1. Running Head: FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 1
Families Facing Financial Hardships
An Annotated Bibliography
Amy Taylor
Emporia State University

2. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 2
Introduction
This annotated bibliography is meant to provide a list of resources that can teach children
how many families face and deal with financial struggles. There are not many resources that
speak directly to children regarding this issue. Much research was done in an attempt to find
resources created specifically for children. Even the collective brains of librarians worldwide via
the listserv LM-Net offered very few suggestions. Therefore, most of resources listed here are
fiction books that tell the stories of families dealing with job loss or poverty, websites that offer
advice to parents, teachers, and counselors, and websites for children related to other associated
issues such as money management and stress. It appears that most people feel this issue is
weighty enough to require direct adult supervision when having frank discussions.
Bibliography
Books
Banks, S. H. (2010). The everlasting now. Atlanta: Peachtree.
The Everlasting Now is a compelling fiction book about a little boy, Brother, growing up
during the great depression. His father was forced to close his newspaper in a small
southern town due to the economy and went looking for work in the North. While there
he is killed accidentally in a strike and Brother’s mother is left to care for the family. She
decides to take in borders as a way to support her family. This is wonderful book that not
only teaches one a great deal about doing with less but also touches upon the theme of
racism. Recommended - Grades 3-8.
Boelts, M., & Jones, N. (2007). Those shoes. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

3. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 3
Jeremy really wants a new pair of black high top sneaker that everyone else in school has
(at least it seems like everyone else has a pair.) But his grandmother cannot afford them
and is saving her money to provide Jeremy with snow boots for the coming winter.
Jeremy is ecstatic when he finds a pair at the thrift store and purchases them, even though
they are too small. Unfortunately they hurt too badly to wear and Jeremy is force to go to
school without them on. And then Jeremy is faced with a dilemma. He sees a friend
whose shoes have been duct taped together and realizes his black high tops would fit that
friend.
This is a great picture book about needs vs. wants and sacrifice. Recommended – Grades
K-4.
Cleary, B., & Dockray, T. (1976). Ramona and her father. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
Although this title was originally published in 1976, it is a classic book about a family
dealing with a financial crisis and should be included on any bibliography dealing with
that theme. It is the story of Ramona Quimby and her family as they deal with her father
being unexpectantly laid off. The really incredible thing about this book is how it covers
the emotional side of this issue candidly and with grace. A wonderful book. Highly
Recommended – Grades 2-5.
Ellis, A. D. (2009). Everything is fine. New York: Little, Brown and.
The main crisis faced by the family in this book is the death of child. The father’s strong
desire for a better job and more money lead him to take steps that cause even further
problems for his severely depressed wife and surviving child. In his quest for a better job
he leaves his daughter, Mazzy, to care for his almost catatonic wife. Mazzy narrates the
novel with a raw yet witty voice. The author never gives Mazzy’s age and her narration

4. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 4
leaves you guessing. Her behavior leads you to believe she is quite young, 8 or 9, but
other clues imply she is much older, 13 or 14. This, coupled with her mother’s
depression, leaves the reader with a realistic look at the impact the quest for more money
can have on family. Recommended – Grades 6-9.
Fine, E. H., Josephson, J. P., & Sosa, H. (2007). Armando and the blue tarp school. New York:
Lee & Low Books.
Armando helps keep his family fed by working with his father at the Tijuana dump. They
pick through trash looking for anything valuable they may be able to use or sell. But
Armando dreams of getting an education at the Blue Tarp school, finally his father
concedes. Soon after, the colonia where Armando and his family live burns. When
reporters visit to cover the fire they also cover the blue tarp school and publish one of
Armando’s paintings. A wealthy benefactor sees the article and donates enough money to
build a new true school.
This story is based on the true story of David Lynch, a special education teacher from
New York who has devoted the last 31 years of his life to the education of Tijuana’s
children. It is a wonderful story about giving, perseverance and the importance of
education. At the back of the book is an author’s note documenting the story of Lynch.
There is also a wonderful accompanying website. Recommended – Grades 2-5.
González, L. M., & Delacre, L. (2008). The storyteller's candle. San Francisco, CA: Children's
Book Press.
Hildamar and Santiago are two cousins who have recently moved to New York from
Puerto Rico as part of their family’s attempt to find work during the Great Depression.
They have only been in New York for a few months when Three Kings Day approaches.

5. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 5
Concerned that they may not be able celebrate because they are so far from home, they
seek solace at the public library. Upon meeting Pura Belpre, the children’s librarian at the
library, they learn that the library is for anyone and everyone.
This is a wonderful book for all children, it teaches them what holidays are truly about
and reassures them about the true nature of the library. One really nice feature is that it is
bilingual. It is based on the true story of Pura Belpre, the first Peurto Rican New York
librarian. The Pura Belpre Award in named in her honor. The book includes a biography
of Belpre in the back along with a Spanish glossary. The illustrations are also wonderful.
They were done as collage and period newspapers are used throughout. The newsprint is
used very purposely; certain stories or sections are used where they fit with the story. In
fact, the book could also be used to teach a history lesson through the newspaper
clippings. Highly Recommended – Grades K-6.
Greenwald, L. (2009). My life in pink & green. New York: Amulet Books.
Lucy is a very strong and creative 12-year-old girl. When she learns that her family
pharmacy is about to go bankrupt she begins planning. She is constantly looking for ways
to improve business at the pharmacy. Through a series of random incidents she stumbles
upon a great idea, an eco-pharmacy. She goes looking for investors and with the help of
her older sister she applies for a grant from the city.
Although it is heartbreaking to think of the worry this little girl is going through and her
lost youth, the reader is inspired by her entrepreneurial spirit and confidence. This book is
also a great read for parents because it demonstrates that trying to protect their children
from adult worries may cause them more anxiety. Highly Recommended – Grades 5-9.

6. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 6
Milway, K. S., & Fernandes, E. (2008). One hen: how one small loan made a big difference.
Toronto: Kids Can Press.
A fantastic book about micro financing and the impact it can have on a community. This
story is based on the true story of Kwabena Darko, an Ashanti poultry famer who started
Opportunity International, a non-profit micro lending organization. The story begins
when Kojo, a small boy growing up in an Ashanti village, loses his father and must quit
school to help his mother. His village uses micro-lending so he and his mother decide to
take a small load to purchase a cart so they can take more firewood with them to the
market to sell. They have a few coins left so Kojo’s mother lets him use them to purchase
a small hen. He plans to sell the hen’s eggs. This small investment turns into a large
business. This book can be used to teach a variety of lessons, about money, teamwork,
giving back and much more. There is also a great website that accompanies the book.
Highly Recommended – Grades 3-6.
Noble, T. H., & Ettlinger, D. (2007). The orange shoes. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press.
Nelly’s family is very poor, so poor that in October she’s still walking to school barefoot.
So poor that she must turn used envelopes inside out for drawing paper. When it becomes
clear Nelly needs shoes, her father also discovers he needs new tires for his truck. Now
the family faces a tough decision. Then her teacher announces a shoebox social and Nelly
is teased because she has no shoes, but Nelly has learned how to be resourceful and
creative. Her shoebox entry turns out to be one of the best.
This is a terrific story that deals with facing financial hardships as well as bullying and
the power of creativity. There are also some wonderful online resources provided by
Gale-Cengage. Recommended – Grades 2-5.

7. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 7
O'Connor, B. (2007). How to steal a dog: a novel. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
Georgina and her brother are forced to live in a car with their mother when their father
abandons them leaving nothing but some rolled up cash in a mayonnaise jar. Desperate to
get out of the car and to have a home, Georgina comes up with a plan to steal a dog. She
believes that if she finds the right dog and right owner, a reward will be offered. All she
has to do is find the dog, steal it, and wait for reward signs to be posted. Then she can
return it for the reward money.
Georgina’s voice is authentic and gives the reader a true glimpse at the pressures
homelessness puts on children. This book is not a sunny optimistic after school special.
Instead it gives a realistic look at the desperation and ugliness stressful situations can
bring out in both adults and children. However, it is told in a child’s voice and manner
making it a good read for children. There are discussion guides available online at the
publisher’s website and a literature circle guide at the scholastic website. Recommended
– Grades 4-7.
Randall, A. L., & Farnsworth, B. (2008). The wheat doll. Atlanta: Peachtree.
This story is set in the 1800’s in Utah. It’s about a little girl named Mary Ann whose best
friend is her wheat doll named Betty. One day in the fall, while working in the garden,
Mary Ann is called to the house due to a strong storm. In her hurry she accidently leaves
Betty sitting on a stone in the garden. Once the storm passes she looks everywhere for
Betty but cannot find her. Winter comes and Mary Ann is forced to give up the search.
But when spring finally comes Mary Ann sees something at the bottom of the hill. It’s
what’s left of Betty and there is a wheat plant growing from her belly. Mary Ann uses the
new wheat plant to make a new wheat doll.

8. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 8
This is a wonderful book about living a more simple life and making due with what you
have. It also gives a great picture of what pioneer life was like. Ironically, it is also based
on a true story. Recommended – Grades K-3.
Snyder, Z. K. (2008). The bronze pen. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Audrey Abbott doesn’t lead the typical life of a junior high school student. She leaves
school early each day to care for her sick father while her mother works tirelessly to keep
the family just above water. But Audrey dreams of becoming a writer and one day while
writing she is lead by a white duck to a cave where an old woman gives her a bronze pen.
The only instruction she is given is to use the pen “wisely and with good purpose.” Soon
Audrey realizes the pen magically makes everything she writes come true and with a little
bit of practice she may be able to make her family’s troubles disappear.
This is a cute little fantasy novel but it wraps up a little too neatly in the end. Although
it’s an interesting story, it isn’t a very realistic view of how to overcome financial
difficulties and the stress it can bring to a family. Recommended – Grades 5-8.
Tripp, V., & Rane, W. (2006). Kit's short story collection. Middleton, WI: American Girl.
This is a collection of short stories that center on the life of Kit, one of the American Girl
dolls. Kit is growing up during the Great Depression. Her family has taken in boarders to
make ends meet. Although all the stories deal with the struggles her family faces due to
the economy, they also cover other themes. For instance, one story deals with scarlet
fever, another with female tennis, and one describes librarians delivering books in the
Appalachians via horseback. At the end of each story there is a historical section
describing what was actually happening in the 1930s in relation to the topics discussed in
the story. For example, at the end of the story about Kit catching scarlet fever there is a

9. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 9
section about how the health department dealt with scarlet fever cases in the 1930s. There
are even pictures from the period. This is a great read because it not only shows the
ingenuity of Americans during the Great Depression but it also gives a wide variety of
history from the period. It will especially appeal to little girls who love the American Girl
Dolls. Highly Recommended – Grades 2-5.
Wallace, B. (2007). The dog who thought he was Santa. New York: Holiday House.
Set in Oklahoma in the 1950s, this is the story of a family preparing for Christmas while
also worrying about their father’s job at the mine. The story is told by alternating
narrators, one human and the other canine. Frank, the family’s dog, doesn’t understand
why everyone is worrying.
Through the Frank’s narration, the author is able to do terrific job describing all the
emotions each member of the family feels. The end is a little too clean with the father
being offered a new job for twice his current salary. However, the candid description of
the family’s feelings and emotions make this a wonderful read. Highly Recommended –
Grades 4-7.
Young, J., & Ellison, C. (2008). The lucky star. Chelsea, MI.: Sleeping Bear Press.
Ruth is looking forward to starting the fifth grade in the fall. But, due to the Great
Depression, her small town is unable to keep her school open. Ruth’s mother tells her to
look to for the lucky star and try to keep her head up. Then Ruth realizes she can help the
children in her town learn to read and write.
This is an inspiring story about how looking for solutions rather than dwelling on the
problems can help people make true change. The illustrations are beautiful as well.
Highly Recommended – Grades 3-6.

10. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 10
Websites
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Dollars and sense: Talking to your children about
the economy. Retrieved February 20, 2011, from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/children-
economy.aspx
The American Pyschological Association has a psychological help center where parents
can search for information to help them through tough situations. There are several
articles available to guide parents in their discussions about financial hardships. This
particular article stresses that, although resilient, children are very perceptive to tension
and ignoring their concerns is counter-production. It also lists signals stressed out
children give and offers suggestions of what to do when parents become concerned.
There are also several useful resource links listed.
Children, Youth and Women's Health Service. (n.d.). Kids' Health. Retrieved from
http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicCategories.aspx?&p=287
This website is maintained by the Children, Youth and Women's Health Service in South
Australia. Its intended audience is children and it offers a variety of resources concerning
all areas of children's health. One section is completed devoted to "feelings" which
includes anxiety and stress. The interface is very kid friendly as is the text. Each feeling
is covered in great detail and includes a section titled "What you can do." Which leaves
children with a feeling of empowerment. Highly Recommended - Kids - Grades 3-5.
Disney. (n.d.). The Great Piggy Bank Adventure Financial Education Game. Retrieved from
http://piggybank.disney.go.com/media/ap/piggybank/index.html
The Great Piggy Bank Adventure asks kids to pick a character and then set out to earn
money, save money, and purchase things. The best element of this game is that goes

11. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 11
beyond having kids choose whether to sell lemonade or buy something. It asks them
questions about money management and gives them real life situations in which they
have to make choices. Their answers and choices earn them money which they can
choose to invest, save, or spend. This is an excellent game but is definitely geared to an
older audience. Recommended - Kids - Grades 6-8.
Dumas, L. S. (1992, March 1). Daddy Got Fired & Are We Going to Be Poor? Psychology
Today: Health, Help, Happiness Find a Therapist. Retrieved from
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/199203/daddy-got-fired-are-we-going-be-
poor?page=3
Psychology Today is a wonderful website with a wealth of information for parents. This
particular article lays out the 10 steps parents should take when talking to their children
about job loss. The first step is the most crucial, leveling with children about what is
happening. Trying to hide this kind of information from children will only cause more
damage. This is a good article for parents to read before talking with their children
because it gives examples of what to say and how to handle their children’s questions.
Other related articles can also be found by searching the site. Recommended – Parents.
Economic Education Web. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2011, from
http://ecedweb.unomaha.edu/home.cfm
This site is for educators. It is maintained by the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The
site provides a plethora of lessons for teaching economics to kindergarteners through
seniors. They are divided by concepts as well as content areas. Each lesson includes a list
of required materials and a description of the procedure. The amazing thing about this

12. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 12
site is the shear amount of lessons available, not only for upper grades but for lower
grades as well. Highly Recommended - Educators - Grades K-12.
ING. Planet Orange. (n.d.). from http://www.orangekids.com/
This site was put together by the investment firm ING. It focuses on teaching kids about
money management and investing. It is a little more complicated that the Mad Money
game available through PBS. Users must create an account but they are free. The premise
is that kids take on an alter ego of an astronaut and they visit various planets and
continents trying to earn money, manage it wisely, and make good investments. Kids can
decorate their space station and earn badges. It really is a fun game. Recommended --
Kids - Grades 6-8.
Keep The Change. (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2011, from
http://www.kidsnumbers.com/keep_the_change.php
The purpose of this site is to teach kids about money using a very simple piggy bank
game. It does a terrific job of teaching them denominations of coin and paper money and
how to count it. However, it does very little in regards to how to manage it or make good
money choices. This would be a good introductory lesson to money or a math lesson for
counting money. But it would not be a good go to resource for money management. Not
Recommended.
KidsHealth. Retrieved from
http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/thought/money_woes.html#cat20071
KidsHealth is an excellent physical and mental health resource for both kids and teens. It
has a very kid-friendly interface and speaks in their terms. One really nice feature is that
the kids and teens sections are separate and have an entirely different look and feel. There

13. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 13
are several parts to this site which would be very helpful to kids, teachers, and parent who
have concerns about financial hardships. They are: Money Woes, Worrying, When Your
Parent Fight, and Yoga for Managing Your Stress. All four sections give great
suggestions and they offer a kids perspective. This a terrific resource. Highly
Recommended - Kids, Parents, and Educators - Grades 2-9
Kowalski, K. M. (2000). Coping with Stress. Weekly Reader publication, 27(1), 6. Retrieved
from Kid InfoBits.
Kid Infobits is a subscription database but it is available for free through Mid-Continent
Public Libraries and the Kansas City Public Libraries. It is a terrific database for children
because of its kid friendly interface. Kids can search for information using the search box
or subject headings. There are many articles related to money, economy, and stress
available via Kid Infobits. This particular article is written for children and gives them
advice on how to cope with stress. This is one of the only sites found that speak directly
to children about these issues. Highly Recommended - Kids - Grades 3-9.
LavaMind. (n.d.). Gazillionaire. Retrieved from http://www.gazillionaire.com/index.html
This is a really interesting site. It is home to three shareware video games that can be
downloaded or played online for free. Each game is a simulation meant to educate kids
about the world or business and finance. The game Zapitalism, has students creating their
own retail buisness, Gazillionaire focuses on the stock market and is only available via a
download, and Profitania's focus is on manufacturing. The games are complicated and a
bit text heavy but addictive (and free.) Recommended - Kids, Parents, and Educators -
Grades 5 & up.
PBS Kids. (n.d.). Don't Buy It. Retrieved from http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/

14. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 14
Don't Buy It is a media literacy site aimed at teaching kids the tricks of the advertising
trade. Some of the activities include designing your own cereal box, looking for
advertising clues in a commercial. and revealing the secrets of a cover model. This is a
fantastic site. The look and feel is perfect for a tween audience. Plus it is interactive,
which is a big plus. This would be a great resource for teaching kids how to combat
commercialism and make better economic choices. Highly Recommended - Kids,
Parents, and Educators - Grades 5-9.
PBS Kids. (2005). It's My Life. Retrieved from
http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/games/mad_money_flash.html
This website was put together by PBS to help kids learn about saving money. It is
centered around the game "Mad Money." It asks kids to pick an item for which they want
to save. Then every two weeks they are given a $15 dollar allowance. The tricky part is
that they also have things they must purchase each month but are given choices regarding
what specific item they buy. For example, they may to purchase a gift for a birthday party
but they can choose which gift. They also have to watch out for opportunities to make
extra money and unforeseen expenditures. This is a great way to teach kids how money
and savings actually work. Recommended -- Kids - Grades 5 - 8
Scholastic. (n.d.). Help Kids Understand the Financial Crisis. Retrieved from
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=453
Scholastic has put together a wonderful webpage with a wealth of information for both
teachers and parents. There are links to articles for parents, activities for students, as well
as lesson plans and discussion guides for various novels with financial themes. One peice
of particular interest was an interview done with a child psychologist about the

15. FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL 15
appropriateness of discussion about the financial crisis and how to fit those lessons into
classroom curriculum. Recommended – Educators.
Scholastic. (n.d.). You're the President. Retrieved February 23, 2011, from
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/games_quizzes/electiongame/game.asp
This is a fun little game to help students understand the role of the government and how
difficult it must be to budget its money. The game requires that students pick their
advisors and divide their budget between education, healthcare, military, law
enforcement, and the environment. The student’s are also asked to explain their choices.
At the end their choices are mashed up and a newspaper article is created. This would be
a terrific opening to a lesson about the federal budget and making choices. Students could
even share their articles and discuss the differences between them. Recommended –
Educators and Students - Grades 4-6.
Stress-O-Meter Quiz. (n.d.). BAM! Body and Mind. Retrieved from
http://www.bam.gov/sub_yourlife/yourlife_stressometer.html
This site was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources. It begins
with a Stress Quiz and then gives kids a "stress rating" with suggestions for
improvement. The quiz feature is really nice because it gives kids a lot of choices and
asks questions in a variety of ways. It also gives kids the freedom to answer honestly with
no concerns about their privacy. The suggestions are very good, they go beyond the
typical "get a good breakfast" and encourage volunteering, journaling, an much more.
Although kids can feel a lot of stress, adults do not often recognize the symptoms or
consider talking to them about strategies to combat their feelings. This site helps to fill
that void. Highly Recommended -- Kids - Grades 5-9.