Debut author Mellody Hobson, barrier-breaking pioneer in the world of finance, demystifies money for kids with a look at some wild and weird facts about what makes the world go round.

What is the meaning of all those symbols on US bills (and why are they so hard to counterfeit)? What’s with people calling money “bacon” or “cheddar” or “smackeroonies”? With savvy and wit, financial expert Mellody Hobson sheds a friendly light on a daunting subject, from the meteorites that created the first mineral deposits to the ancient Maya who used chocolate as currency to the beginnings of the banking system itself. Readers learn about bartering, profit and loss, the origins of credit, ATMs, and even fun facts about money around the world. In her first children’s book, Mellody Hobson brings excitement to the realm of financial literacy and gives kids the tools they need to navigate money now and in the future. Featuring energetic artwork by debut illustrator Caitlin Stevens, amusing skits starring a cat and bunny who converse in money idioms, and inserts depicting the author and her business partner as kids just learning how money works, Priceless Facts about Money is an inviting, entertaining, and richly educational resource for every child.

Mellody Hobson is co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, the first African American-owned mutual fund in the United States. She is the Chairman of Starbucks Corporation and serves on the board of directors at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Princeton University, her alma mater, is building a new residential college in her name—the first to be named after a Black woman. Time magazine listed her as one of the 100 Most Influential People. She is married to filmmaker George Lucas, and this book was inspired by their young daughter. Mellody Hobson splits her time between Chicago and San Francisco.

Caitlin Stevens is an art teacher and award-winning illustrator whose work has been featured in American Illustration, among other publications. She graduated with a BA in illustration from California College of the Arts. Priceless Facts about Money is her children’s book debut. Caitlin Stevens lives in San Francisco.