The Head Start · Book One · Ages 3–5
The Market
of Many Prices
A read-aloud story about why things cost what they cost.
Read it out loud · Point · Count · Cheer
Listen to the story 7:11
1
Once upon a city
This is Luminal.
A big, busy, buzzing city.
Everyone is going somewhere.
2
Meet Magne
This is Magne.
Magne loves one little word.
WHY?
Why is the sky up high? Why do trains go by?
Why does it cost what it costs?
3
A grown-up who listens
🧑🦱
"Come with me," said Mr. M.
He took Magne's small hand.
"I want to show you something."
4
The market!
It was a MARKET!
So loud. So bright. So many things!
And apples — everywhere.
Let's count them!
🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
One… two… three… four… five!
5
The first apple
Mr. M picked up a shiny apple.
🍎
"Three coins!" said the first seller.
123
Count the coins. One, two, three.
6
Wait a second…
But right next door…
🍎
"TWO coins!" shouted the next seller.
🧒
"But Papa — they're the SAME apples!
Why two and not three?"
Why two and not three?"
7
🧑🦱
"Just watch," said Mr. M.
Whoosh!
Everybody ran to the two-coin apples.
Reaching! Grabbing! Buying!
The apples went fast.
8
Uh oh…
The two-coin apples were all gone.
🍎
"FOUR coins now!" a new seller called.
1234
🧒
"FOUR? But they were two before!"
9
Here is the secret
When many hands reach
for just a few apples…
for just a few apples…
the price goes UP. ⬆️
When apples are everywhere
and hands are few…
and hands are few…
the price goes DOWN. ⬇️
Say it with me · do the hands!
More hands reaching? Up it goes!
Fewer hands? Then down it goes!
10
So who is the boss of prices?
🧒
"Who shouts out the price?"
Nobody!
And… everybody.
Every yes. Every no. Every reaching hand.
11
Up and down, all day
The prices rose…
…and the prices fell.
Up. Down. Up. Down.
Like waves in the sea. Always moving. Never still.
12
The quiet truth
🧑🦱
"A price is just people…
choosing."
choosing."
Not just apples.
Toys. Snacks. Everything.
13
They walked home together.
And Luminal didn't feel confusing now.
It felt alive.
14
The end of Book One
🧒
"If people make the price…
can I learn to understand it?"
can I learn to understand it?"
🧑🦱
Mr. M smiled.
"You just took your first step."
"You just took your first step."
End of Book One · The Market of Many Prices
For the grown-up reading along
What this story is teaching
Underneath the apples, this is a first lesson in supply and demand: a price isn't fixed or handed down by anyone in charge — it's what people land on together. When more people want a thing than there is of it, the price tends to rise; when there's plenty and fewer takers, it tends to fall.
You can make it stick without any money at all. Next time you're at the store, ask your child: "Why do you think this one costs more?" Let them guess. There are no wrong answers — you're just teaching them that prices have reasons, and that those reasons are worth being curious about.
The KeepMore Company · thekeepmoreco.com · Free financial-literacy material for learners and families. For educational purposes only. This is not investment, tax, or legal advice and is not a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Any figures are simple illustrations to teach a concept. Decisions belong to you and your family.