Penny the Pelican Plans Ahead: A Tale of Saving Smart

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By Peter Thompson

Penny the Pelican Plans Ahead, a picture-book parable that speaks with clarity, warmth, and purpose, is a luminous gift that Alexandra Bono offers to young readers. Bono not only tells a story in this gentle yet sturdy narrative, but also provides a primer on mindfulness and foresight—an indispensable compass in a world that frequently prioritizes impulse over intention.

Bono’s writing is lyrical, rhythmic, and engages with economy: every rhyme, every turn of phrase feels chosen with care. She maintains a delicate equilibrium between narrative charm and instructional clarity, ensuring that she never descends into didacticism. The narrative is seamless: we are introduced to Penny, learn about her aspirations, face obstacles, and reach conclusions, all in language that is both comprehensible to preschoolers and meaningful to parents and caregivers. The interplay between story and principle—between delight and lesson—is elegant; the narrative is anchored with consistency by the repeated motifs (catching fish, putting aside, thinking about family needs).

At its heart, Penny the Pelican Plans Ahead addresses the themes of saving, planning, responsibility, and caring for others. Penny learns that when her family is expecting a new sibling, she must think ahead—balancing what she wants today with what she will need tomorrow. In doing so, the book encourages children to consider stewardship over resources, to grow in patience, and to imagine futures larger than themselves. These themes carry real weight: for a child in an uncertain world, they plant seeds of confidence and agency.

Emotionally and intellectually, this book works on two levels. From the child's perspective, it provides a gentle, uplifting narrative that instills a sense of optimism, allowing them to perceive themselves as capable of making intelligent decisions. It encourages adults to contemplate the manner in which we model such behaviors, instruct financial habits, and cultivate ambition without urgency. It leaves behind a sense of possibility, suggesting that even modest planning efforts can blossom into greater generosity and security in the future.

Penny the Pelican Plans Ahead matters because it refuses to trivialize early learning; instead, it treats children as worthy participants in the project of growth. Alexandra Bono gives us more than a charming rhymed fable—she offers a tool for building character, shaping values, and fostering foresight in young hearts.

About the Author 

Alexandra Bono

Alexandra Bono is the founder of Pelican Invests, a financial empowerment platform. She previously held leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Chase, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and Columbia Business School, where she focused on building tools that expand financial access. A recognized leader in economic mobility and fintech innovation, Alexandra has been honored as an “Inspiring Woman in FinTech” and a “U.S. Woman in Tech.” She is a Registered Investment Advisor and earned her MBA with distinction from Columbia Business School.

Beyond her work in finance, Alexandra is also an artist and illustrator with a deep passion for the arts. She played a key role in launching the iconic Whitney Museum of American Art and continues to champion arts education and cultural access.