Books
Middle Grade Non-Fiction
Priceless Facts about Money (Mellody on Money)

Priceless Facts about Money (Mellody on Money)

4.3

5.0 (1)

927 0

Write Review Add to favorites

Author(s)

Mellody Hobson

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Caitlin Stevens

Publisher

Candlewick

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

October 01, 2024

ISBN

978-1536224719

Buy This Book

As Oprah says on OprahDaily.com, “Financial expert Mellody Hobson wrote this children’s book to encourage financial literacy, but I bet, like me, many adults will learn fun facts about money—such as where the word greenbacks came from.”

An instant New York Times bestseller!

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.

Editor review

1 review

All About Money

January 28, 2025 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

4.3

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Learning Value

5.0

“Priceless Facts about Money: From the Beginning of Time to the Coins in Your Couch” by Mellody Hobson, illustrated by Caitlin Stevens, starts off with a short history of money and then delves into the first calculator (an abacus), nicknames for money (bacon, bread and dough, bucks, cheddar, moola), world currency symbols, inflation and how supply and demand work, and so much more. There are lots of facts interspersed between other pages that have a dialogue between Mellody, the author of the book, and her current business partner, John.

Mellody grew up with her favorite games—playing store and office. Her mom worked very hard but couldn’t always afford to pay their bills. So, Mellody started getting older and became curious about money. One summer during college, she began working for John, a man who knew lots about money. They still work together three decades later, helping people invest their money so their savings will grow. John’s investment company that he runs with his business partner and friend, Mellody, is his passion.

There is much to learn about money, from the bills we use to how inflation works, and so much more. The pages of this book don’t disappoint in teaching many interesting, sometimes known, and other times not so well known facts.

Good Points

There is much to learn about money, from the bills we use to how inflation works, and so much more. The pages of this book don’t disappoint in teaching many interesting, sometimes known, and other times not so well known facts.

Beth Rodgers, Staff Reviewer Top 10 Reviewer 448 reviews

Comments (0) | Was this review helpful? 0 0

User reviews

1 review

Overall rating

5.0

Writing Style

5.0(1)

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0(1)

Learning Value

5.0(1)

Already have an account? or Create an account

Easy way to become money smart

January 30, 2025 (Updated: June 04, 2026)

Overall rating

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

Learning Value

5.0

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.