MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB

Parent reading guide for 

“A Chair for My Mother” 

by Vera Williams

 Ages 6+

Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau
1 MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB | A Chair for my Mother

Welcome

This guide will help you teach your child money management 

skills while reading “A Chair for my Mother” by Vera Williams. It 

will do this by:

 Helping you explain the key ideas covered in the book, and 

then providing you with signs your child understands the key 

ideas and can use them in daily life. 

 Giving you things to think about before reading the book 

with your child. These can help you spot key points in the 

book or spark ideas to discuss later.

Helping you prepare for an enjoyable reading time with 

your child.

 Providing questions to talk about with your child.

 Suggesting activities that help your child put ideas and 

lessons into action.

Parent reading guide | Ages 6+
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The story

A family loses all their furniture in a fire. They 

set a goal to buy a chair for mother. The family, 

neighbors, and friends work together for success.
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 Key ideas

By the time you finish this discussion guide, your child will be 

able to point to examples of these key ideas in the book you 

read and discuss real-life examples, too. Use these definitions to 

explain the ideas. We’ve also included ways children can show 

they are ready to use them in their daily lives.

1. Setting goals

A goal is something you want to do or to have. When you set 

a goal, you make a plan to reach it by a certain time. You then 

follow the plan until you succeed. Reaching a goal feels good. 

Celebrate your success and the successes of others.

How kids show it: They can follow a multi-step plan to reach a 

goal (with a little help and encouragement).

2. Earning

People use their time and skills to get money. Paper money and 

coins have different values.

How kids show it: They can identify the different jobs people in 

the family and in the community do to earn money.
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3. Saving

Some things cost more money than we have at one time. Saving 

means putting some money aside until we have enough to buy 

what we want.

How kids show it: They keep money in a safe place and keep 

track of amount saved for future spending. (Ages 7+) They can 

explain why money saved in a bank or credit union is still a 

personal belonging.

4. Follow-through

Sticking with a plan to reach a goal can be hard. It takes effort, 

skill, and sometimes help from others.

How kids show it: They can identify who they can turn to for 

help reaching a goal, or what tools or tricks might help them 

stick with a plan.
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 Something to think about

First, read the book yourself and think about these ideas:

§ The family in the story had many friends and neighbors who 

helped them in an emergency. They gave the family furniture 

and food. Sometimes we forget that family and friends are an 

important resource. Money is not our only resource.

§ The family in the story saved their coins for a long time to 

buy the new chair. Sticking with a goal can be hard and 

takes patience.

§ When we set a goal and reach it, we need to congratulate 

ourselves. That is one way to recognize success. The family in 

the story was successful in saving enough money for a new 

chair. They celebrated by bringing it home right away and 

having their picture taken in the chair.
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Before you read

Read the book first yourself. Knowing the story will help you know 

what comes next. It is important to ask your child questions about 

the story as you read. Ask what might happen next in the story.

§ Choose a quiet time for stories and make it part of your 

daily routine. 

§ Find a cozy, quiet place to read. 

§ Make sure your child can see the pictures. 

§ Talk about the pictures and characters in the book.

§ Read with expression in your voice. Give each character 

in the story his or her own voice. 

§ Keep the story time short enough to leave them wanting more.

§ Look for ways during the day to bring up the messages in 

the story.

§ Continue to read aloud together even if your child can 

read alone.
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 Something to talk about

Before you begin to read the story with your child, look at the 

cover of the book together. Ask what the story might be about.

As you read the story with your child, talk about these ideas:

§ How did all the family’s friends and neighbors help after the 

fire? Have friends or relatives ever helped your family? Has 

your family ever helped friends or relatives?

§ What goal did the family set? 

§ Look at the picture of the money jar from the story. Did it take 

a long time to fill the jar? Have you and your family saved for 

something? Did it take a long time? 

§ Talk about saving money as a goal. To reach a goal you need 

to plan. To make the plan work, you have to be patient and 

not give up.

§ We feel good when we work hard, stick to our plan, and reach 

our goal. When we reach a goal we need to do something 

to celebrate our success. How did the family in the story 

celebrate saving enough money for the chair? How does your 

family celebrate success?
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 Something to do

Make your own money jar Ages 4+

This activity will help your family set a goal. Save your money in 

a special jar just like the family in the story. Use a mayonnaise 

or other large container you have at home. Wash it carefully. 

Help your child cut a slot in the lid.

Recognize success Ages 6+

This activity will help your child celebrate a success. The 

family in the story saved a long time for a chair. They had their 

picture taken in their chair to celebrate their success. Think of 

someone who has worked hard for something or has helped 

you lately. Celebrate their success.

Draw them a special picture or take a special photograph of 

them. Cut out a frame from cardboard. Use an old box from 

around your house. Decorate the frame with macaroni shells or 

color it with markers. Use anything you think is pretty. Glue or 

tape the frame around the picture.
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Family talent brainstorm Ages 8 +

This activity will help your family recognize the skills and 

talents of each family member. These resources can help the 

family use what it has to get what it needs.

Get a large piece of blank paper. A paper bag will work. You 

will also need a marking pen. Have the family gather around. 

Lay the paper on the table or tape it on the wall. Decide who 

will do the writing. 

Across the top of the paper, write each family member’s name. 

Now brainstorm. For one person at a time, say out loud all the 

special talents and skills that family member has. On the paper, 

write these talents and skills under the person’s name. Do this 

for each member of the family.

Talk about everyone’s special skills and talents. Talk about ways 

these skills and talents can help the family get what it wants 

and needs.
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About this guide

The Money as You Grow Book Club is a research-based program 

designed to help parents, caregivers, and others teach children 

ages 4 through 10 money skills through reading, activities, and play. 

The Money as You Grow Book Club is an updated version of 

the University of Nevada Extension’s Money on the Bookshelf 

program. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), The 

University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Financial Security, 

and the University of Wisconsin-Extension Family Living Programs 

have worked together to expand the program and make it 

available to libraries, educators, and parents nationally. 

The CFPB is an independent federal agency. We write and 

enforce rules that keep banks and other financial companies 

operating fairly. We also help educate and empower 

consumers. For more about tools and resources for parents, visit 

consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow. 

The Center for Financial Security is a research center that seeks 

to help the public build financial knowledge and skills, increase 

access to financial services and increase the financial security 

of families. The University of Wisconsin-Extension is part of the 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s (NIFA) Cooperative 

Extension System, which brings vital, practical information to 

agricultural producers, small business owners, consumers, 

families, and young people.
To learn more about the Money as You Grow Book 

Club, or download other parent reading guides, visit 

consumerfinance.gov/MoneyAsYouGrow.

MONEY AS YOU GROW BOOK CLUB

Ask about these other Money as You Grow Book Club books and 

parent guides. ISBNs for paperback versions are included below:

Alexander, Who Used 

to be Rich Last Sunday

by Judith Viorst

ISBN # 0689711999

Just Shopping 

with Mom

by Mercer Mayer

ISBN # 0307119726

Ox-Cart Man

by Donald Hall

ISBN # 0140504419

Sheep in a Shop

by Nancy Shaw

ISBN # 0395706726

The Berenstain Bears & 

Mama's New Job

by Stan & Jan Berenstain

ISBN # 0394868811

The Berenstain Bears' 

Trouble with Money

by Stan & Jan Berenstain

ISBN # 0394859170

The Purse

by Kathy Caple

ISBN # 0395629810

A Bargain for Frances 

by Russell Hoban

ISBN # 006444001X

July | 2016

Consumer Financial

Protection Bureau