The Economics of Making a Movie

September 1, 2014
Grades 5-8 This unusual series of topic books introduces economics through pop-culture entertainment familiar and appealing to young readers. Each provides a short history of the business, describes who makes money and how much, and offers some general comments about the industry's future. All boast eye-catching graphics, action-filled photographs, colorful graphs and charts, and boxes listing Record Breakers, offering Insider Insights and Tricks of the Trade, and asking readers What Do You Think? Words are defined in context and in glossaries, and lengthy lists of references conclude (but with no source for specific statistics or charts). Each title makes some effort to explain the idea of capitalism and a market economy. While the author of Video Game asks readers whether they think downloading illegally copied games is stealing, the author of Making a Movie takes a clear stance against piracy, and its clear, entertaining writing makes it a series stand-out. Overall, these provide a lively introduction to the entertainment business world.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)