CASH STASH

An educational episode about how to handle one’s savings.

Julian’s proud that his piggy bank is nearly full. Once he has over $350 saved up, Julian’s parents ask him to consider opening a bank account. He and his best friend, Lucy, then absorb negative depictions of banks from history and pop culture, such as bank failures during the Great Depression and a robbery on a TV show. They also meet with a banker named Rebecca who addresses their concerns and tells them about FDIC insurance. After Julian’s piggy bank briefly goes missing, Rebecca helps Julian open a savings account. His suspicion of bank accounts turns to excitement when he learns about the power of compound interest, which the book reinforces with a couple of charts. The story ends with an amusing “Moola Man” comic (drawn by Julian), which incorporates everything he’s learned about banks and savings accounts. Filled with warm illustrations, the story puts a friendly face on some dry but important topics in financial literacy. Notably, Lucy is a math whiz who burns through money quickly, while Charlotte, a second grader who lives in Julian and Lucy’s building, has more money than Julian does, already stored in a bank. In the illustrations, Lucy appears tan-skinned, Julian reads Asian, Rebecca presents Black, and Charlotte is light-skinned.

A great introduction to banking concepts, as well as a reminder to check the interest rates on one’s accounts.