We wrote Ollie and Brock for our kids — Lil Spark and Baby Spark. It started as a bedtime story and turned into a rhyming picture book about two friends who handle the same resources very differently. One saves seeds, one eats apples. It’s a story about money without ever mentioning money.
No lectures, no dollar signs. Just two animals figuring things out, and a few questions worth asking at bedtime.
Notes for Parents: Turning Storytime Into Money Moments
Seeds or snacks? (Delayed gratification): When Brock eats the apple and Ollie plants the seeds, pause and ask: “Why did Ollie want to save some for later?” Both choices make sense at different times — that’s the whole point.
Water in a jar (Emergency fund): Ollie saves water for a hot day. “What would we do if we were thirsty and the stream was far away?” It’s a simple way to talk about why we keep some things in reserve.
Nuts in the nook (Building savings): Ollie tucks some away, not because he doesn’t enjoy them, but because future-him will be glad he did. That’s it. That’s the whole savings lesson.
If you read this to your kids, drop a comment below. What did they notice? Did they want to be Ollie, or Brock, or a little of both?
Keep reading: Financial Literacy for Kids Under 3 | Are We Crazy for Chasing Financial Independence?
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