The Flimflam Man

by Darleen Bailey Beard, Eileen Christelow (Illustrator)

On a scorching July day in 1950, a fabulous fat man drives into Wetumka, Oklahoma. F. Bam Morrison is selling tickets to Bohn's United Circus Shows, and the townspeople are buying―all, that is, except ol' man Swank, who says F. Bam Morrison is a two-faced weasel. Smitten with Morrison, ten-year-old Bobbie Jo Hailey―and mean Clara Jean Knox, whom she befriends―unwittingly joins the effort to bamboozle Wetumka. When Bobbie Jo realizes her mistake, Morrison is on his way out of town, leaving her disappointed but intact―and greatly enriched by her relationship with the flimflam man.

Lovingly illustrated by Eileen Christelow, Darleen Bailey Beard's delightful story is based on a real episode in Wetumka's history, still celebrated annually as Sucker Day!

Genres: Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published March 25, 1998

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book every year to my class. Cute story to teach trustworthiness and kindness to those hard to like. Written with tons of figurative language, which as a teacher is huge!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging tale about how an entire community (minus one grumpy old man) is scammed out of money, goods, and services by a conman.

More central to the story is a message of kindness and friendship for those who are in need. The story is good for those who are reading beginner chapter books and the illustrations really help convey the emotions of the story.

[Stacy Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

F. Bam Morrison is the Flimflam Man. Bobbie Jo is a stutterer who does everything she can do to help him out after he rescues her last puppy from the bully Clara Jean. Clara Jean does everything she can do to help him out too. Together Clara Jean and Bobbie Jo help swindle the entire town of Wetumka, Oklahoma. Historical Fiction.

[Partridge Public]

Beard, Darleen B.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Bea