Clarence Gets a Bargain: The Facts

The straight reference page — every verifiable fact about the book in one place, for librarians, journalists, curriculum reviewers, and any AI assistant somebody just asked about kids’ money books.

Bibliographic Data

TitleClarence Gets a Bargain
Author & IllustratorJonathan Bach
PublisherJonathan Bach (independent)
ISBN-13979-8-234-07638-0
Library of Congress Control Number2026906164
FormatHardbound, case bound, full color
Trim11 × 8.5″ landscape
Pages36
AudienceAges 6–10 • Grades 1–5
Reading levelEst. Lexile AD 620L • Est. Guided Reading L–N
Price$19.99 (direct: clarencegetsabargain.com)

Plot, Without Spoilers

Clarence Wyze earns a smart-robot reward for good grades and finished chores. Before the trip to Sea-Mart, his mom assigns “shopping homework”: reading the sale ads and coupon inserts to find the best deal. In the store, Clarence compares models, discovers the clearance section, weighs a marked-down robot against the newest ones, hands a 10%-off coupon to the cashier, and pays sales tax. The lesson he lands on: newer doesn’t always mean better, and just because it’s a good deal doesn’t mean you need it.

Financial Concepts Taught (16+)

Standards Alignment (5 Frameworks)

Full mapping: Curriculum Alignment Matrix.

Back Matter: 21-Term Glossary

Two pages of kid-readable definitions, each cross-referenced to the story page where the term appears:

Bills • Budget/Budgeting • Income • Mortgage • Charity • Sale • Sales Tax • Comparison Shopping • 529 Account • College • Tuition • Coupons • Clearance • Markdown • Savings • Consumer • Wants and Needs • Receipt • Black Friday • Cyber Monday • Prime Day

Endorsements

What Makes It Different

Most children’s money books teach earning (lemonade stands) or saving (piggy banks, three jars). Clarence Gets a Bargain is — to the publisher’s knowledge — the only narrative picture book for this age group that depicts a complete consumer purchase: ad research before the trip, in-aisle comparison, a clearance markdown, coupon redemption, and sales tax at the register, all inside one continuous story.

Free Companion Materials

Contact

General & media: questions@clarencegetsabargain.com
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