JUNIOR EDITION for Ages 6+
Business: Reading the Numbers · Book 1

Profit vs Cash: The Mystery of Missing Money

The bakery had its best year ever — so why can't it pay the flour bill?

In this book, you will find out…

When you grow up, you could…

Who is in the story

MeadowMeadowMoney detective. Changes her mind when clues say so.
CharlieCharlieAsks one good question — then lets Meadow find out.
WarrenWarrenTurns up late. Thinks about a hundred years from now.

Today’s mystery

The bakery had its best year ever — so why can't it pay the flour bill?

Look for the clues. Try to guess the answer before Meadow does!

Chapter 1

Tuesday: The Best Year Ever

🔍 How can a shop be rich and poor at once?
This is the bakery on Mill Street. On Tuesday it had big news.
This is the bakery on Mill Street. On Tuesday it had big news.
It had its best year ever! It sold more bread than ever before.
It had its best year ever! It sold more bread than ever before.
Meadow came in for a loaf.
Meadow came in for a loaf.
MeadowBest year ever? The bank must be full!
But the baker looked worried. The flour bill had to be paid on Friday.
But the baker looked worried. The flour bill had to be paid on Friday.
And the bank did not have enough money to pay it.
And the bank did not have enough money to pay it.
Charlie was buying a bun.
Charlie was buying a bun.
MeadowThey earned it. It must be somewhere!
CharlieWhere is the cash?
Two jars. The profit jar filled up all year. The cash jar stayed nearly empty.
Two jars. The profit jar filled up all year. The cash jar stayed nearly empty.
🔎 Clue found!
Profit and cash are two different jars.
Meadow made the baker a promise.
Meadow made the baker a promise.
MeadowI'll find your money by Friday.
Friday was four days away. The hunt began.
Friday was four days away. The hunt began.
Chapter 2

Wednesday: Follow One Loaf

🔍 Did the bread get paid for?
The order book was full. But the till was quiet. Meadow noticed both.
The order book was full. But the till was quiet. Meadow noticed both.
Every morning the bakery baked 400 loaves for schools and hotels.
Every morning the bakery baked 400 loaves for schools and hotels.
Meadow decided to follow one order to the door.
Meadow decided to follow one order to the door.
MeadowLet's see where this bread goes.
The bread reached the school kitchen before eight.
The bread reached the school kitchen before eight.
The crates went in. No money came out!
The crates went in. No money came out!
The school got a piece of paper instead. It could pay in two months.
The school got a piece of paper instead. It could pay in two months.
Meadow was not sure.
Meadow was not sure.
MeadowA sale is when money comes!
CharlieThen when does a stall sell?
At a market stall, bread goes out and money comes in at the same moment.
At a market stall, bread goes out and money comes in at the same moment.
At the bakery, the two moments came apart. Bread on Tuesday. Money much later.
At the bakery, the two moments came apart. Bread on Tuesday. Money much later.
Meadow wrote her guess down.
Meadow wrote her guess down.
MeadowI bet lots of schools haven't paid yet.
There was a drawer in the office. It would hardly shut.
There was a drawer in the office. It would hardly shut.
Chapter 3

The Drawer Full of Promises

🔍 What is inside the drawer?
Meadow opened it. It was stuffed with bills nobody had paid yet!
Meadow opened it. It was stuffed with bills nobody had paid yet!
Her guess was right! She sorted them into piles.
Her guess was right! She sorted them into piles.
MeadowSome of these are from June!
The biggest customers were the slowest to pay.
The biggest customers were the slowest to pay.
Paper on one side, coins on the other. The paper can't buy flour.
Paper on one side, coins on the other. The paper can't buy flour.
Charlie waited. Then he asked.
Charlie waited. Then he asked.
CharlieWhat if a customer never pays?
One customer had closed in August. Its bill was still in the drawer.
One customer had closed in August. Its bill was still in the drawer.
🔎 Clue found!
Bread was sold, but the money had not come in yet. It was stuck in the drawer.
Meadow did the sums.
Meadow did the sums.
MeadowThe drawer is only part of it.
Some money was found. But not all of it. Two days left.
Some money was found. But not all of it. Two days left.
Chapter 4

Thursday: The Full Shelf

🔍 Where else could money hide?
On Thursday, Meadow checked the storeroom. It was full to the top.
On Thursday, Meadow checked the storeroom. It was full to the top.
The baker had bought a whole year of paper bags at once. They were cheaper that way!
The baker had bought a whole year of paper bags at once. They were cheaper that way!
Meadow liked that.
Meadow liked that.
MeadowCheaper bags! That's clever, isn't it?
But money does not look like money once it turns into cardboard.
But money does not look like money once it turns into cardboard.
Same money, two shapes. Only the coins can pay the flour bill.
Same money, two shapes. Only the coins can pay the flour bill.
Meadow changed her mind, a little.
Meadow changed her mind, a little.
MeadowWe saved money. We just can't spend it!
🔎 Clue found!
Money spent on things for later sits on the shelf.
More of the missing money, standing right in front of her.
More of the missing money, standing right in front of her.
Chapter 5

The Oven That Lasts Ten Years

🔍 Where did the biggest chunk go?
Then Meadow saw it. A shiny new oven, bought this year.
Then Meadow saw it. A shiny new oven, bought this year.
It was paid for all at once, in one afternoon. That was a lot of cash.
It was paid for all at once, in one afternoon. That was a lot of cash.
Meadow was puzzled.
Meadow was puzzled.
MeadowSo why didn't the profit drop a lot?
She asked Charlie for the rule.
She asked Charlie for the rule.
MeadowJust tell me!
CharlieHow long will the oven last?
The old oven had worked for eleven years.
The old oven had worked for eleven years.
Meadow made a guess. Ten years of mornings, so a little slice each year.
Meadow made a guess. Ten years of mornings, so a little slice each year.
She was right! Like a bike. You pay once. You ride it for years.
She was right! Like a bike. You pay once. You ride it for years.
She wrote it in her own words.
She wrote it in her own words.
MeadowCash all at once. Cost a bit each year.
🔎 Clue found!
The oven took lots of cash now. Its cost is spread over many years.
Chapter 6

Friday: Every Dollar Has a Home

🔍 Can Meadow find all the money?
On Friday morning, Meadow put profit and cash side by side.
On Friday morning, Meadow put profit and cash side by side.
She followed every dollar, one step at a time.
She followed every dollar, one step at a time.
Some was in the drawer of unpaid bills.
Some was in the drawer of unpaid bills.
A big part was in the new oven.
A big part was in the new oven.
Meadow explained it all. For once, Charlie said nothing at all.
Meadow explained it all. For once, Charlie said nothing at all.
Nothing was stolen.
Nothing was stolen.
MeadowThe profit was real. The money was just busy!
Meadow’s notebook
Drawer + shelf + oven = the missing money. Every dollar had a home.
The baker paid Friday's flour bill with help from the bank. She knew why now.
The baker paid Friday's flour bill with help from the bank. She knew why now.
Chapter 7

The Giant Order

🔍 Is a bigger order always good?
That afternoon, a big supermarket offered a giant order!
That afternoon, a big supermarket offered a giant order!
Two thousand loaves a week. But it would pay in three months.
Two thousand loaves a week. But it would pay in three months.
The baker looked at Meadow.
The baker looked at Meadow.
MeadowMore bread means more flour. Today!
Three months of flour, paid for before any money comes in.
Three months of flour, paid for before any money comes in.
Yes or no? Both roads were fair. That made it a real choice.
Yes or no? Both roads were fair. That made it a real choice.
Meadow asked the question first, before anyone else.
Meadow asked the question first, before anyone else.
MeadowWhere does the cash come from until then?
Charlie just smiled. The question was hers now.
Charlie just smiled. The question was hers now.
Down in the town, every shop had two jars. Now Meadow knew how to look in both.
Down in the town, every shop had two jars. Now Meadow knew how to look in both.

All the clues

  1. Profit and cash are two different jars.
  2. Bread was sold, but the money had not come in yet. It was stuck in the drawer.
  3. Money spent on things for later sits on the shelf.
  4. The oven took lots of cash now. Its cost is spread over many years.

So… The bakery had its best year ever — so why can't it pay the flour bill?

Nothing was stolen. The money was busy! Some waited in unpaid bills. Some sat on a shelf as bags. Some was baked into a new oven. Profit and cash are two different things.

OmahaIndia Junior · a simpler version of Book 1 for readers aged 6-8