The Fabulous Fannie Farmer
By Emma Bland Smith | Illustrated by Susan Reagan – Calkins Creek/2024
About The Fabulous Fannie Farmer
Fannie Farmer, America’s most famous cooking teacher, discovers that precise measurements are a recipe for cooking success in this STEAM picture book that includes two of her classic recipes.
Reading Level: 3.0
Interest level: 2-5
Economic Concepts:
- Human Capital
- Choices
- Goods
- Services
- Productive Resources
Pa, Me, and Our Sidewalk Pantry
By Toni Buzzeo | Illustrated by Zara Gonzalez Hoang – Abrams books for Young Readers/2023
Pa and his grandchild, Jelly Bean, have a sidewalk library filled with stories. Anyone can bring donations or take something to read. Jelly Bean loves the sidewalk library! But what about when their neighbors might need something more than books? Together, Pa and Jelly Bean build a sidewalk pantry right next to the sidewalk library. They get donations from neighbors who have a lot to give, and leave the doors open for those who may not have enough.
Reading Level: 1.0
Interest level: K-3
Economic Concepts
- Wants
- Needs
- Opportunity Cost
- Substitute Goods
- Complementary Goods
- Supply
- Demand
Water Day
By Margarita Engle | Illustrated by Olivia Sua – Atheneum Books for Young Readers/2023
Water days are busy days,
grateful, laughing,
thirsty days.
A small village no longer has a water supply of its own, but one young girl and her neighbors get by with the help of the water man. When he comes to town, water flows like hope for the whole familia, and everyone rejoices.
Reading level: 1.0
Interest level: PK-3
Economic Concepts
- Scarcity
- Choices
- Decision-making
- Allocation of Limited Resources
- Opportunity cost
- Unintended Consequences
- Wants
- Needs
Virginia Elementary School Librarians and Teachers:
To learn more about the Reading Makes Cents program including how your school can get a set of these three books and a ton of resources and support, click here.
Each year the Virginia Council on Economic Education provides comprehensive online resources customized to the three featured books in order to help solidify the concepts and further engage students.
- Click here for the 2023-24 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2022-23 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2021-22 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2020-21 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2019-20 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2018-19 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2017-18 lesson plans and activities.
- Click here for the 2016-17 lesson plans and activities.