Pocket Change
Pitching in for a Better World
by Michelle Mulder
Orca Book Publishers, 2016
ISBN 978-1-4598-0966-6
$19.95 (hc), 48 pp, ages 8 – 12
orcabook.com
Separated into four chapters, this hardcover non-fiction book explains the evolution of currency and consumerism, as well as alternatives including bartering, trading and sharing. Text features include easy to read titles and subtitles, bold type fonts, illustrations or photos with captions, “fact share” inserts, and the author’s opinion in “My Two Cents’ Worth” paragraphs.
Classroom Connections: Social Studies teachers will find each chapter rich with material (enough to build a unit of study) and many suggestions for additional resources (books and websites) to find more information. The social and environmental justice aspect also supports community building and character education. This is an excellent book to help children understand why the world is the way it is and how they can make a positive difference! Great for: read alouds, library, character education or Social Studies. Reading Comprehension Strategies: Making Connections, Asking Questions, Inferring and Transforming.
Review by Amanda Forbes.
This review is from Canadian Teacher Magazine’s Winter 2018 issue.
