Bestselling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Robert Kiyosaki shares about the release of the first book in his new kid’s series of books, “Camp Money: Unlocking the Secrets to a Rich Life.”
1. Why launch a children's book series now? Why is financial education for kids so important?
I have spent decades talking to adults about money, and one thing has become clear to me: many people reach adulthood without ever learning how money actually works. They may be excellent students, but nobody has taught them about cash flow, assets, liabilities, or how to make informed financial decisions.
I believe we need to start these conversations much earlier. Children are naturally curious, imaginative, and eager to learn. If we can introduce financial concepts while they are young, we can help them develop the confidence to ask questions, think independently, and make better decisions as they grow up.
My goal with this series is simple: help the next generation understand money before the real-world consequences of financial illiteracy begin.
2. What makes “Camp Money” different from a traditional children's book about money?
I didn't want to create a textbook disguised as a children's book. Kids don't learn best by memorizing financial terminology. They learn by exploring, asking questions, solving problems, and discovering things for themselves.
“Camp Money” brings financial concepts into a story-driven experience. Young readers encounter challenges and ideas that introduce earning, saving, investing, entrepreneurship, and thoughtful decision-making in a way in which they can relate.
The idea is to make money less intimidating and more interesting. I want kids to finish the book feeling curious about what they've learned and excited to apply those lessons in their own lives.
3. What do you hope children will take away from the series?
I hope they come away with three things: curiosity, confidence, and a different way of thinking about money.
First, I want them to understand that money is something they can learn about, not something they need to fear or avoid discussing. Second, I want them to recognize that their choices matter. Finally, I want them to begin thinking creatively about opportunities, solving problems, and creating value for other people.
Financial education isn't simply about becoming wealthy. It's about having the knowledge to make choices and take greater responsibility for your future.
4. Many parents feel uncomfortable talking about money with their children. Where should they begin?
Start with everyday life. You don't need to be a financial expert, and you certainly don't need to have all the answers.
When you go shopping, talk about needs versus wants. Talk about price versus value. When your child receives an allowance or birthday money, discuss what they might do with it. If they want to buy something expensive, help them think through how they could save for it or earn the money themselves.
Most importantly, make money a normal family conversation rather than a source of stress or secrecy. Parents don't have to lecture their children. They can learn alongside them, ask questions together, and use books like “Camp Money” or the CASHFLOW game to start conversations that might not otherwise happen.
5. Should financial literacy be taught in schools, or is it primarily a parent's responsibility?
I think both have an important role to play. Schools can provide children with foundational knowledge, while parents can help connect that knowledge to everyday decisions at home.
Reading, writing, and mathematics are essential, but children also need opportunities to understand money, budgets, saving, entrepreneurship, investing, and financial decision-making. These skills are life skills and affect nearly every stage of adult life.
We shouldn't expect parents to carry the entire responsibility either. Not every parent has received a strong financial education themselves. That's one reason accessible books and practical learning resources are so valuable. They give families and educators a starting point.
6. You often talk about entrepreneurship. Why introduce that idea to children?
Entrepreneurship teaches children to look for solutions instead of waiting for someone else to solve every problem.
A child who organizes a neighborhood project, makes something useful, or finds a way to help someone is already beginning to understand the entrepreneurial mindset. They're learning to recognize needs, use their imagination, communicate, and create value.
Of course, children don't need to start businesses to benefit from these lessons. The larger point is to encourage initiative, creativity, and resourcefulness. Those qualities can serve them in school, in their careers, and in whatever paths they choose later in life.
7. What would you say to parents who believe children are too young to learn about investing and financial responsibility?
I would say that learning about money doesn't mean asking children to take financial risks or making them worry about adult responsibilities. It means introducing age-appropriate ideas that help them understand the world around them.
Children can learn the difference between earning and spending. Older children can explore saving toward a goal, comparing prices, or understanding how a small business works. As they mature, they can begin learning what assets and liabilities mean and how investing involves both potential rewards and risks.
The objective isn't to rush children into adulthood. It's to build understanding gradually, in ways that make sense for each child's age and experience.
8. What role do you hope this series will play in the legacy of “Rich Dad Poor Dad?”
When I wrote “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” I wanted people to question what they had been taught about money and recognize the importance of financial education. I wanted people to have an open mind when it came to money and the role it plays in our lives... to be open to all points of view.
The Rich Dad Kids series extends that mission to a younger audience. Many adults who discovered my work years ago are now raising children of their own. They have an opportunity to start conversations about money with their families that perhaps they never had growing up.
I hope these books help make financial education a shared family experience. If children can develop healthy curiosity about money early in life, they will have more opportunities to build on that knowledge as they grow.
9. What is your message to a child who reads “Camp Money” and wants to become an entrepreneur or investor someday?
Stay curious. Ask questions. Learn how things work. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, because mistakes can teach you lessons that success sometimes doesn't.
You don't have to know everything today, and you don't have to become rich overnight. Start by learning how to manage what you have, understand the value you can offer others, and make thoughtful decisions. And remember: the world is changing so fast... and so is the world of money. That’s why becoming smarter with our money is so important.
Your education doesn't end when school lets out. Keep learning, keep experimenting, and keep looking for ways to solve problems. Those habits can serve you for the rest of your life.
10. If families remember just one thing from this kid’s series of books, what would you want it to be?
I would want them to remember that financial education is a journey, and it's never too early to begin. And that learning about money can be fun!
Money will be part of a child's life whether anyone teaches them how it works. We have a choice: leave them to figure everything out on their own, or give them opportunities to learn, ask questions, and develop confidence before they face bigger financial decisions.
My hope is that these books encourage parents and children to sit down together, open a conversation, and begin learning. That first conversation may be one of the most valuable investments a family can make in a child's future.
“Camp Money: Unlocking the Secrets to a Rich Life” is the beginning of a new chapter in bringing the principles of financial literacy to young readers. My hope is that the series will inspire children to think creatively, ask better questions, and begin building a stronger understanding of money—one lesson, one conversation, and one decision at a time.
Book: “Camp Money: Unlocking the Secrets to a Rich Life”
Author: Rich Dad Team
Audience: Children ages 8–12, parents, grandparents, and educators
Publication date: November 10, 2026
“Camp Money” is available now through major booksellers and online retailers.
About the Rich Dad Kids Books
Created from concepts and lessons in “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” Rich Dad Kids books are a collection of children's books that bring the trusted financial education philosophy of the Rich Dad brand to young readers through imaginative storytelling and memorable characters. The series is designed to help children develop healthy money habits, entrepreneurial thinking and financial confidence while encouraging family conversations about wealth, responsibility and opportunity. Initial Rich Dad Kids books include: “Camp Money,” “Camp Money Activity Book” and, in 2027, a picture book titled “A Is for Asset.” For more information, visit https://richdad.com/kids/
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