "Reading is an Investment" program offered by the VT Treasurers office. It is a fun book, very engaging and does have a clear message on what it means to be an Entrepreneur. The main character is Birdie, illustrated with big glasses and big eyes. She is fun and it is written with a narrator and her text.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birdie really wants a new soccer ball, the XR1000 Super Extreme Soccer Ball, but she doesn’t have any money. So the narrator suggests that she sell some of her stuff, but no one seems to want what she has … until she offers to sell a bag of dirt for 25 cents. She makes enough to buy the soccer ball, but where is she going to play soccer now that her yard is gone?

[Connie T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birdie has her eye on a fancy soccer ball but doesn't have the money to buy it. She discovers having a yard sale is unsuccessful but selling dirt brings in the needed funds, especially after lowering her price. Now her problem is her yard is all dug up and she has no place to play soccer! Birdie needs dirt! Solving these problems teaches Birdie the value of money - and dirt.

[Ashlee Vogelsang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute book. Birdie wants to buy something and needs to raise the money. Most kids know this feeling all to well. Making money wasn't the problem but what she didn't have afterward, was a problem. The colors in illustrations are perfect to read in a classroom and all of the little side notes would make great conversation starters.

[SilverReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The glasses were hysterical! This is the old tale of a kid wanting something, this time a soccer ball and finding a way to come up with the money. Not only is the money earned, but a problem is created. The girl in fixing this problem learns some money lessons along the way.

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple cute and funny. I like that it teaches about the ways to make 25 cents.
It's a funny storry and well paced. The illustrations are simple but cute. I liked the back and forth between the narrator and Birdie. The ending was also pretty good.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Birdie wants a soccer ball, so she sells all the dirt in her yard to buy one. When she gets the ball she realizes she has no yard to play in, so she earns money doing lawn care to fill her yard with dirt again.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute And clever way to show kids the value of working hard to make money. It also teaches some money math concepts. I thought it was overall a really great book, but as far as the illustrations go I found her glasses to be incredibly distracting and strange.

[Jessie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's some brief math here -- the different ways to split 25 cents, the change the main character has left at the end. There's also some economics, thinking about the right price for things (and being wrong in both directions).

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using the turn of phrase Dirt Cheap Cheap Dirt, the author illustrator teaches a lesson in entrepreneurship and counting change. He uses a little girl who wants a soccer ball and has to raise money to get it to tell the story. Cute book.

[Betsy Ellor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute fun book with a great twist. I picked it up because I was interested in the math angle. The math part was a little young for my 8 yo but he liked the story and read it several times with me and to himself. It's a fun little book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young entrepreneurial girl comes up with a way to earn a enough money to buy a new soccer ball.

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I received an F&G at ALA Midwinter 2020.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute ☺

[A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, perfect for classroom read-alouds and supporting math work.