Jimenez customizes the book to make her Latino readers feel included. The personal examples she uses have Hispanic surnames. Instead of the generic Jones family, there's the Vega family, with parents Maria and Jose and son Pedro. There are tips aimed specifically at Latinos. For example, she reminds some that unlike in their native countries, a notario (notary public in the U.S.) is not an attorney ("Un notario no es un abogado"). Law enforcement officials say some schemers call themselves notarios to take advantage of immigrants who are unaware of the distinction.
Jimenez said she envisions the book being passed along from Latino grandparents who don't speak English to their adult children who may speak some English to adult or young grandchildren, born in the U.S, who may not speak or read any Spanish.
"'Se Habla Dinero?' can be used as a quick reference as your family climbs the financial ladder," she writes. "It is designed to encourage conversations about money between generations."
As Jimenez says in the introduction: "El Dinero tiene su propio lenguaje, su propio vocabulario, su propio codigo de palabras. Es fundamental que comprenda el lenguaje del dinero, cualquiera sea el idioma que usted hable."
Or, as she advises in English: "You must speak the language of money to understand how to use it to your own advantage."
If you're looking for a basic money guide for yourself or a young person, "Se Habla Dinero?" is a good choice in both English and Spanish.
It's easy to be a member of the Color of Money Book Club. We don't meet -- at least not in person. We come together for a live online discussion. Join me at noon Eastern on Nov. 19 at www.washingtonpost.com/discussions. Jimenez will be my guest. Also available to answer your personal finance questions will be certified financial planner Randy Gridley, who helped with a section of the book.
Every month, I randomly select readers to receive a copy of the featured book, donated by the publisher. For a chance to win "Se Habla Dinero?" send an e-mail to colorofmoney(at)washpost.com with your name and address.