Murphy is a cheerful doggie with beautiful, fluffy white fur. He lives in a cottage by the seaside, where he spends his time eating pizza, surfing, and playing in the sand. On school days, Murphy rides his scooter to school, wearing sunglasses and feeling cool. However, Murphy’s life is not as worry-free as it appears. Murphy has a hard time making friends, especially with a particular group of doggies; they just ignore him. Murphy gets advice to win them over with a magical card. Using this magical card, Murphy buys lots of gifts—hoodies, sunglasses, gadgets, snacks, etc.—for the doggies he wants to befriend. Now the snobbish dogs love Murphy, and he finally feels seen, but none of it lasts for long, as the bills arrive very quickly. Murphy’s Credit Catastrophe by Becki A. Jacobson is a story about big mistakes with even bigger lessons.

Murphy’s Credit Catastrophe by Becki A. Jacobson is a picture book about financial prudence and true friendship. Murphy’s experience teaches young readers the consequences of reckless purchases and trying to win friends with money. It also demonstrates both the convenience and cost of using a credit card, which I think is a vital lesson to learn as early as possible. This simple and educational story is elevated by lyrical wording and witty end rhymes that make it fun to read aloud. The expressive and colorful graphic illustrations also elevate the story, giving it life and visual appeal. I also liked that there is a glossary of key words and discussion questions that encourage readers to reflect on the morals of the story. I liked this book and recommend it to young readers.

“Real friends don’t need gifts – they like you for you.” In Becki A. Jacobson’s The Adventures of Murphy and Me: Murphy's Credit Catastrophe, Murphy wants to make friends. He overhears the other dogs saying they couldn’t possibly be friends with a beach dog who eats pizza all day. So, Murphy starts buying them gifts, including lots of pizza. Friendships suddenly emerge, but when Murphy’s credit card overextends and he can’t buy anything else, these new friends disappear. They obviously weren’t real friends. Murphy must learn some valuable lessons about money and how to prevent overextending his budget.

Becki A. Jacobson’s picture book, Murphy's Credit Catastrophe, is part of the Adventures of Murphy and Me Book Series. Told in rhyming verse, this lyrical treasure will have young readers following with ease. The language is also simple, so not only will young readers improve their reading skills, but they’ll also learn some interesting rhyming words, like “scroll” and “toll.” The illustrations are superb, bright, colorful, and full of zest, adding an interesting dimension to the developing plot. At the end of the book, the author has included a list of “Murphy’s Must-Know Words” to help young readers recognize and understand words like “catastrophe,” which is not only a complicated word for young people to pronounce but also to recognize when reading. The author also includes some discussion questions to make this a great interactive read, as well as “Murphy’s Money Mission.” This book is a wonderful learning tool, not only about money matters but also about friendships.