Prices! Prices! Prices!: Why They Go Up and Down

by David A. Adler, Edward Miller (Illustrator)

Overview

In simple language and with colorful graphics and amusing characters, this entertaining introduction to economics explains the basic laws of supply and demand, and will promote financial literacy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823435746
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	01/30/2016
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	758,949
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

David A. Adler taught math for eight years. In that time he learned many things from his students — including the fact that they thought fractions were hard. So he decided to prove that learning how to work with fractions is not only easy, but also fun! He lives with his family on Long Island. You can learn more about him at www. davidaadler.com.

Edward Miller loves to make concepts clear to kids and has demonstrated that in his previous nonfiction books. School Library Journal praised his Alphabeep: A Zipping, Zooming ABC by Debora Pearson as "stunningly illustrated." He lives in New York City. You can visit his website at www.edmiller.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Adler always finds a canny way into the math game, both practical and enjoyable."—Kirkus Reviews
 
"Adler lays out the four laws of supply and demand in a logical, methodical way, while Miller brightens the page with vibrant, stylized digital illustrations. . . . useful and interesting."—Booklist
 
"Presented in a clear and straightforward manner . . . Miller's cheery, cartoonlike illustrations add to the upbeat, conversational tone."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

03/01/2015
Gr 2–5—Presented in a clear and straightforward manner, this title explains the most basic economic concepts. Using the classic example of opening and operating a lemonade stand as a jumping-off point, Adler engages readers in a five-day scenario depicting the four basic laws of supply and demand. For instance, the purchase of serving and presentation materials (a fixed cost) and ingredients (a variable cost) demonstrates how to determine the variable cost per drink and set a price per cup. Adler uses other scenarios to indicate how changes in supply and demand influence cost, such as when a neighbor opens a competing lemonade stand. Miller's cheery, cartoonlike images add to the upbeat, conversational tone. Text boxes discuss key points, such as the four supply and demand laws and how to calculate each day's variable profit. However, readers will not find the frequently used diagram of supply and demand curves intersecting to determine the equilibrium price, nor will they find back matter explaining concepts above and beyond the text or directing them to additional sources. Unfortunately, not all the words highlighted in the text are defined in the glossary—and not all the glossary terms are highlighted in the text. VERDICT A serviceable introductory economics text for elementary school students.—Meaghan Darling, Long Hill Township Public Library, Gillette, NJ

School Library Journal

2015-01-20
You can spell math with an "a" as in angst, aghast or agog, or you can spell it with an "A" as in Adler. Your move.Adler has been squashing math anxiety for many a season. Here he takes on some elementary economics, and everyone knows economics is where fun goes to die. While this may not be one of Adler's merriest offerings, he has the very good sense to explain the basic laws of supply and demand with a lemonade stand as the vehicle. And everyone knows there are about as many people out there who don't like lemonade on a hot day as there are people who thrill to credit-default swaps and Gaussian copula formulas. As Adler doles out the cups of lemonade, prices fluctuate according to supply and demand. He introduces the concepts of fixed and variable costs, revenue and variable profit. He poses the fundamentals in such a way—and Miller in colors as enticing as snow cones—that many young readers prompted to explore them further may wonder why the price of diamonds is so high when the supply runneth over (at least for now). In Adler's capable hands, there is life in economics yet. Adler always finds a canny way into the math game, both practical and enjoyable. (Math picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Review