A PENNY'S WORTH

A newly minted penny searches for meaning.

“Hot off the minting press, Penny sparkled,” the story begins, but her initial gusto turns to sorrow when it becomes clear that the world only sees her as a lowly cent, fit to be ignored. As she is jostled about by the tide of circumstance, she meets various coins and types of paper who enlighten her on the ways of the world. Sticking out of an open purse, Bill Bill, a $1 note cowpoke, cautions her that “it takes a hundred of you to do what I do.” In a video game arcade, Quarter coolly explains that “slot surfin’ is quarters-only. You’re twenty-four cents short.” In a sweet shop, donnish Dime subjects Penny to a cogent history lesson about inflation’s effects on so-called “penny candy.” Nickel, a morose street coin with beard stubble, turns down her offer to pair up. Penny hits a low point when she encounters an alarming newspaper headline: “THE GREAT PENNY DEBATE: ARE THEY WORTHLESS?” Thankfully, her fortunes shift upon meeting another penny who encourages her (“Heads up…we’re good luck when we put our best face forward!”) and leads her to the one place where she and her kind are truly valued. Filled with clever and chucklesome wordplay, Wilson’s spry narrative is engaging but also educational, providing a solid, accessible introduction to basic money equivalents. Hoffmann’s illustrations, rendered in acrylic, colored pencil, and pan pastel with digital touches, incorporate comicslike sound effects and nimbly extend the text with comedic touches.

Combining a dash of math with buckets of good humor, this book is certainly like money in the bank.