Stephanie Cox didn’t set out to write a children’s book. She was just trying to make storytime matter. While earning her teaching credential, Stephanie worked as an elementary substitute teacher and always carried a few trusted read-aloud books with her. One favorite was “Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday” by Judith Viorst — a funny, relatable story about a kid who gets money… and quickly spends it all. The kids loved the story. But something wasn’t landing.
The book was written in 1977 (when gum cost ten cents and kids made nickel bets.) Stephanie could see her students listening… but not truly connecting. The numbers felt like history, not real life. At one point, she even joked about taking white-out to the pages to “update” the prices so the lesson might stick. And that’s when the bigger idea hit. What if there were a modern story. One filled with humor, big feelings, and imagination, that helped kids understand saving, spending, and choices in a way that felt alive and relevant to their world? So she started writing.
Years later, the story came back, because the need never went away. What began as one teacher trying to make a read-aloud lesson click has grown into a creative project dedicated to helping kids learn life skills through laughter, imagination, and heart. But that seemed like a lot of work, and a full time job to promote, and she didn’t have that kind of time with teaching. Was she supposed to spend her summers working too?
So, the book sat on a shelf and at the back of her mind until ah AH-HA! moment happened. In 2026, Stephanie founded her own publishing company with a bigger mission in mind: not just a book, but a growing world of stories, activities, and tools designed to help kids ages 5–10 build confidence with money, decision-making, and goal setting. She is thrilled to introduce this book to the world as she embarks on this new adventure.
I drew and colored all the images between substitute teaching and taking classes to get my teaching credential. I found a groupon deal, and used a photobook website to print up ten copies for my friends, family, and my future students. Here are some of the original sketch drawings below.
This was the very first full colored sketch I did for the book.
This was the first attempt at drawing Blart enjoying his Monsterchino with his friends.
This was my first arcade sketch.
Originally, Blart bought a robot-monster toy missing an arm. I later changed it to a monster tuck missing a wheel.
This sketch was my idea for the second picture in the book – Blart with his riches, surrounded by his family. It eventually became a close-up of the family.
The Slimeaid Challenge sketch didn’t change much, except the dirty dishes got moved into the sink.
I’m pretty sure they smell VERY funky to us humans.
They can eat money, just like us humans can eat money. The better question might be, should they eat money? And my response to both humans and monsters is: No.
Of course! In so many different flavors and colors!!! There’s Extra Chewy, Extra Salty, Extra Dry, and Extra Crusty.
Actually, my dad took me to our local bank when I was nine and opened up a savings account just for me. Any money I got from babysitting jobs, summer jobs, birthdays or Christmas, I’d try and deposit in my account. I didn’t know what I was saving for, I just knew it was importnat to save. When I was 18, I had saved up over $3,000, and it helped me buy my first car.
It’s a very complicated process involving both slime and pulp that feels just like what we call paper.
They have banks which carry both jars of money AND jars of goo. Monsters love a good jar of goo.
It does not. But if it did, he might of been able to save his money better if it tried to bite him every time he reached inside! I think some monster scientists are working on creating one for testing.
Not if you really know what you’re saving for. Part of it is planning how long you think it might take and sticking to it. It is a very rewarding feeling when you finally reach your goal and finally get to enjoy whatever it was you were saving for. It makes it matter that much more and feels well deserved.
I love visiting new communities and schools to share stories and learn together.
We can do a read-aloud, a hands-on classroom workshop, or even learning sessions for teachers and parents.
Whether you’re a kid, teacher, parent, librarian, bookseller, or all-around-monster-lover, I would love to hear from you!
