Michigan libraries have requested approximately 5,000 copies of the 2026 book for our Smart Money Kids Read program to date -- and has capacity to give a lot more! Participating libraries agree to provide money-themed children's programming during Financial Literacy Month, April 1-30, 2025, utilizing How Do You Spend? for our SMKR program, supplemented by fun, age-appropriate programming. Librarians are so creative! Most libraries do in-person story time events, using our chosen book, along with coloring sheets, finger puppet plays, songs, rhymes, crafts, and more! Consider partnering with a local credit union on these events as well! Michigan credit unions not only provide funding for the Smart Money Kids Read program, but also enjoy participating in, and helping to provide program support, for such youth events. This year's book is Cinders McLeod's How Do YOU Spend? If your library has already submitted your request for free books for kids, please do not submit another as it makes things very confusing! Here's the google form link<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckQos0T42sam6VPo-9rcAPMyDyNetTOwX8CmOIBPWKtM7zPg/viewform> where requests may be made: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckQos0T42sam6VPo-9rcAPMyDyNetTOwX8CmOIBPWKtM7zPg/viewform?usp=header<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckQos0T42sam6VPo-9rcAPMyDyNetTOwX8CmOIBPWKtM7zPg/viewform> Questions? Contact Kelly Masters at MiFinancialWellness@gmail.com Thank you, Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> [Michigan's Top 10 Strategic Education Plan] [Michigan.gov/Vote logo Description automatically generated]<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/> Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/>. ________________________________ From: Miyouth <miyouth-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Lancaster, Cathy (MDE) via Miyouth <miyouth@mcls.org> Sent: Monday, September 22, 2025 4:36 PM To: MI Youth Services List <miyouth@mcls.org>; michlib-l@mcls.org <michlib-l@mcls.org> Cc: Kelly Masters <MiFinancialWellness@gmail.com> Subject: [Miyouth] Smart Money Kids Read program is now accepting 2026 book requests! CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to abuse@michigan.gov "Smart Money Kids Read" program is now accepting 2026 book requests! Hello Library friends! After reviewing the detailed feedback from our 2025 participating librarians, The 2026 Smart Money Kids Read book will be a new book from the Moneybunny series, by crowd favorite author Cinders McLeod: How Do YOU Spend?. Our year-round efforts culminate with intensified programming during Financial Literacy Month, April 1-30, 2026. To this end, we've been hard at work over the summer and into autumn, planning for our beloved Smart Money Kids Read (SMKR) program! By completing this request<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckQos0T42sam6VPo-9rcAPMyDyNetTOwX8CmOIBPWKtM7zPg/viewform> for FREE BOOKS FOR KIDS, you agree to provide money-themed children's programming during Financial Literacy Month, April 1-30, 2025, utilizing How Do You Spend? for our SMKR program, supplemented by fun, age-appropriate programming. Librarians are so creative! We believe most libraries will do in-person story time events, using our chosen book, along with coloring sheets, finger puppet plays, songs, rhymes, crafts, and more! Consider partnering with a local credit union on these events as well! Michigan credit unions not only provide funding for the Smart Money Kids Read program, but also enjoy participating in, and helping to provide program support, for such youth events. It is important that you share with us the ways in which you plan to implement your Smart Money Kids Read program. How will you get these books into the hands of Michigan children in April? Do you need help securing a credit union partner for possible program support? What might your program look like? We want to hear about it! SMKR Contact: Kelly Masters at MiFinancialWellness@gmail.com. The SMKR program is done in partnership between the Michigan Financial Wellness Network and the Michigan Credit Union Foundation. ### Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her/Hers - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/> Join the MiYouth<https://lists.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/miyouth> Listserv, created for Michigan public library staff to share and discuss children and teen programming and services. [Michigan.gov/Vote logo Description automatically generated]<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/> Get personalized voter information on early voting and other topics at Michigan.gov/Vote<https://mvic.sos.state.mi.us/>.
