Double Fudge

Double Fudge, Judy Blume's fifth and most recent in her series of "Fudge" books, teaches children some basic principles and values about money: where it is printed, how responsible grown-ups manage their money, and some of the social mores surrounding discussing money. Readers will also learn about urban life in New York City and a few animal facts. Kids in the book receive some information about protecting themselves from "stranger danger."

Mr. and Mrs. Hatcher do their best to convince Fudge that "money doesn't grow on trees," and that the most important things in life have nothing to do with money. While it doesn't seem to make much of an impression on the 5-year-old in the book, readers can see that Fudge's parents set a fine example. Fudge's friend Richie is apparently very wealthy and looks down on the middle-class Hatcher family's relative poverty. Mr. Hatcher's cousin Howie introduces another style of parenting in a judging, cartoonish way: He homeschools his children, and he doesn't allow his children to have any candy, packaged foods, or TV.