Investing for Kids by Dylin Redling Review
4.7 / 5
Overall Rating
Investing for Kids: How to Save, Invest, and Grow Money
A clear, kid-readable introduction to investing concepts that parents can hand over without supervision. Right depth for ages 8-12.
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TL;DR
Dylin Redling and Allison Tom's Investing for Kids is a clear, age-appropriate introduction to saving, investing, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and compound interest written for ages 8-12. Most kids' money books either patronize readers or stuff in too many concepts. This one finds the right level — concrete examples, illustrations, just-enough math — and lets a curious kid finish it in a weekend with retention.
Why It Matters
Financial literacy is famously absent from most US school curricula. Kids who learn basic investing concepts before high school enter adulthood with a meaningful head start, especially on compound interest. The earlier they understand that money invested at 12 grows differently than money invested at 22, the more they internalize patience as an investing virtue.
Key Specs
- Authors: Dylin Redling, Allison Tom
- Pages: ~144
- Publisher: Rockridge Press
- Format: paperback, ebook
- Reading age: 8-12
- Reading time: 2-4 hours (kid-paced)
Pros
- Right level for the target age — not condescending
- Compound interest explained with concrete numbers
- Covers stocks, bonds, mutual funds at a kid's depth
- Illustrations and worksheets keep engagement high
- Useful as a parent-led discussion guide
- Affordable
Cons
- US-focused (mentions 401k, IRA — international parents must adapt)
- Some examples will date (specific brands, prices)
- Not enough on the emotional side of investing
- Doesn't cover ETFs in depth (target-date and index funds get more attention)
- Kids who already know the basics may find it too simple
Who It's For
Parents introducing investing to children ages 8-12. Grandparents wanting a meaningful gift that teaches. Homeschooling families building a personal-finance unit. Skip it for older teens (use Sethi's I Will Teach You To Be Rich) or pre-readers (use The Giving Tree and similar).
How to Use It
Read it together over a weekend or in chapters across several weeks. Pair each chapter with a small action — open a kid-friendly investment account (custodial UTMA, or paper portfolio), let them pick a stock, track it monthly. Re-visit the compound interest chapter every year so the numbers grow with their imagination.
How It Compares
Vs. The Money Book for Kids (similar genre): comparable; pick by writing style preference. Vs. Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens: Kiyosaki's youth version is mindset-heavy; Redling/Tom is more concrete on mechanics. Vs. apps (Greenlight, GoHenry): apps are great for hands-on practice; the book is the conceptual foundation.
Bottom Line
A right-leveled investing primer for kids. Buy it for ages 8-12 starting their first paper portfolio. Skip it for younger kids or sophisticated teens.
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