Parents' Guide to

Teddy Mars: Almost a World Record Breaker

By Amanda May Dundas, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Boy strives to make his mark in funny family tale.

Book Molly B. Burnham Contemporary Fiction 2015
Teddy Mars: Almost a World Record Breaker Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

Bill M.
Bill M. Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
April 28, 2017
age 9+

Amusing

This was a fun book to read about the trials of Teddy Mars, a kid from a huge family who has a huge dream: Getting in the Guiness Book of World Records. It was funny, but not laugh-out-loud funny. My pet peeve was the author's overuse of the word "clearly." It seriously shows up about every third page. That's my biggest complaint :)
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

As one of seven kids, fourth-grader Teddy Mars has to dream big if he wants to stand out. Intent on breaking a world record, Teddy won't let his pesky little brother, strict teacher, or harried parents get in his way. Frustrated by all these things that are out of his control, Teddy moves out of his overcrowded house and into a backyard tent, where he befriends the oddball next-door neighbor, known as Grumpy Pigeon Man. With some help from his friends and a new job provided by Grumpy Pigeon Man, Teddy is sure he can succeed in his quest to break a world record. The question is: Which one?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

TEDDY MARS: ALMOST A WORLD RECORD BREAKER is upbeat and amusing and will delight readers of all ages. Young readers likely will relate to Teddy's frustration with his lack of privacy and overbearing siblings, while adults will empathize with Teddy's parents, who are so busy dealing with the demands of a large household that they don't have the time or energy to deal with petty squabbles. Teddy is well-meaning even when he's misguided, and both adults and kids will be cheering him on by the end.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why it's important to have goals. Have you ever set a goal and strived to reach it? How did you go about it?

  • Teddy's obsessed with the Guinness Book of World Records. Have you ever checked out the book? Why do you think it's so popular with kids and grown-ups?

  • Does the way Teddy and his brother and sisters squabble seem realistic? How do you get along with the people in your family?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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