Book 1: Uses Her Common Cents (Katherine the Almost Great, 1)
#1 in Katherine The Almost Great Series
What’s inside...
Katherine is a young girl who is determined to prove herself as great, but she often finds herself in embarrassing situations. When she decides to enter a contest to win a prize for her family, she uses her creativity and resourcefulness to come up with a winning idea. Along the way, she learns valuable lessons about the importance of using her common sense and thinking outside the box. Third grader Katharine Carmichael thinks coming up with the winning idea for the school-wide service project will be easy-breezy. But her tattoo idea earns her a trip to the principal and her cookie business crumbles. Katharine's worried that her classmate Vanessa, AKA Miss Priss-A-Poo, will have the best idea for the second year in a row. Can help from her cousin Crockett and a little common cents convince everyone that their latest idea is a winner? Calico Chapter Books is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO Group. Grades 2-8.
Discussion points
How do you think Katherine felt when she realized she could use her common cents to solve problems?
What are some ways you can save and use money wisely like Katherine?
Why is it important to think before spending money?
How did Katherine help her friends and what did she learn from her experiences?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing a personal story about a time you saved money for something important.
Encourage your child to draw parallels between their own experiences with money and Katherine’s strategies in the book.
Discuss the importance of money management and brainstorm together on ways to practice it in daily life.
Praise your child’s insights and relate them to real-world situations to reinforce the learning.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Financial Responsibility
Explanation: Katherine learns to manage her allowance and save up for things she really wants, teaching the importance of budgeting and saving.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by learning to save a portion of their pocket money for future purchases or savings goals.
Example Lesson: The Value of Hard Work
Explanation: Throughout the book, Katherine undertakes various small jobs to earn her money, demonstrating that money is earned through hard work and effort.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to take on small tasks at home or in their community, like helping neighbors or family, to earn money and appreciate the value of their labor.
Example Lesson: Decision Making
Explanation: Katherine faces decisions about how to spend her money wisely, showcasing the process of making informed choices.
Real-World Application: Kids can be encouraged to think critically about their spending decisions, whether it’s choosing how to spend their allowance or deciding between wants and needs.
Example Lesson: The Impact of Generosity
Explanation: Katherine learns the joy of using her money to help others, highlighting the importance of generosity.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to allocate a portion of their savings to donate to charity or to buy gifts for friends and family, fostering a spirit of giving.