David and Abe
"...just in case the bill ever comes back to me, I'll be sure to know it's him."
The Adventures of Abe,
The $5 Bill
Abe is a $5 bill, and he is the all-knowing, all-seeing narrator of the The Adventures Of Abe, The $5 Bill. Abe vividly recalls the most memorable adventures of his 20-year career in active circulation.
In a series of vignettes that take place in different settings both here in the U.S. and around the world, Abe portrays the special people who use him to help them make things happen—usually for something good, but not always so. Abe teaches us that “money is energy” that can be used both for good and for bad. Abe makes it clear that he very much prefers to be used for good.
In his whimsical style, Abe also introduces us to his “friends,” the other currency bill denominations: George, Tom, Alex, Andrew, Harriet, Ulysses, and Ben. And he does not forget to mention along the way his coin friends.
The book has many spectacular illustrations, with contributions from several artists. It is suitable for young readers ages 8 and up. Adults will also enjoy it, especially to read to younger children.
This children's book is great for book clubs and schools!
(Contact us at info@EliGoodmanMD.com regarding volume discounts.)
"Oh…what a wonderful story ! I just loved it ! It was beautiful…I did not want the adventures to end…the story of the $5 bill was one of the best, if not the best, book I have ever read for kids…there was some good ‘life’ lessons in the story. You did a fantastic job!"
- Ellen Richard (Edwardsville,Illinois)
"What a unique addition to our children’s education about the world! The Adventures of Abe, the $5 Bill is told in the style of a grandfather telling stories about the world and showing children how money circulates around it. My children are fascinated with where money goes when it leaves our wallet, and what role banks play, and they constantly ask: ‘Why can’t they just make more money?’ This was a great solution to answer all those questions, in a slow progression of short stories that kept them engaged night after night. Thank you, Dr. Goodman. Well done!"
- Tiffany Heckler, Miami Beach, FL
"Has your child ever asked you where money comes from? Or have you ever thought about where the money in your wallet has been or where it might be going? Well, Dr. Eli Goodman, a Springfield resident and author, has a story for you.
The Adventures of Abe, the $5 Bill, illustrated by Eva Vikman, Angela Martinez and Brenda Beck Fisher, is a fictional story all about the different places a $5 bill could go, and deals with the question of whether the bills you spend are ever the same bills that come back to you. This particular bill, Abe, does he go places!
This $5 bill starts in Washington, D.C., where it is created at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and then goes to different places within the United States, including Nebraska and the east coast. Not only that, but this bill gets to leave the country as well. And young readers will be excited to see the story come full circle with the bill returning to the first place it was spent...Springfield, Illinois. There are a few things about this chapter book (with illustrations throughout) that I think will be attractive to both children and adults alike.
Although it is a fictional story, one of the things that readers will enjoy about this book is the inclusion of interesting facts throughout. For example, in the beginning, we are introduced to Abe’s “teammates” and learn whose faces are on everything from the $1 bill to bills that are no longer circulating, like President Grover Cleveland on the $1,000 bill.
When there are important places in the story that might require more information, Goodman actually includes the website that provides more background.
Abe gets to go all over the world, and as a reader, you feel like you get to go, too. For each place Abe visits, the author goes into detail describing the surroundings or landmarks that help the reader understand the setting. Abe starts off in Springfield, so young readers would enjoy the surprise of reading a story with a setting right here where they live.
If you answered yes to either of the questions at the beginning of this article, or are in the market for a good story to read with your child for a few nights, then this may be the book for you." - Deana Metzke, A literary coach at an elementary school in Springfield, IL