Luisa Tennant now has a live author website. The site provides readers with biographical information about the author, as well as details on how and where to purchase her book.
Author Luisa Tennant takes pride in being the oldest of eleven children and a second mother to many of her siblings. In her youth, she worked as a camp counselor in Michigan and Wisconsin, where one of her responsibilities was helping children balance their camp checkbooks.
She was interviewed by Benjie Cole from CBS Radio, during which she shared how she became a camp counselor and her experiences working with amazing kids. She emphasized that working with children is both rewarding and fun. In the interview, she also discussed the other editions of her book.
Get to know more about the author and her work by listening to the full interview below:
In partnership with ARPress, Luisa Tennant held a successful book signing event during the 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) at the University of Southern California. The 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, held on April 26–27 at USC, marked its 30th anniversary with a vibrant celebration of literature, culture, and community. As one of the most significant cultural events in the country, the festival attracted a large and diverse crowd. For example, 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.
Luisa Tennant’s book, Your Army of Dollars, received critical acclaim and a recommendation from Jonah Meyer of the US Review of Books. Meyer noted:
“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.”
The book also earned praise from Pacific Book Review. An excerpt from their review highlights its unique 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 book introduces financial literacy through relatable and age-appropriate lessons. It begins by teaching children how to earn money, whether by doing chores around the house, helping neighbors (e.g., mowing lawns), or selling items like lemonade.
Once money is earned, the book encourages children to save it in a “jar” to begin building wealth. Tennant emphasizes the importance of setting aside money from the start in a jar labeled “Forever Freedom Account.” This concept underscores the idea that financial independence can lead to life freedom, an empowering lesson for young readers.
Another jar is labeled “Education Account,” reinforcing that the smarter the “commanders” become, the stronger and more capable their army of dollars will be. The book also shows how money can be allocated for charitable giving, buying desired items like a new bicycle, or enjoying fun activities such as going to a movie or purchasing video games. Importantly, it also highlights that meaningful experiences, like playing at the park or reading library books don’t cost anything.
As children grow older, the book introduces more advanced financial concepts. New jars are introduced for “Living Expenses,” including taxes, housing, food, and clothing. Through simple yet powerful illustrations, young readers are shown how each allocation supports a stable, successful life.
Your Army of Dollars is currently available in Dutch, German, and French editions, expanding its reach to young audiences across the globe.
Visit Luisa Tennant‘s website at https://yaodstory.com/.