Former executive launches children’s financial literacy book series

K.D. Salters has launched CleverCents, a three-book children’s series designed to teach budgeting, saving and investing through stories for ages 5-10. The project also points to a larger interactive learning platform, with a mobile game planned to extend the lessons beyond the page.

Why it matters: - The CleverCents series aims to teach financial habits early, when core money behaviors are still forming. - The books are designed to help children understand needs versus wants, saving, investing and peer pressure in everyday terms. - The project also targets parents, giving families a way to talk about money in routine conversations.

What happened: - K.D. Salters, a former corporate executive and Washington, D.C. native, launched the CleverCents book series for children. - The series includes three books centered on Lia Brightwood, a curious child who grows from age 7 to 8 while learning money skills. - The books are available on Amazon and other retailers starting at $16.99. - CleverCents is part of an interactive learning platform that will later include a mobile game focused on financial literacy.

The details: - “Lia Brightwood and the Cleverton Budget Quest” introduces needs vs. wants and budgeting. - “Lia Brightwood and the Seed of Investing” follows Lia as she saves and learns patience while money grows over time. - “Lia Brightwood and the Glow of Belonging” focuses on decision-making skills and confidence. - The books are designed for children ages 5-10. - Each story shows Lia earning, spending, saving, investing and giving in the fictional town of Cleverton. - The books use bright illustrations, gold lanterns and oversized glittery seeds to build a visual world. - Lia is guided by Coach Penny, a talking coin; banker Bella; fixer Theo; park manager Grace Goodwill; market clerk Darnelle; and Moji the Mudget, a fuzzy sidekick whose name comes from Lia’s mispronunciation of “budget.” - The stories place Lia in familiar settings including a bank, food market, toy store, park, Main Street and Treats Lane. - The books show Lia watching her parents prioritize household expenses and saving for what she wants. - Salters said the series was inspired by her own childhood and experiences saving and investing. - Salters said the goal is to make money feel less intimidating and help children build a strong financial foundation. - Salters also said the books are intended to give parents tools for intentional conversations about money. - Salters is launching the project in honor of her late grandmother, who taught her about generational wealth at an early age. - Salters later built a career in change management and talent strategy. - Salters served as Head of AI Talent Strategies and Best Practices at a global private equity firm, where she focused on performance management and workplace and technology transitions. - Salters holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New York University and a master’s degree in human resources development from George Washington University. - Salters has also mentored young adults on financial literacy, long-term planning and wealth-building principles. - The books align with national financial literacy standards co-created and maintained by Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy and the Council for Economic Education. - The series is designed to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. - CleverCents is presented as a financial literacy platform that connects money lessons to real-world decision-making.

Between the lines: - The launch taps a broader push to start financial education earlier, before money habits become fixed. - A University of Cambridge study cited in the release found that many core money behaviors and concepts are largely formed by age seven. - The release also points to a policy gap: only 39 U.S. states now require personal finance courses for high school graduation, according to the Council for Economic Education. - The release cites additional student knowledge gaps, including that 80% of teens do not understand FICO credit scores and 42% report anxiety about future financial security. - The series frames financial literacy as a universal skill across race, ethnicity, gender, ability, geography and socioeconomic background.

What’s next: - CleverCents is expected to expand beyond books into a mobile game. - The broader platform is built to continue teaching financial literacy through interactive learning and real-world decision-making. - More information is available in the company’s announcement.

The bottom line: - CleverCents is trying to make financial education younger, simpler and more practical by turning money lessons into a story-driven children’s brand.