Jenny Found a Penny (Math Is Fun!)

as she saves up her pennies— and nickels, dimes, quarters, even a fifty-cent piece—to make a special purchase that costs one dollar. But even when she has the right amount saved, will she be able to bring her treasure home? This clever story and life-sized illustrations of coins make learning how to count money a rich experience.

Ages 5-8

Reinforced binding

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To Holly, Mark, Andrew, Julie, and Emily. You’re priceless! —T.H.

For Amy —J.H.

Text copyright © 2008 by Trudy Harris Illustrations copyright © 2008 by John Hovell

All rights reserved. International copyright secured. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc., except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review. Millbrook Press, Inc. A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A. Website address: www.lernerbooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Harris, Trudy. Jenny found a penny / by Trudy Harris ; illustrated by John Hovell. p. cm. Summary: The reader can help Jenny count her pennies—and nickels and dimes and quarters— as she saves the money to buy herself a very special present. ISBN: 978–0–8225–6725–7 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) [1. Saving and investment—Fiction. 2. Stories in rhyme.] I. Hovell, John, ill. II. Title. PZ8.3.H24318Je 2008 [E]—dc22 2006100299

Manufactured in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 – JR – 13 12 11 10 09 08

eISBN-13: 978-1-58013-647-1

j Millbrook Press

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Minneapolis

Jenny found a penny in the backseat of the car. She put that shiny penny in an empty pickle jar. One penny—worth one cent— into the pickle jar it went.

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Jenny found four pennies underneath her mother’s bed. She gave them to her mother. Mom said, “Keep them all instead.”

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One penny, plus these four— that made five. She needed more.

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Jenny earned two nickels when she babysat her brothers. She dropped both coins into the jar along with all the others.

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Two nickels— five cents each— still her goal was not in reach.

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Jenny earned a silver dime for helping Grandpa J. She swept the porch and sidewalk and put the broom away.

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Ten cents in a dime— would she reach her goal in time?

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Jenny got a quarter, a gift from Uncle Ned. “Spend your money wisely,” was all her uncle said. Twenty-five cents more to add to the money that she had.

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Jenny earned a half-dollar, and by her account, fifty cents (with all the rest) made just the right amount. 14

Finally, she’d succeeded. She had the cash she needed.

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Jenny and her sister, Kate, walked to the dollar store. Jenny knew what she would buy. She’d seen it twice before.

One was left—high on the shelf. Jenny reached it by herself. 17

Jenny gave her money to the dollar-store cashier, but the lady shook her head and said, “You’ve got a problem here.

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This total somehow lacks seven cents to pay the tax.”

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Jenny felt like crying as she headed for the door. She’d worked and saved her money, but still, she needed more.

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Then, like an awful curse, her troubles went from bad to worse.

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Jenny tripped and stumbled, and her feet flew in the air. The bottle slipped. It cracked and chipped, and coins spilled everywhere.

By the counter, on the floor, in the entry, out the door, on the sidewalk, near the street, kicked by people’s passing feet.

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Jenny and her sister picked up every coin they could, but Kate told Jenny she was sure that some were lost for good. Kate said, “Do your best, and we’ll have to leave the rest.”

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Jenny gathered up the change to count it one last time, but something very strange occurred . . . . She had an EXTRA dime!

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On her way back home that day, she danced a happy jig.

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Then Jenny put three pennies . . .

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er h in

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n a r b

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s t ic p ig . a l p w -n e

About the Author Trudy Harris is the author of several successful math concept books, among them Pattern Fish, Pattern Bugs, 20

Hungry Piggies, and 100 Days of School, which was an American Bookseller Assocation (ABA) American Bookseller Kids’ Pick of the Lists. Trudy has a B.S. in elementary education with a minor in art from Brigham Young University. She and her husband Jay live in Idaho where Trudy teaches kindergarten.

About the Artist John Hovell’s work has been featured in a wide variety of media including the

New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. His favorite activity, however, is drawing pictures for children. John, his wife Amy, and their three daughters share their northern New Jersey home with a host of four-legged creatures, including Moses, a very regal Newfoundland who is always in the way.

Jacket illustrations © 2008 by John Hovell

j Millbrook Press A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc. 241 First Avenue North

•

Minneapolis, MN 55401

www.lernerbooks.com

Printed and bound in U.S.A.

Jenny wants to buy something, but it costs a whole dollar. some coins, a gift,

She finds

she receives some as and she earns a whole lot more.

Does she have enough?

Count the coins and see for yourself!