The Young Investor: Projects and Activities for Making Your Money Grow - Softcover

Katherine R. Bateman was vice president and senior research analyst at John Nuveen & Co., a major investment firm in Chicago. She lives in Chicago.

Grades 6-9--Starting with homey stories and personal examples, Bateman demonstrates how to learn about investments from everyday experiences. Using current examples such as CD boom boxes but without fancy graphics, she explains the "money circle," an excellent way to characterize the circulation of wealth; mentions bank accounts; and then provides a concise summary of savings vehicles, including an account of the "magic" of compound interest, illustrated by a table and a story of a successful young investor. As Bateman covers broader and deeper topics such as risk-tolerance, stock reports, and macroeconomics, she follows the same pattern in each chapter. Constantly referring to points made earlier, the author provides plenty of opportunity for review and concludes each chapter with another account of the young investor's story-he ends up with his own land and hopes for a house on it. She advises readers to stick with investments they can easily evaluate themselves. Most of the Web sites recommended are authoritative and helpful, just like the text. However, the shelves are getting pretty crowded. Janet Bamford's Street Wise: A Guide for Teen Investors (Bloomberg, 2000), Jay Liebowitz's Wall Street Wizard: Sound Ideas from a Savvy Teen Investor (S & S, 2000), Gail Karlitz and Debbie Honig's Growing Money (Price Stern Sloan, 1999; o.p.), and Neale S. Godfrey's Ultimate Kids' Money Book (S & S, 1998) all cover much of the same ground. Less sophisticated in its writing, this one may appeal more to those who appreciate plain-spoken language.

Jonathan Betz-Zall, City University Library, Everett, WA

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