Primary age students all seem to know what they want. They may want candy, a new toy, or a pet, but how do they learn to make a choice between what they want and what they need. This book written by Mary Reina helps young readers tell the difference and it “supports national social studies standards related to production, distribution, and consumption.” (from Note to Parents and Teachers- p. 2)

The opening lines are: “We choose how to use our money. Spending, saving, and donating are all money choices. What choices will you make?”  (p. 5) The young reader is given a simple definition- “Needs are things you must have.” (p. 7) plus some typical examples. Then given the simple definition: “Wants are nice but you can live without them.” (p.9) with the examples from above. Then it process to tell that sometimes the choices are not so simple, as when you need new shoes but the ones you want are not practical. You want something to eat, but should you choose fruit or candy. Which is better for your health. The reader then so told about saving part of their money to purchase a bigger item they want at a latter time. Finally, donating money to a cause that needs money, in this case a school bake sale, is given as a suggestion. The book ends with:            “Making good money choices teaches you to use money wisely. You won’t waste money. Then you can keep more of the money you earn.”  (p. 21)

There are two or three sentences on each right-hand page across from an appropriate photo on the left-hand page. Photos throughout the book are multi cultural. While the book measures 6.5″  X 7.5″, it covers a big topic well for this age group.

Includes: glossary, index, www.facthound.com, and two ‘Critical Thinking Using the Common Core’ questions.

Author, Karen English, must have been camping out inside a third grade boy’s head to have written such a realistic story! The cause and effect elements of each of Richard’s actions could not have been more right-on.

Richard can not wait for the weekend to begin. Richard isn’t going to let his teacher;s note about his poor grades spoil it, either. Richard thinks about the note several times over the weekend. but never takes it out of his backpack. It is still there untouched on Monday morning on Richard’s way to school.  In class, Richard tells his teacher, Ms. Shelby-Ortiz, he forgot the note at home. Ms. Shelby-Ortiz has him write his name on the whiteboard to remind her to ask him first thing tomorrow morning.

When Richard gets home there is a blob of melted plastic on the table surrounded by is brothers and mother. It’s the cereal he’d temporarily hidden in the oven on Saturday morning to prevent his older brothers from eating it all. Mom had unknowingly melted it when she turned on the oven to make cookies. There will be no TV or friends over today for Richard.

The next day Richard’s brother finds the note from Ms. Shelby-Ortiz. Darnell has Richard do his dinner dishes job in exchange for getting the note back. The next day Ms. Shelby-Ortiz calls Richard on not having the note signed. No recess until it is back and signed. Plus, a phone call if this doesn’t happen by tomorrow- Wednesday. Richard is so down-in-the-dumps at dinner Mom asks him what is wrong. Richard tells about the note and how Darnell is in possession of it. Punishment time! No TV, no video games, no skate boarding party, no friends over, no dessert, and 100% on next Friday’s spelling test! After the parents meeting with Ms. Shelby-Ortiz there are even more consequences for Richard.

The day of the long awaited skate boarding party comes, but so does a thunder and lightning storm. The party is postponed a week. Richard rejoices at the thought of not missing the party  because his punishment will be over by then. Now Richard begins his missing report on howler monkeys, that began this whole saga, only to find out howler monkeys are quite interesting.

Richard’s week of restrictions is filled with his best school work, studying spelling during missed recesses, and writing his report. He has no time for TV, or video games, and practicing a new skate boarding trick. But it all pays off on Friday, when he first passes his spelling test, and then presents his howler monkey report. “His week of punishment is over.” (p. 104)  Richard decides he is not ready to show-off his flat ground-ollie over a crate at the party, instead Richard does a flat ground-ollie. “Oh, well, Richard thinks. He doesn’t care. He did it! And he didn’t fall!”            That alone feels great. He picks up his board and climbs the steps to where Gavin is sitting in the bleachers with a big grin on his face.” (p. 113)

Throughout each of the eleven chapters there are two or three black and grey stretches which drive home the point of the text.

• One small mistake, there is a period missing on the ninth line on page 25.