Doug Godard’s books center on the concept of personal financial literacy. These books are an important part of Bonzy Charities’ mission and provide valuable resources on how to teach kids about money. This series of books focused on personal financial literacy, written for the intended ages of 4-10, reinforce the concepts of saving, budgeting, planning, donating, and making good choices through storytelling.
Can a rhyming, illustrated children’s book place a child on a path of financial success in life? Best Day at the Zoo does just that. Written in a rhythmic style, this book is a whimsical story about brother and sister twins who have dreamed about and saved for their day at the zoo with friends. The book’s many lessons touch on saving, budgeting, planning, and donating. Choices are made along the way. Giraffes with long black tongues that eat from Skye’s hand, lions that roar, and penguins that waddle spark every child’s imagination. A bell ringer’s kettle allows Skye and Rey to give to those with less. The subtle financial literacy messaging is told through a story that children relate to and want read to them over and over again.
A Surprise for a Friend was written to empower children at an early age with financial knowledge that will serve them their entire lives. A Surprise for a Friend is the second children’s illustrated book in a series reinforcing the concepts of saving, budgeting, donating, and making good choices. Like Best Day at the Zoo, the book entertains children while building their foundations in personal financial literacy. Skye and Rey enjoy playing soccer with their friends. Their ball is worn, and they dream of buying a new soccer ball. They learn new skills to earn money and to save. A Surprise for a Friend is a story about friendship and making choices. It was written to the National Standards for Personal Financial Literacy in the United States, which was used to develop learning standards for financial literacy for most states.
This book is scheduled for public release in November 2025.
Your Dreams Can Come True is about having big dreams and big plans for those dreams. In the book, Skye and Rey realize that some short-term wants can keep them from achieving their long-term dreams. In school, their teacher tells them their dreams can come true. Dreams are happy things that everyone should pursue. But those dreams do not suddenly come true one day. Dreams are made up of things to do along the way.
They are told about needs and wants, and to beware. Needs are things like food to eat and some clothes to wear. Wants are nice to have, but are not as they may seem. Giving in to their wants can keep them from their dreams.
Skye and Rey have earned money and saved. They are now ready to go to the big bank to learn about something called interest and to grow their savings. Along the way, Rey sees something in a store window. Is it a need or a want? They are reminded: All your dreams can come true. Choices are up to you.
These books entertain children while educating them on the personal financial literacy concepts of saving, budgeting, planning, donating, and making good choices. The books are written in the anapestic tetrameter style commonly used by Dr. Seuss. This rhythmic style makes it fun to read and be read to. The books are oriented toward kindergarten, first-grade, and second-grade students and are enjoyed by all children ages four to ten. The books were written to the National Standards for Personal Financial Literacy in the United States, which was used to develop learning standards for financial literacy for most states.
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“Kids love the Zoo Book. Parents love that their children learn the concepts of saving, budgeting, planning, donating, and making good choices through storytelling.
This book has been my child’s go-to book since it arrived. He always requests the “zoo book” and loves the illustrations of the animals. He also is learning how to save for things he wants and we started a savings jar- just like in the book! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!”
“I love reading this book to our grandkids. This book should be in every library and grade school! It is wonderfully written, and the rhyming style makes it easy for children to grasp and understand. It’s never too soon to teach children how save, budget, and manage their money.”
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