Almost a World Record Breaker

Teddy Mars #1

by Molly B. Burnham, Trevor Spencer (Illustrator)

Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winner!

Fans of Jeff Kinney's humor and Sharon Creech's heartfelt stories will love this hilarious new series about a ten-year-old boy from a big family who dreams of making it into The Guinness Book of World Records.

Teddy Mars is determined to stand out in a world full of wonders and a house bursting with siblings. With the help of his best friends, Teddy tries to build the biggest snow mound, stuff the most grapes in his mouth, and lift a chair with his teeth. He'll do anything to succeed—even if it means sleeping in a tent and cleaning up pigeon poop for Grumpy Pigeon Man. Too bad his pesky little brother, also known as The Destructor, always wrecks Teddy's record-breaking plans!

Told in short, accessible sections, with memorable lists and winning illustrations, Molly B. Burnham's Teddy Mars #1: Almost a World Record Breaker is perfect for reading aloud. Teddy's never-give-up attitude will have readers laughing out loud and clamoring to break records of their own!

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, School, Chapter Books

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 24, 2015

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I enjoyed Teddy's antics, but really disliked the little brother and how the parents never backed up Teddy. I kind of got angry at his parents for letting Jake destroy all of Teddy's stuff!

[Megan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can’t see it right now, but I’m heaving a massive sigh. I’m not sure where to begin, but I know it should probably be with something good about the book. You other teachers have been there, right? You have a conference for one of your students, and you know you need to say something positive, but all you can come up with is “he always puts his name on his papers” or “she is always sure to cough into her elbow”? That’s sort of how this book is for me.

Um…it won an award? A humor book award, even. And I guess that’s fair; parts of the book were legitimately funny. Not just gross funny, the kind of funny little boys would like, either, but actual, laugh-out-loud funny. Most of it has to do with the illustrations, like Teddy’s attempt at drawing a pigeon (it looks more like a burnt pudding) or the expressions on different characters’ faces. Awesome job, Trevor Spencer, on your art! There were a few funny gags in Burnham’s writing, too, like the way the twin sisters kept trying to switch places even after being caught for the umpteenth time.

Full review at A Writer Reads.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think kids will enjoy reading about the pigeons, Teddy's "crazy" family, and his attempts to break world records. Reading this book as an adult, Teddy's parents drove me nuts!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy Mars is one of seven kids, and in order to make himself stand out he decides he is going to break a record and get himself in The Guinness Book. Along his record-breaking journey, he learns quite a bit about family, friends, and (randomly) pigeons.

I could really identify with this book because when I was a kid, I underwent a similar quest... not so much to stand out in my family as for the glory of seeing my name eternalized in print. I spent much of my free time one year in an attempt to build the world's longest paperclip chain. And if you've read this book, you will realize just what a futile and ill-thought out quest it was (though it did keep my family in paperclips until very recently).

So cheers to Teddy Mars and all the other kids like him... and rest assured that the flow of wannabe record-breaking kids won't slow down anytime soon. If you're looking for a fun read with a spunky main character, a strong support network, and a series of unusual yet realistic adventures, give this one a try.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Molly B. Burnham, you've done it!

My daughter finished this book and immediately ran downstairs and begged me to find book two. I have wanted each of my children to find a book that would excite them to the point they want the author to write another or they want to read the next book in the series. This is that book and that author.

Here are thoughts from my daughter. "Most families have two kids, in this book there are seven. It reminds me of our family because there are more girls than boys in the family, like ours. Teddy likes Star Wars and to beat Guinness World Records. He works for a man who owns pigeons. Teddy gets paid to take care of pigeons. I don't want to tell too much. It is a book you will want to read all of time."

I am looking forward to hearing about book two and purchasing book three for her.

[Siska · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this very much. It was fun, hilarious, and I love the ending. As an adult reading this, I could understand Teddy's feelings, while also understanding Teddy's parents. I love the ending, and it has smart ways of putting in facts from Star wars and Guinness world records all over the story line.

I would recommend this to any ten year old, with or without any younger brother, as well as adults. Finished it right away as I couldn't put it down.

[Kimberly Bower MLIS (gladeslibrarian) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⛤⛤⛤⛤ 4/5 stars for TEDDY MARS: ALMOST A WORLD RECORD BREAKER. This was a fun story and many students will enjoy reading it. I'll definitely purchase both this title and a copy of GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS for our media center. I deducted a star for the helplessness felt due to the lack of parental support for which Teddy begged.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A boy with 6 brothers and sisters is determined to break a world record. I think 3-5th graders will like it. Lots of cool facts and the main character slept outside in a tent. Not a favorite - his parents didn't seem to provide enough supervision and the youngest brother was allowed to be too wild. I would want my parents to stick up for me if my younger sibling ruined all of my things.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, through kids eyes, this is a very cute story and I like that it is for kids, written for kids, and not dumbed down.

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny!

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny story on trying to break different world records.

[Tricia Gleason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a great book about the quirks of family life, learning to become more sensitive to the needs of others, and reaching for one's goals. Definitely an enjoyable read.

[Alexa Bartling · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my faves

[Manda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my kids and they loved it! Cute, funny, unique characters.

[Darby marmillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shilpa Khokhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book for young readers, Which tells the story of a nine years old boys' daily life at school and at home, specially when you have 6 siblings to share with.

[Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun book about friendship and determination, re-read a lot of times.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the concept of this book.

[arane · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute

[Holly Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade story reminded me of an updated book in the Fudge series. The little brother, nicknamed The Destructor, could give Fudge a run for his money. I really liked the way the story was structured. It was separated by month of the year and broken up into smaller little sections with headers and some illustrations. Very easy to read. This book also featured a lovable curmudgeon! I thought the premise about trying to break a world record was clever and fun.

[Sanjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy Mars is a very humorous book. The conflict is also really light.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burnham, Molly Teddy Mars Almost a World Record Breaker 215 pgs. Katherine teagen books (harper Collins), 2015. $6.99 Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G Violence: G
Teddy has a big family so he never quiet gets enough attention. To make matters worse he has a little brother named Jake, who he has nicknamed the Destructor, and he drives Teddy nuts. Teddy loves World Record Books and wants to someday break his own record. In the meantime he has taken a job feeding the pigeons that the elderly man next door own. It seems like Jake ruins everything for him, so Teddy moves into a tent in the backyard. Will he ever get away from his brother? Will he make money from his new job? Will he break a world Record?
This book was a fantastic read! I thought it was hilarious, had a ton of heart, and would be easy for young readers to relate to. I know plenty of 3-5 grade boys that are obsessed with World Record books and this would be a great fiction book to get them reading. My only complaint is that Jake really is destructive and its so hard to read Teddy having to deal with all the chaos that causes over and over again, completely without intervention from his parents, who seem overwhelmed. Teddy learns many life lessons in this book, making it a great read a loud for a classroom as well.

EL– ESSENTIAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

[Venus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum

The first time I was away from my family, really away, was when I went to Europe at fourteen. When I called my mother from Hungary and she asked how things were going, I joyfully exclaimed that it was awesome because I didn't have to buy anything for anyone else. Yes, I was in Europe and the best part of the trip was that I didn't have to share. So is the life of someone in a big family. Obviously, I found myself relating to Teddy in many ways. Although I was the oldest child, there were some of the same frustrations I had. Don't get me started on the time that my brothers utterly destroyed the dollhouse furniture that my great-grandmother made and gave to me along with a dollhouse, which was also damaged.

Teddy is a normal child with normal obsessions who really is trying to find his place in the midst of all the chaos. In frustration, he ends up moving into a tent in his back yard, tired of sharing a room with his younger brother who doesn't know the meaning of the words, do not touch. I love how determined he is, even when the weather turns cold, to stay in that tent simply because it gives him the personal space that he desperately needs. He also gets his own job feeding pigeons next door, which gives him an additional boost of confidence and independence. The facts from the Guinness Book of World Records added some fun metaphors and parallels. It would be a great gift idea to pair the World Records book with Teddy Mars.

What I disliked was the fact that the parents really do allow their youngest child to get away with extremely bad behavior. It is one thing to not fight with him about sitting at the dinner table, it is quite another to allow him to destroy his siblings things without repercussions. He is never disciplined for his actions, even when they cause serious disruptions of things like soccer games. I get that this family has seven kids, but the reason their youngest son does the things he does is because there are zero consequences for his actions. If I was this kids older sibling, I would be upset too. Even more upset if my parents invalidated my feelings by saying, "he doesn't know any better" when he is clearly old enough to know better.

That said, this story really is about Teddy and it is a good story. The reading level is perfect for kids who have outgrown chapter books, but may not be ready for Harry Potter yet. There is plenty of humor, cute illustrations, and a ton of facts that keep the story interesting and fresh. A great read for any kid who loves facts or is looking for their place in the world.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teddy Mars lives in a hectic household overrun by siblings, the most annoying of whom is his younger brother, Jake, nicknamed the Destructor for the way he is constantly ruining things that belong to Teddy - and sabotaging his attempts at getting into The Guinness Book of World Records. When he receives a tent for his birthday, Teddy takes the opportunity to move outside into the yard, which leads to an unlikely friendship with "Grumpy Pigeon Man," the next-door neighbor who hires Teddy to help care for his flock of pigeons.

Elementary school readers - especially boys - love to read The Guinness Book of World Records, so the references to world records in this book will be a strong hook to get them interested in Teddy's story. Equally appealing are the references to Star Wars, which also never seems to fall out of popularity. There is a scene where Teddy and his friends give the pigeons names from the Star Wars franchise which would be the best passage to read during a library booktalk. Also interesting is the information the story provides about pigeons and about Cher Ami, a real homing pigeon who delivered messages during World War I.

Some elements of the story are weak. It is frustrating that Teddy's parents don't try harder to keep his brother from acting out so much, and that they allow Teddy to continue living in the tent even when temperatures grow cold. It also seems ridiculous that the parents expect the owner of the pigeons to wake Teddy up each morning. Another unnecessary addition to the story is the scene at school where Teddy's teacher gives a politically correct spiel about celebrating holidays. It doesn't seem to have a purpose in the story other than to throw a bone to diversity, and it feels inauthentic. It is certainly possible that a teacher would give such a spiel, but it doesn't fit well in this particular book. Overall, though, the book's strengths far outweigh these minor weaknesses, and Teddy's is a new and excellent voice in middle grade fiction for grades 3 to 5.

In tone and subject matter, this book is very similar to the Life of Ty series by Lauren Myracle, though it seems like Teddy Mars could appeal to a slightly older audience. (Life of Ty could be considered a chapter book, but Teddy Mars is definitely middle grade.) Other read-alike series might include Calvin Coconut, Charlie Bumpers, and Mason Dixon.

[Stephanie Johander (A Fun House) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.

Teddy Mars: Almost A World Record Breaker is a humorous (fart jokes, bed wetting, little brother trouble, cat boxes, world record breaking attempts) story about the daily life of a ten year old boy living in a family with 7 children, two parents and a cat. Teddy's main goal in life is to get into the World Record book - any way he can - so, many of the short, easy to read chapters focus on those attempts. Teddy is a likable character for those of us who appreciate a bit of irreverence and the real life feelings, situations and messes that come with trying to find one's place in a big family.

Teddy has both a best friend (Lonnie- smart and wants to be a Jedi when he grows up) and a new friend (Viva- an only child who is curious about life in a big family and a fellow world record book reader) who are good listeners, great problem solvers and give him advice and support throughout the story. The relationship between these three is funny and charming.

Teddy's elderly neighbor, known as Grumpy Pigeon Man, begins the story as a gruff old guy to be avoided and ends it as a teacher of both pigeon knowledge and life lessons. The warm relationship that unfolds between Teddy and Grumpy Pigeon Man is a great part of the Teddy Mars story and one I hope we see continued in the next book in the series!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of seven children in his family, Teddy Mars craves the attention his siblings get from their passions. Oldest sister Sharon is a serious singer, twins Caitlin and Casey have each other for fun activities, Maggie's passion is running, Grace is sarcastic, critical, yet bright,the "observer," main character Teddy, who is almost ten, is obsessed with the Guinness Book of World Records, and the possibility of accomplishing something amazing enough to receive a world record of his own. Youngest brother Jake referred to as the "Destructor" earns his nickname every day as he destroys Jake's toys, pees on his bed, and clogs the toilet, etc. When Teddy has had enough of Jake's antics, he moves outside and braves the weather living in a tent, trading peace and quiet for the comfort of a warm bed. Teddy has an addictive curiosity about facts, often gathered from his Guinness Book of World Records. Boys will love this story told from Teddy's point of view,in short chapters broken up into various topics, sprinkled with lots of humor, B&W pictures and ample white space. REaders will enjoy all of the random Guinness facts, and commiserate with the tough challenges Teddy must endure from the "Destructor." This is a great title for reluctant readers, told with humor and warmth.

[Jtimko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy has one immediate goal in life- to break a world record. He lives in a chaotic household. He has to put up with five sisters and a frustrating younger brother. He decides to move out of this hectic house into a tent in the backyard. He befriends an elderly neighbor who raises pigeons and helps with their care. After a series of disasters, he manages to break a world record. Read this book and discover just what record he has broken!
Finally a book that boys will read and relate to! Teddy is your typical idle school boy. He is realistic and humorous and innocent all at the same time. The writing is fresh and funny. And the predicaments that Teddy faces are far-fetched to say the least. This first novel from Molly B. Burnham will delight the reader. Recommended for grades 4 through 6.

[Robyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Teddy comes from a family of seven children. He often feels forgotten in the bunch especially as his little brother Jake is a walking disaster determined to ruin poor Teddy's life. With the help of his friends Teddy decides to do whatever it takes to get his name into the Guinness Book of World Records.

This book was very amusing and will definitely appeal to kids. We feel for Teddy and his woes with his little brother and what kid wouldn't want to pitch a tent in the backyard and live there. Although I'm a little mystified at the parents who allow him to stay there all through winter. Teddy's determination to overcome life's obstacles was touching. The Guinness Book of World Record tidbits were fun to read and reminded me of why I always loved those books growing up. Fig Pudding by Ralph Fletcher is a good read-alike for this book.

[Wendy MacKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to write really good, really funny kids book. Molly B. Burnham has made it look effortless in this debut. Teddy Mars (and his family and friends!) is an unforgettable character, the hard done by straight man to his family of zanies. But Teddy's got a dream - get in the Guinness Book of World Records. And if his little brother Jake, AKA The Destructor, would leave him alone, he might succeed. Teddy's adventures - working for a curmudgeonly neighbour, a new friendship with Viv (an only child, something Teddy only dreams about), and months of living in a tent for some peace and quiet and to get away from the Destructor, all conspire to help Teddy look at the world in a different way. This is a great book and I cannot wait to read Teddy's next adventures!

[Julie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teddy Mars lives in a big family- 5 older sisters and a younger brother. Teddy is a pretty normal boy but he's obsessed with breaking a world record. He makes several attempts in the book but his younger brother, Jake, the Destructor ruins everything. In desperation, Teddy moves into a tent to escape his brother. In the midst of all the record braking and family craziness, Teddy starts to help his neighbor, The Grumpy Pigeon Man, with his pigeons.

Teddy is a cute character and the chapters are quite short and funny. The story is clever with the references to World Records which kids love. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.