Lawn Boy

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. (Yes, the same Paulsen who is best known for his adventure and wilderness survival stories such as the Newberry Honor book Hatchet).

With so much recent news about the economy, our children’s curiosity may be piqued. After all, there is a constant stream of sound bites on the T.V. and radio, they see the headlines on newspaper and magazines and are surely catching bits of adult discussions about very grown-up financial subjects. Some kids have been directly affected; a move, parent’s job loss, or drastic change in spending habits of the family. Surely the state of our economy has had a trickle down effect on our children.

There is no better time to read Lawn Boy with your kids than now. For his twelfth birthday, the narrator’s grandma gives him his grandpa’s old ride-on lawn mower. He realizes he can buy a new inner tube for his bike tire by cutting grass and saving money. One thing leads to another and business is booming. He meets Arnold Howell, an eccentric day trader who is cash poor. Howell offers to pay Lawn Boy with stocks rather than cash and helps him get a portfolio started. Lawn Boy soon employs 15 people, his investments in the stock market have sky rocketed, and he sponsors a professional boxer. This funny book is the perfect springboard for acquiring an understanding of business principals and economic vocabulary such as supply and demand, profit and loss, investments (high and low risk), stock market, and interest.

Statistics on Lawn Boy:
Pages: 96
Ages: 8 and up
Awards:
NOMINEE 2008 - ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers
NOMINEE 2008 - Texas Bluebonnet Award
WINNER 2007 - Parents' Choice Award
WINNER 2008 - New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Award
WINNER 2008 - NCSS/CBC Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies