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CloseBillie wants the blue bike and she asks her Mum to buy it for her – but her Mum has no money to spend on a bike. She asks Uncle Jack and he won’t give her the money either, but he will help her save up to buy the bike herself. She can work for him for $10 per week for 10 weeks to save the $100 for the bike. But Billie is impatient, and she tries washing cars and even enters her dog Spike in a dog contest – neither of which works out. She eventually she goes back to Uncle Jack and saves the money in 10 weeks – and she is able to purchase the bike!
Billie and the Blue Bike is a fun and engaging way to introduce young children to financial literacy knowledge, and is written for Indigenous children in particular. This brightly illustrated and instructive picture book, written and illustrated by the award-winning Ambelin Kwaymullina, has been designed to include financial literacy learning relevant to students at a Year 2 level.
Billie and the Blue Bike references the National Consumer Financial Literacy Framework, which sets out three dimensions of learning that underpin consumer and financial education: knowledge and understanding; competence; and responsibility and enterprise. Teachers and parents can use the book as a resource to help children understand core financial literacy matters through storytelling.
"...an excellent book which also aims to develop children’s financial literacy and through this fun and relatable story it does this very well."
– Educate. Empower.
"...a vibrantly colourful lesson in teaching young readers that hard work, patience and commitment are needed to get the things we want. The text is bold and simple, with the illustrations full of colour and movement."
– Heather Zubek, The West Australian
"...a book that can be used over and over again by both parents and teachers. Full of discussion points but simple enough for the early reader, it is a perfect addition for any home or classroom library."
– Sue Mauger, GLAM Adelaide
"Highly recommended. …this excellent story...can be used for all kids, teaching them some home truths about the value of money."
– Fran Knight, ReadPlus