Reading Makes Cents

Reading Makes Cents is a statewide reading challenge for all elementary and middle schools designed to introduce basic financial concepts to K-8 students.

All Virginia elementary school librarians are invited to complete a simple application in order to bring Reading Makes Cents to your school courtesy of SOAR Virginia and Invest529.

Please visit www.ReadingMakesCents.com to learn more and sign up.

2024 – 2025 Featured Books

***The Fabulous Fannie Farmer***
By Emma Bland Smith
Illustrated by Susan Reagan
Calkins Creek/2024

READ ALOUD

**Pa, Me, and Our Sidewalk Pantry**
By Toni Buzzeo
Illustrated by Zara Gonzalez Hoang
Abrams Books for Young Readers/2023

READ ALOUD

***Water Day***
By Margarita Engle
Illustrated by Olivia Sua
Atheneum Books for Young Readers/2023

READ ALOUD

Here’s how it works: Participating schools earn three free books (with library binding) for your library. In exchange, you agree to read and discuss the featured books with students, complete a post-program evaluation, and promote the program – including giving students the chance to win a $529 college savings account from SOAR Virginia and Invest529 and/or winning $500 worth of financial literacy books for your school library. This program is presented by SOAR Virginia, Invest529 and the Virginia Council on Economic Education with input and support from the Virginia Association of School Librarians.

The objective is to help students understand and apply the following Virginia History and Social Science Standards of Learning:

Saving and the importance of budgeting money to buy things in the future
People make choices because they cannot have everything they want and all choices have an opportunity cost (the second choice given up when making a choice)
Investing in your human capital (a person’s specific knowledge and skills)
People work at jobs to earn money