Max's Money Adventure

When Max plops his money down on the toy store counter for a new pair of inline skates, he discovers that he's a little short: $71.85, to be precise, on a ticket price of $72. In this wonderfully entertaining, high quality production (funded by Microsoft), Max (played by Scott Vanderpool) learns the basics of wise money management with the help of guest stars Joey Cora (all-star second baseman), Olympic skater Nancy Kerrigan, and Bill Nye the Science Guy. After exhausting the obvious possibilities (Mom: "No.") and discovering that--despite their names--cash machines do not simply hand over cash, Max hits on a revolutionary new entrepreneurial idea: he'll open a lemonade stand. Unfortunately, after making his first $2 sale at his stand ("The Big Squeeze"), Max blows the dough on a super deluxe ice cream sundae (putting him exactly $71.85--still--away from his goal). As the story progresses, Max learns the joys of credit cards ($4,654 toy store tab) and the sorrows (the bill), the pitfalls of writing checks on an empty account (his check literally bounces all over the bank), and the magic of compound interest (even though he's initially disappointed to discover that after 30 seconds his $2 deposit has gained exactly zippola in interest). An excellent introduction to money management for youngsters, this is the best title on prudent spending, saving and investing I've seen since Saving with Tom & Martha (VL-7/95). Highly recommended. Aud: E, I, P. (R. Pitman)