“Your Army of Dollars Coloring Book” by Luisa Tennant has received acclaim from Jonah Meyer of the US Review of Books. Jonah highlighted that:
“Tennant has written an innovative children’s picture book that focuses entirely on the important issue of basic money handling. Presented in an immersive, age-appropriate manner, fundamental aspects of financial instruction are shared with the young reader in a uniquely engaging manner.”
Your Army of Dollars by Luisa Tennant was showcased at the London Book Fair (LBF) at Olympia London from March 11-13, 2025. The London Book Fair serves as a premier gathering for the global publishing community, providing a platform for individuals to forge connections, gain valuable insights, and shape the future of creative content. This event brings together a diverse spectrum of professionals, including publishers, dealmakers, copyright specialists, commissioners, and global licensors, all representing the broad scope of the publishing industry.
Author Luisa Tennant was interviewed by Benjie Cole from CBS Radio, where she shared how she became a camp counselor and worked with amazing kids. She emphasized that working with kids is both amazing and fun. In the interview, she featured the other version of her book, Your Army of Dollars.
Luisa Tennant prides herself on being the oldest of 11 children and the second mother to most of them. In her youth, she worked as a camp counselor in Michigan and Wisconsin. One of her jobs was helping children balance their camp checkbooks.
In partnership with ARPress, Luisa Tennant held a successful book signing event during the 2025 Los Angeles Festival of Books (LATFOB) at the University of Southern California. The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB), held on April 26–27 at the University of Southern California (USC), was a significant cultural event that brought together a diverse array of participants and marked its 30th anniversary with a vibrant celebration of literature, culture, and community. The festival is known for attracting a large crowd each year. For instance, the 2024 festival drew over 150,000 attendees, and the 2025 event featured more than 550 writers, experts, and storytellers, along with hundreds of exhibitors.
The lessons begin by showing children how to earn money. One can improve others’ lives by doing chores around the house, helping neighbors (e.g., cutting lawns), or even selling something, such as lemonade. Then, once money is earned, it should be saved in a “jar” to build wealth. The author emphasizes the importance of putting some money away right from the start into a jar labeled “Forever Freedom Account.” This is a very powerful goal, helping kids understand that financial success brings freedom in their lives. Savings grow money, which is another crucial lesson for children.
Another “jar” is labeled “Education Account.” The smarter the commanders of their money soldiers become, the larger their army grows. Along the way, the allocation of their army of dollars is shown to be used for charity, purchasing desirable items like a new bicycle, and having fun (e.g., going to a movie or getting video games). However, mature wisdom is also implied by doing things that don’t cost money, such as playing on the swings at a park or reading books from a library.
As the character grows older, the financial responsibility needs to be divided into new necessary jars, called “Living Expenses,” which include taxes, housing, food, and clothing. Illustrations showing the benefits of each bring a clear understanding to youngsters’ minds. Your Army of Dollars is also available in Dutch, German, and French editions.
Pacific Book Review also recommends the notable book “Your Army of Dollars Coloring Book” by Luisa Tennant.
Here’s an excerpt from the book review written by Pacific Book Review that highlights its appeal:
“Your Army of Dollars by creator Luisa Tennant is a basic economic educational children’s lesson masquerading as a coloring book. With classic black-and-white line drawings allowing space for kids to fill in with crayons, the analogy of having an ‘Army of Dollars’ empowering children to be the ‘Commander’ of the allocation of funds is a brilliant concept for teaching the fundamental aspects of how to save and spend money.”
The US Review of Books (USRB) recommends “Your Army of Dollars Coloring Book” by Luisa Tennant. Here’s the review from the USRB that highlights:
“Undoubtedly, Tennant’s storybook helps fill a niche often lacking—that of basic financial literacy aimed specifically for the readership of young children. Some schools are beginning to incorporate such material into curricula, as the author notes. Because of this title’s age-appropriate approach, Tennant’s book itself could play a significant part in creating and imparting such real-world financial savvy to children of all ages. Educators and parents alike have here a helpful tool. And the educational process, vis-à-vis utilization of this title’s material, can be fashioned significantly more engaging in that this work doubles as a coloring book. The accompanying artwork is presented in simple line drawings, with young readers encouraged to color in the pages with creative imagination. The result is an interactive and fun way to learn financial responsibility.”