A DOLLAR'S GRAND DREAM

A dollar goes a long way to find his purpose.

Big Bill is a cowboy-themed dollar bill, complete with hat and lasso, in a world of anthropomorphized currency (picture googly eyes on all those green and metal faces). Tales from Hundred about the luxurious lives of larger bills cause Bill to toss Penny into a fountain and wish to become a larger bill. After becoming a $10,000 bill, our hero gets a tour of the lavish life from Thousand, who tells him that “Rare bills stay in the shade—we can’t afford to fade.” Bill realizes he would rather be a useful bill in circulation than a guarded asset, and he escapes. This book is an effective conversation piece, especially for its many portrayals of how money is handled, including being printed, put in a cash register or purse, flipped into fountains, and transported in trucks. Sans-serif text changes between black and white for maximum contrast, while large, blue sound effects punctuate the action. Punny dialogue imparts monetary terms and idioms (“My two cents—you’re top dollar!”). Backmatter includes notes about the history of U.S. currency, graphics showing the digit places in 10,000 and how $10,000 divides into different denominations, and a bibliography. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An amusing primer on forms and uses of money.