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MONEY-SMART KIDS
Investing Resources for Teens
by Janet Bodnar

I'm a volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization. My "little brother," who's 12, is bright, curious and a pleasure to be around.

Recently I introduced him to basic concepts of investing, and encouraged him to create a list of companies in which he would like to own stock. That eager beaver listed about 25 solid companies or industries. I suggested that he narrow his list, and he chose Netflix, Kia and Gap.

If that wasn't enough, he took the time to summarize the mini-lecture I had given him about how to read the financial pages. I was amazed that he had nailed it after just one discussion.

Can you recommend a few investment resources targeted at teens, such as books, Web sites or magazines, to nurture this budding CEO?

Be happy to. I get similar requests frequently, but rarely with such an uplifting story attached. I have to say I'm partial to the updated (and retitled) edition of my own book, Raising Money-Smart Kids, available in June from Dearborn Trade (800-245-2665). Here are other good resources:

• Stock Market Knowledge for All Ages, by Susie Vaccaro Hardeman (Ten Speed Press).



• Street Wise: A Guide for Teen Investors, by Janet Bamford (Bloomberg Press).



• TeenVestor: The Practical Investment Guide for Teens and Their Parents, by Emmanuel Modu and Andrea Walker (Perigee).



• The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens, by David and Tom Gardner, with Selena Maranjian (Fireside).



• Wow the Dow! By Pat Smith and Lynn Roney (Fireside).



• Young Money magazine (www.youngmoney.com).



• www.fool.com/teens. Teen site from the Motley Fool.



• www.better-investing.org/subjects/youth. Youth site from the National Association of Investors Corp.

Slightly younger or less precocious kids might enjoy the following books, aimed at middle-school youngsters:

• Growing Money: A Complete Investing Guide for Kids, by Gail Karlitz and Debbie Honig (Price Stern Sloan).



• Stock Market Pie, by J.M. Seymour (DynaMinds Publishing).



• The Young Investor: Projects and Activities for Making Your Money Grow, by Katherine R. Bateman (Chicago Review Press).