M Is for Money: An Economics Alphabet (Science Alphabet)

Gr 3-6--This picture book primer offers students a broad introduction to economics, but the alphabet approach is an imperfect format helped little by the illustrations. Content ranges from simple ideas such as "Loan," "Money," and "Spending" to harder concepts that include "Demand and Supply," "Goods and Services," "Needs and Wants" to much more difficult abstractions such as "Exchange Rate," "Yearly Economic Growth," and "Zero Profit Condition." The alphabetic sequence mixes up any logic that might build understanding among the various concepts, instead forcing readers to take each topic individually. The simple four-line poems contribute little besides conforming to the series format. VERDICT This cursory introduction to the subject of economics is best suited for browsers.--Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX