A BUDGET FOR BINGO

Filas emphasizes financial responsibility alongside the joys of owning a pet in this illustrated children’s book.

Enamored by the pictures on an animal shelter’s website, young Fizzy and her brother, Jack, ask their mom if they can get a dog from there. Jack explains his inspiration: “My teacher adopted a dog from this place last week, and she said there were so many puppies that needed a home.” Mom wisely reminds the siblings that having a pet is a lot of work, and can be expensive, as well. So Fizzy and Jack research the costs involved in adopting a puppy, from food and vaccinations to toys and a leash, and Mom adds the total to the family budget. The kids make a plan to save money to contribute to caring for a new puppy. They later visit the shelter and meet and adopt “a little brown pup that looked just like a fuzzy teddy bear.” The family call their new dog Bingo, and the kids keep up their end of the bargain to help fund the pet’s care. Toward the end of the book, Fizzy and Jack start a dog-walking business to raise money and look after Bingo at the same time. Roffler’s cartoon illustrations depict a family with pale skin; background characters have a range of skin tones. An image of Fizzy walking a pack of neighborhood dogs on leashes at a park includes a person using a wheelchair, feeding ducks at a pond nearby. The pencil and watercolor illustrations, in muted colors, are essential to the storytelling. The book explains what a budget is and how to make one without being either condescending or brash. Pages dedicated mostly (and sometimes solely) to illustrations reveal fun details of how the kids make their budget, do chores and start a lemonade stand to raise money, and enjoy time with their new pup. The prose is simple and elegant, with dialogue that serves the story and adds color to the characters.

A warm, joyful approach to teaching one of life’s important practical considerations.