George Washington's Teeth

SLIS 5420- Module 11

George Washington's Teeth by Deborah Chandra and Madeleine Comora







Bibliography:


Chandra, D., and Comora, M. George Washington's Teeth. Farrar Straus Giroux. (2003).

Summary:
Told in clever, lilting rhyme, George Washington's Teeth relays the "true" story of Washington's lifelong plight of dental decay and troublesome false teeth. The end of the book provides a timeline of actual documented dental issues relayed by Washington, complete with names of dentists, correspondence with such dentists, others' observations of Washington's countenance due to problems with false teeth, and Washington's own fears regarding discovery of his problem.


Thoughts:
Being taught all through my educational career that George Washington had wooden teeth, I was intrigued by what claims to be the "actual story" of George Washington's teeth. Expecting a traditional informational book format (facts, lots of words, photographs, etc.), I was pleasantly surprised to find beautiful and humorous illustrations and fun, understandable rhyme telling the unheard story of George Washington's long history of tooth troubles. I admit that, upon reading, I was skeptical as to the accuracy of some of the "facts" presented- they seemed too much like a folk tale or rumor passed down through the years to be true (losing all of his teeth but one?!). However, the timeline and list of sources at the end of this book sold me on its validity, and cause me to praise its clever and unique way of presenting what could otherwise be obscure information, capturing the attention and intrigue of the reader. I applaud Deborah Candra and Madeleine Comora for their appealing to young readers and making history interesting and fun!


Reviews:
"In a clever approach to history, Chandra and Comora string together spry stanzas describing the dental difficulties that plagued George Washington. Rhyming verse explains how the general's rotten teeth gradually fall out during the Revolutionary War.... Cole complements this verse by rendering a sly watercolor twist on Emanuel Leutze's famous painting, 'George Washington Crossing the Delaware,' in a full-spread treatment: Washington still stands in quiet dignity, but the boatmen are grinning.... Kids will love the details, such as the way Washington uses a pair of his molars to fashion a mold from which the dentist makes a set of dentures.... Infusing his bustling watercolor vignettes with comic hyperbole, Cole easily keeps pace with the lighthearted narrative....A highly palatable historical morsel." - Publisher's Weekly

"Second only to kids' curiosity about George Washington and the cherry tree may be their interest in his teeth. Did the prez wear wooden dentures? Chandra and Comora set the record straight with wit, verve, and a generous amount of sympathy for poor Washington and his dental woes. Unfurling smoothly against a backdrop of Washington's career as a soldier and president, the tale goes forward in sprightly, read-aloud rhyme that never falters.... And illustrator Cole is at his best here, totally at ease with human gesture and expression. Each spread is a tableaulike scene (or scenes) filled with costumed characters busily engaged in humorously visualizing the actual history. The color palate and energy of the art harks back to Cole's Buttons (1999), but there's much more detail and movement in these pictures, which work well as amusing preparation for the more sedately illustrated, annotated timeline of George's actual dental decay that preceeds a full roundup of historical sources the authors used in telling the tale. This is history for youngsters that will stick; it's wild and fun and factual, without a trace of mockery." - Booklist

Ideas for Use:

This story would serve as an excellent introduction to either a unit/research project on our presidents. As George Washington was the first president of the United States, it is only fitting that he should be the first subject in a presidential examination. After reading this story, clarifying rumors and identifying a little-known fact about his personal life, students should be encouraged to select a president to research, and find at least one little-known but interesting fact about him to share with the class. These facts can be compiled into a presidential timeline, showing each president's picture and displaying their fact below.

George Washington's Teeth could also be used as an introduction to biographies, offering an example of a type of biography that lets the reader learn more in-depth information about a person that what the public typically knows. Reading this book can lead into students choosing a person that they wish to know more details about, and selecting a biography or autobiography to meet that need.