Eleven-year-old Matthew, trying desperately to earn enough to buy a coveted computer program, learns the importance of money and eventually starts his own business

Meet Greg Kenton, billionaire in the making. Greg Kenton has two obsessions -- making money and his long-standing competition with his annoying neighbor, Maura Shaw. So when Greg discovers that Maura is cutting into his booming Chunky Comics business with her own original illustrated minibooks, he's ready to declare war. The problem is, Greg has to admit that Maura's books are good, and soon the longtime enemies become unlikely business partners. But their budding partnership is threatened when the principal bans the sale of their comics in school. Suddenly, the two former rivals find themselves united against an adversary tougher than they ever were to each other. Will their enterprise -- and their friendship -- prevail?

Using quality literature to introduce younger students to economic terms and concepts is an engaging and effective teaching method. This book demonstrates how. At what age can children benefit from learning about economics? The consensus among educators today is the earlier the better. K–8 teachers and librarians will find this book invaluable for introducing basic economic concepts to students and giving them a solid foundation of understanding that can be built upon as they advance in grade level. Author Nancy Polette, prolific author and expert on using picture books for education, explains how to use 20 picture books to present basic ideas such as credit, wants and needs, and supply and demand; and to build understanding of more complex concepts with 20 junior novels. The titles and suggested activities enable students to enjoy the literary experience and benefit from economic lessons that sink in because they are presented through stories involving characters with whom children can relate.

Twelve-year-old best friends Elizabeth and Tara*Starr continue their friendship through letter-writing after Tara*Starr's family moves to another state, in a complex and emotionally rich novel about two friends coping with overwhelming change.

The book focuses on individuals writing in the '90s, but also includes 12 classic authors (e.g., Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, J.R.R. Tolkien) who are still widely read by teens. It also covers some authors known primarily for adult literature (e.g., Stephen King) and some who write mainly for middle readers but are also popular among young adults (e.g., Betsy Byars). An affordable alternative to multivolume publications, this book makes a great collection development tool and resource for author studies. It will also help readers find other books by and about their favorite writers.

Young serial entrepreneur Scott Gerber is not the product of a wealthy family or storied entrepreneurial heritage. Nor is he the outcome of a traditional business school education or a corporate executive turned entrepreneur. Rather, he is a hard-working, self-taught 26-year-old hustler, rainmaker, and bootstrapper who has survived and thrived despite never having held the proverbial "real” job. In Never Get a "Real" Job: How to Dump Your Boss, Build a Business, and Not Go Broke, Gerber challenges the social conventions behind the "real" job and empowers young people to take control of their lives and dump their nine-to-fives—or their quest to attain them. Drawing upon case studies, experiences, and observations, Scott dissects failures, shares hard-learned lessons, and presents practical, affordable, and systematic action steps to building, managing, and marketing a successful business on a shoestring budget. The proven, no-b.s. methodology presented in Never Get a "Real" Job teaches unemployed and underemployed Gen-Yers, aspiring small business owners, students, and recent college graduates how to quit 9-to-5s, become their own bosses, and achieve financial independence.

This resource focuses on 100 of the best books for the elementary and middle-school classroom. Annotations summarize the plot and provide concise book information to aid selection. Each title is categorized by general reading level. Listening level is categorized by by grade and age.