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| View Larger Image | George Washington's Teeth
by Deborah Chandra, Madeleine Comora
by Brock Cole
| | List Price: | $6.99 |  | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours | | | | | Sales Rank: | 205956 | | Studio: | Square Fish | | | Binding: | Paperback | | Reading Level: | Ages 4-8 | | Number Of Pages: | 40 | | Publication Date: | December 26, 2007 | | Publisher: | Square Fish |
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
From battling toothaches while fighting the British, to having rotten teeth removed by his dentists, the Father of His Country suffered all his life with tooth problems. Yet, contrary to popular belief, he never had a set of wooden teeth. Starting at the age of twenty-four, George Washington lost on average a tooth a year, and by the time he was elected president, he had only two left! In this reverentially funny tale written in verse and based on Washington’s letters, diaries, and other historical records, readers will find out what really happened as they follow the trail of lost teeth to complete tooflessness.
Illustrated in watercolors with subtle humor by Brock Cole, the main story is followed by a four-page time line featuring reproduced period portraits of Washington. |
Amazon.com
The creators of George Washington's Teeth unhinge the jaws of history to examine the mouth of America's first president, tracking the poor man's dental woes as he gallops to war, crosses the Delaware, and, with only two teeth left, takes his place as leader of the country. Washington was plagued by black, rotting teeth from the time he was 22, losing about one a year until he was nearly "toofless" and had to have his first dentures made from a hippotamus tusk (that's right, not wood!). Poets Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora begin their quirky historical tale at a lively clip: "The Revolutionary War/ George hoped would soon be won,/ But another battle with his teeth/ Had only just begun..." Indeed. Evidently he was losing teeth even as he crossed the Delaware: "George crossed the icy Delaware/ With nine teeth in his mouth./ In that cold and pitchy dark,/ Two more teeth came out!" (Cleverly, illustrator Brock Cole mimics Emanuel Leutze's famous painting "Washington Crossing the Delaware," making Washington seem more uncomfortably tight-lipped than dignified.) The story ends happily ever after with the crafting of a nice new pair of ivory false teeth that allow George to dance around the ballroom through the night. Truth be told, however, he would be deeply troubled by his teeth until the day he died. A four-page, illustrated historic timeline of Washington's life (and mouth) completes this carefully researched, very funny, charmingly illustrated picture book that works to humanize a larger-than-life historical figure and in turn, history itself. Brilliant! (Ages 7 and older) --Karin Snelson |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 5.0 based on 13 reviews)
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George Washington's Teeth 
This is a great story about Washington's real life struggle with his teeth as he goes through the war. It really shows the children that he was like everyone else and had everyday challenges in his own life.
August 03, 2008 | |
It the tooth be told.... 
While George Washington fought the revolutionary war, he fought another battle with his teeth. Told in rhyming text, this story is based on the true story of George Washington's ill fortune with his teeth. It also includes some snippets of well-known moments of America's fight for independence, giving a whole new meaning to the oral historical tradition.
This is a fun and humorous read aloud that teaches a bit-though there isn't really enough history to do much more than familiarize readers with events of the revolution. There is a detailed time line at the conclusion of the book that lines up the true events of poor Washington's dental problems with related national events and also includes photos. Read-aloud cadence purists will stumble over a few lines that don't read smoothly, but overall the text is an enjoyable read.
The illustrations are lovely and colorful with easily recognizable characters and events. The expressions on George Washington's face are priceless.
Armchair Interviews: This fun and educational read is recommended for the younger set.
April 14, 2008 | |
I didn't realize . . .
Assuming that this is not just another perpetuation of myth (e.g., chopping down the cherry tree), this book is a fascinating history of George Washington and the reason for his famously false teeth. Turns out, the poor man struggled with bad teeth for his adult life, and was constantly struggling with the pain, embarrassment, and illness they caused (my understanding is that he died from a mouth related infection - but consult your own Washington adviser on that one). This is a children's book, written in rhyme with fantastic and whimsical watercolor illustrations. But parents and other adults should love this and benefit from the history lesson. An afterword is included with information on the topic of Washington and his teeth, and photographs of his false teeth are included too. The book really humanizes the man - one can imagine meeting him, and finding him either pleased and proud with a new set of successfully fitted chompers, or disgusted with this lifelong burden. Great book.
April 28, 2007 | |
Oh poor George!
He's a hero with a hardly heroic problem...his teeth are falling out! My boy and I enjoy this story of the man behind the Legend, struggling with his teeth as he struggles with the English. Comical pictures make the tooth loss tragic yet not uncomfortably squeamish for the grown-ups in the room. The timeline at the end of the story provides excellent details for continued conversations about George Washington and his teeth for the curious. Recommended!
September 20, 2006 | |
Take a BITE out of this book!!!!
This book is a wonderful addition to any collection of books! It rhymes and makes history fun for kids. The pictures are wonderful and work very well with the text. I have read this to several elementary classes, and all of the students have really enjoyed it. In the back of the book there is a time line of actual historical facts about George Washington's teeth. I would recommend this book to anyone!
June 01, 2005 | |
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