Wooden Teeth & Jelly Beans

The couple next door are in Paris enjoying the heck out of themselves, I'm sure. They work hard, they deserve their vacation. They're good parents too, but everybody needs a break from their children on occasion and that's where I come in, this super book about Wooden Teeth and Jelly Beans too. You see, my neighbors have two daughters, Jill and Jerry (short for Geraldine), who are spending three weeks with me, while their parents are in Paris. Part of the deal -- to make this three weeks fun for the girls, who are six and eight -- is for them to sort of have a vacation too, so no school for them, they get to spend the three weeks with Stephanie 24/7. Some would think that's a horrible thing, taking children out of school for so long, but not me. We've done lots of stuff, had lots of fun, watched lots of movies, read lots of books. I get the L.A. Times on my doorstep and I go over the news of the day with them, trying not to censor it too much and the big news, of course, is the election going on. Tomorrow, after a very long campaign, we're going to find out if Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain is going to be our next president. The girls and I have talked a lot about this. At first then didn't understand. Oh they know who the president is, but who he is, what he does, why he's important, this they didn't know. But they do now and this book helped hugely. Tommy Tupperman is running against Penelope Ratsworth for class president of Rhino Grade School. Tommy is quiet and shy. Penelope is rude and acts like a pit bull in a bad mood and she'll step on your toe if you don't vote for her. This election is a hard thing for Tommy. He doesn't think anybody likes him. He wants to give up, but then he looks at a picture of old Wooden Teeth himself, George Washington and that stare tells Tommy to keep on. Then we get a peek into the Tupperman Files, files Tommy has on all of the Presidents from George Washington to that famous jelly bean eater, Bill Clinton, with a page presented for each one of them. The illustrations are super and the facts about our presidents are just enough to wet a child's whistle. Well, I like to think my reading skill and my unique way of looking at politics and everything political has added to the girl's enjoyment of this book. I've had a signed copy of this book in my collection for a long time and I'm glad I finally got a chance to put it to good use and now that the girls have a basic understanding of history, tomorrow night I'm going take them to a friend's house, where we are going to have spider cokes (Coke or Pepsi with ice cream -- a coke float) and popcorn and watch the election results. Five really, really big stars from me for this book. It's really wonderfully super and if you can find it, I'd pick up, I really, really would. I can't overuse the word really with respect to this really fine book, I really, really can't. Reviewed by Stephanie Sane

I bought this book as our other one was so worn out from the kids reading it so much. It's a really fun book not only informative and educational but humorous as well. Also great illustrations. Our kids loved it!

My sister-in-law bought this book for her nieces, ages two and three. The book is too advanced for them, but not for me. I enjoy pointing out the wonderful cartoon presidents to them and guess what, they know a lot of their names. However, there is a lot they don't understand, but when they get to be about four or five this book will be ready and waiting for them.The book starts out with a few words the young student needs to know to grasp the idea of the presidency and what it represents. The words are ambassador, assassination, cabinet, congress, constitution, Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence, impeachment, inauguration, secede and veto. As you can see, if your preschooler understood what these words meant, she would be well on her way to what President Gerald Ford calls in the introduction, her "greatest asset."This book is beautifully done and you know what? I learned, or re-learned, a lot. Yes, this wonderful book is good for big people too. Five stars from Captain Katie.Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

We bought this book when on vacation and it was wonderful. Our girls (then 8 and 5) spent hours reading facts about the presidents. They delighted in coming up with question that their father and I could not answer. It's great because it contains little facts about our presidents without having to read long paragraphs. I am currently looking to buy another copy as ours was lent to someone - never to return again.

Okay, so I'm kind of young but hey! I can still review a great book. Wooden teeth and Jelly beans is a book about presidents- but not the ordinary kind. It gives great facts in a fun and colorful way. I enjoyed reading it and kept on reading it over and over. I reccommend this book for anyone that can read or is in the ages of 7 to 777 years old. I especially loved the pictures that are like really good charicatures of all the presidents from Washington to Clinton. I really hope you pick up this book because this book is the best example I have seen of an educational book that can be fun!