Picture books that teach kids the long story of money.
From cowrie shells to coins to Bitcoin, the history of money for young readers. Written by Deanna Heikkinen, EdD.
Picture books for young readers
Ten illustrated stories tracing the long story of money
The Farmer and the Goatherder
A Story of Barter
Cowrie Shells
Little Money from the Sea
The Story of Yap Stones
The Biggest Money in the World
The Magic Beans
How the Maya Used Cacao
The Circle of Shells
A Kula Ring Adventure
Gold's Grand Adventure
How It Became Money
The First Coins
Lydia's Golden Invention
Flying Money
How China Invented Paper Currency
Nutmeg
The Great Spice Exchange
Satoshi's Secret
The Story of Bitcoin
More books for older readers
A new series begins this year, with chapter books to follow
Bear and Bull Discover the History of Money
Early readers, ages 7 to 9. Fewer pictures, longer stories, the same long arc from shells to Bitcoin.
Chapter books
Ages 9 to 11. Deeper into economics, monetary history, and Bitcoin, with full chapters and richer storytelling.
About the author
Deanna Heikkinen, EdD
Author, historian, and educator. Fifteen years teaching, a doctorate in education, and master's degrees in history and anthropology.
Deanna writes these picture books for the children and families who will inherit the monetary world to come. Her work draws on the long arc of monetary history, from shell exchanges in the Pacific to gold coins in Lydia to the digital sound money of Bitcoin.
She is the author of Shells to Satoshi: The Story of Money and the Rise of Bitcoin and the founder of the nonprofit Money Wisdom Project.
Support on Geyser
Help bring the next book into the world.
Writing and illustrating picture books takes time. Support through Geyser funds new titles in the series, illustration, and printing. This is personal support for the author, not a tax-deductible donation.
Support on GeyserDonations go directly to Deanna.