health Books

Coyote has always been a special animal to me, so the title jumped out at me. The two feathers and physician's symbol on the cover present a beautiful balance. The physician's symbol has the twin serpents and the two wings of the one. In the background is the four, the Mystery.

Lewis' experiences are related in an interwoven manner. He rushes through life in the quest for medical expertise and validation. In doing so, he trips himself into bouts with infinity as his beautiful plans fall through, day-by-day, year-by-year. However, his rapidly depleted physical/mental being is slowly but surely filling from the inside out. The book is a wonderful, candid sharing of one human's journey to clarify his purpose, his vocation, and to realize such.

He seems like a powerless pawn at times. Have you felt that way? I have. It takes courage to choose the walk toward balance with a fellow being. Lewis had to learn the way of the warrior to survive his path as a healer.

The sweat lodge accounts are beautifully done. I felt it better than any other accounts I have read. Although I have not participated in a lodge, I have experienced years of "spirit stuff". He is talking from experience. Lewis tells us without violating the trust of his friends, manifested or otherwise.

The visions he describes are direct accounts, rather than attempts to relay deep knowings into a form the reader may understand. Visions come in dreams, in rituals, in waking, everyday consciousness, you name it. If we need it and are open to input, we will receive guidance. A vision is experiential, so there is no way to relay the richness and life of such an experience.

Ya gotta walk the walk--it's the only way.

I laughed pretty good at his experience learning to talk with the desert. I too learned this while out alone walking in the desert. At first I thought my spirit friends were nuts--and said so--but I did it and learned a lot. You'll have to read the book to find out.

There were tears of joy and tears of sorrow while reading this book, and a lot of laughter. Thank-you for making the great leap and taking the risk of sharing, Lewis!

This book is a well written merging of two subjects. The first is a personal sharing of Lewis Mehl-Madrona's upbringing and life experience as a half N.A. Native, his pursuit of a medical degree and specialty and his increasing disillusionment with the "science" of medicine as it is now widely practiced. The second is about Lewis' discovery of N.A. Native spirituality and shamani sm. He leads us on a winding path of discovery that introduces us to the intriguing characters who use shamanism to heal others, often while their own lives are in disarray, to those who sought healing and perhaps most importantly, to the spirits who assisted in the ceremonies. While pursuing this path of curing the individual, rather than the symptom, it seems that Lewis will lose site of his original goal to obtain his medical speciality. But, as so often occurs, as he helps others to heal, the path circles around to encompass his own needs and he completes his original path, a more well-rounded and enlightened human. More capable of understanding. More capable of giving what is really required. I found the writing to be powerful, the personal drama riveting and the glimpse into the ceremonies, symbolism and spiritualism of the N.A. shaman both moving and educational. After all these years of hearing the stories shared by N.A. natives, but not really understanding, I finally "got it". This book slaked a thirst I didn't know I had. Lewis not only shared his story but acted as a teacher and I know that I've grown as a result. I highly recommend it and hope that we'll hear more from this writer.

This book blew me away. I have reread much of it so many times and bought multiple copies for friends. I have filled the margins of my copy with notes and filled notebooks with essays and thoughts inspired by Dr. Mehl-Madrona's book. It is nothing short of miraculous itself, in addition to describing medical miracles and how they are brought about by spiritual intervention and Native American healing.

A child prodigy, Lewis Mehl-Madrona hitchhiked to a local college while still in high school, read philosophy science voraciously and was the youngest peacetime graduate of Stanford Medical School. The more impressive since his childhood was at times difficult.

At medical school, Dr. Mehl-Madrona became interested in shamanic traditions and attended some sweat lodge and tipi ceremonies. Here he encountered otherwordly phenomena such as blue light, sparks, sensorial stimulation and miracle cures in cases that were deemed too far gone by western doctors. Most importantly, Dr. Mehl-Madrona learned how shamans talked to patients, asked questions about their families and lives and spent long periods of time with them. The author learned that shamans tap into the inner healer of the patient, and consider themselves only partially responsible for any cure.

At the same time, Dr. Mehl-Madrona was encountering negligent and dehumanizing healing practices in his western medical pursuits. A few spine-chilling tales display the callousness and arrogance that exists in some hospitals and clinics. One example: two obstetricians made a bet concerning the fastest C-Section birth and the winner, very triumphant at seventeen minutes, accidentally tied something shut in the woman's internal organs. It was fixed and the woman even wrote a letter of thanks to the hospital! Such is the blind and sometimes unjustified trust the public has in the medical establishment.

The book is wonderfully woven with many colorful strands of storytelling. On one level, it is a memoir of Dr. Mehl-Madrona's journey to reconcile his western medical training with holistic and in particular Native American healing. He is part Native American, so this pursuit poignantly reflects his mixed heritage. Poignant because Dr. Mehl-Madrona often felt like an outsider in all areas of his life, as a Native American man, as an American man, as a western doctor and as an aspiring and ultimately successful shaman.

Another strand of his story is the Native American tradition of healing itself, which we discover in almost the same timeframe that he does. We are introduced to the traditional practice of storytelling as a healing technique at the same time that he is. Early in the book, when the doctor is a resident, he is tending a man whose medical condition is exacerbated (and perhaps caused) by his intensely critical nature. A wonderful passage in recounts Dr. Mehl-Madrona's tentative attempt at telling a story to the cynical patient, himself a psychologist, who groans with sarcasm as the story begins. As it continued, he was intrigued, however, and even hazards a guess at the meaning, to which guess the doctor gives an ambiguous confirmation. The great part of this passage is how Dr. Mehl-Madrona successfully enacts the role of enigmatic shaman even though he himself is still unsure of the story's meaning.

Coyote Medicine also discusses the role of the supernatural in shamanic healing, and the perception of magic and nature. For anyone who ever sat in the woods or even on his aparment steps late at night and felt a mystical connection to something unseen and bigger than himself, Coyote Medicine is a kindred spirit.

At one point the author goes on his vision quest and meets his power animals and is given shamanic healing tools. We as readers are present at many important moments in his life, including personal and family struggles (his first wife, according to the book, seemed to wrestle his children away from him and resented his shamanic efforts), professional travails (Dr. Mehl-Madrona's questioning intelligence, sense of dignity for the patient and also his holistic beliefs created friction with several different western medical institutions). When, at the end of the book, the author finds an accepting partner and on a professional level, a venue where he could combine holistic healing with Western, we feel as thought a close friend has triumphed in the face of great odds.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in healing, either for herself or others, and also about finding one's own individual path, as difficult as and untraveled as it might be, but that is true to the traveler.

Many blessings on this book and thank you Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona.

Robert Murray Diefendorf, Author of Release the Butterfly

"Coyote Medicine" is a tremendous source of insight and experience within the path of shamanism and health. Dr. Mehl-Madrona's story-telling is magnificent and at times very suspenseful hitting directly on our sensitive health and spiritual issues we face culturally. But, he doesn't give you easy answers, because his path to becoming a healer was very complex. For me, this book opened up parts of my consciousness and answered questions I was asking and some of those I hadn't yet asked. This book was truly a God-send and I am savoring every word I read.

I enjoyed this book very much! It is full of truths ! I believe as does this man. I look forward to reading any book he writes.It was a easy read and on a level that I understood completely.I laughed and cried with his stories.I just loved it!

ya! it is expensive .. yet itu is a must book for all surgeons who would keep their surgical knowledge ..

This is a fundamental in a surgical education. Some changes since the last edition about 10%. It extremely well written.

This nook is an excellent review of the current surgical therapy. It provides quick and current references for both practising surgeons and trainees

A must-read to prepare for oral exams, or to quickly review concepts of patient management. The new edition has some significant updates in laparoscopy and trauma care, but has lapsed somewhat in quality. Doesn't replace a good surgical reference like Schwartz, Sabiston, or Greenfield.

I'm disappointed by many errors in this edition. Some chapters have some small errors missed by the editing team. Some chapters are also based on the opinions of individual authors, and may not necessarily reflect the current standard of care. It would have been nice to see some more evidence-based material added. For example, the chapter on laparoscopic CBDE may be applicable to large academic centres, but I don't think it reflects most surgical centres in the world. I would have liked to see a bit more on open CBDE.

The many illustrations are mostly illegible. This is unacceptable for a reference-level publication. It reflects poorly on the credibility of the publisher and makes me question the rest of the book.

Overall a disappointment. A previous edition supplemented with a quick internet search might offer better information.

This is THE book for a senior surgical resident to purchase. It is updated every 3 years, and reflects advances in techniques, preoperative and postoperative evaluation, and clinical management decision making for all of the commonly encountered problems in general surgery. The authors do not merely rehash the previous edition, but present the information in a clear, concise, and enjoyable text with good tables and images. It has been very helpful to me in my Chief year, and I expect it to help me pass my boards. A MUST HAVE!!!

My mother and I read this book together as she sat in the hospital getting a blood transfusion. It articulated what we thought was an experience somewhat unique to us. Turns out there are universal experiences in this life. :) My mother has been dealing with a 6 year protracted battle with ovarian cancer (stage III diagnosis) and has had 3 recurrences. The psychological landscape described was sadly familiar and consequently reassuring. As a caregiver it was particularly transforming: I loved the section about the value of defense mechanisms (as well as their downside). I highly recommend this book for both patients who have survived or are currently dealing with cancer as well as caregivers who need to have more insight into their loved one's psychology and mental needs. I am hoping that there are more books like this one out there.

Honest talk about the aftermath of cancer treatment when every one expects you to return to 'normal.'

If you are wondering when you will feel normal again, or when you can go back to your old self, this book is for you. The cancer experience is something that most people just don't understand, even close family and friends unless they too have gone though what we have (even if they were right there beside you). These authors are the real deal, been through the 'war' and will discuss issues that you will not get any place else, written an honest and straightforward manner. They have walked the path, stood in our shoes, this is not just someone talking to you who thinks they understand, they do get it.

Reading this book meant so much to me after my cancer treatments. I wish I could personally thank the authors for writing this book from the bottom of my heart. I have read just about everything out there and this book is absolutely the best.

many of the feelings that I though were unique to me about my cancer, aren't unique at all. I started highlighting each sentence that applied to me. I was shocked at how much was highlighted. It doesn't matter that these women are describing a completely different cancer than mine...the emotions were the same

This should be in every dr.'s office for a surviving cancer patient.
All the denial you have comes flooding over you & you see the real truth.
It's so good to know you're not alone. Even though you've survived & you don't think you have any issues, you really do under all the bravado. I read it in 1 sitting. The authors are very forthcoming in all they discuss, & are survivors themselvs so they know what they are talking about.

I'm finding lots of answers to the many questions I have after finishing chemo for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma. Even family members would find this book helpful too. It's reassuring, honest and comforting reading about getting back to "life" after such a life changing event.

My son loves the "Diary of" series. We had Worm first, then added Spider and now Fly. Like any typical boy he loves bugs and these are fun and inventive. The illustrations are great too!

What a delightful book!

I have the series-Diary of a Worm and Diary of a Spider-and my three boys absolutely love them.

Fly is good friends with Spider (If you can believe it!) and Worm. She dreams of being a superhero but doesn't think it's possible. She's cute and kind and she has that sense of insecurity I think all children possess: 'Am I good enough?' Which, of course she is, as her friends help her realize.

I couldn't wait to get this book and my children were just as happy as I was. As I read it to them, we laughed and enjoyed the beautiful pictures that graced every page. Highly recommend all the books. Good to read them in order- Worm, Spider, Fly -or whichever way!

Following the trend set by her earlier "Diary of a Worm" and "Diary of a Spider", Cronin has crafted yet another highly entertaining, informative critter autobiography. Though she anthropomorphizes the fly, it's helps make ordinarily boring factoids (like the fact that "flies beat their wings 200 times per second") come alive to the young reader, who can easily identify with what's going on during the fly's first day of school. As a former health inspector, I was pleased to see the author pointed out that flies regurgitate their food into the next food they eat (one of the reasons you want to cover food at a picnic.) The illustrations are very funny and help make this book a good first nonfiction to share with classes. Teachers might also consider using this as a fun example to get the kids started thinking about writing journals.

Same format as her other "diary" books! My kids and my students love having this book read to them!

I bought this for the child of a friend and it was a huge hit. The book is creative in it's conception and the lay out. The laughs start even before you get to the story--the "photo's" on the inside cover and page liner give you an early taste of what's to come.

The illustrations are consistently great and colorful. Some of the language may require some explanation (the first entry is for the first day of school as the fly nervously asks "what if I'm the only one who eats regurgitated food?" (I mean, how many 4 year olds are going to be able to fly along with regurgitated without explanation?) But the explanations, I'm told, are part of the fun. (The fly need not have worried--it turns out all the flies eat regurgitated food.)

From visits with relatives caught between windows and screens, to the delights of a spilled ice cream cone as a "favorite food", this book is a complete hoot from the beginning to the end. Not a false step anywhere on the way.

Give both your child and yourself a treat and spend a few days in this fly's world!

i learned a great deal about vitamins, how they work and all the good things they do. listed are vitamins you should not take when you have certain medical problems and or take particular rx meds.
well worth the money.

Well organized. Very useful for all types of inquiries about what vitamins to take.
My only issue is that it recommends aspartame at one point.

...This amazing book by Dr. Earl Mindell is the all-time bestseller for nutritionals. Dr. Mindell has taught the world that wellness and prevention are truly possible with nutritional supplements. What you read here will amaze you!

To put it bluntly, this book has EVERYTHING you could POSSIBLY need in it. It has combinations of vitamins and supplements for everything from how to get rid of jet lag, to what dieters should take, to the particular health needs of your pet dog or cat. If you read all the way through it, I'm relatively sure that you'll never come across a situation that you won't know what to take to help yourself out. And in my mind, that's what makes this book worth every single page it's printed on.

The author is both a pharmacist and nutritionist. The work
explains many aspects of vitamins including daily allowances,
benefits for the heart and lung, potency, precautions and a host
of relevant factors every consumer should know. He explains how
enzymes facilitate the digestion of food and how Lipase splits
fat. In addition, he demonstrates why older people might need
HCL supplements due to a paucity of digestive acids. The author
devotes a full chapter to explaining a glossary of complex
vitamin jargon. He breaks down vitamin-taking into various
constituent groups; such as, pregnant women, children, runners,
senior citizens, night workers and a host of relevant
constituencies. Did you know that plain ketchup has 8% more
sugar than ice cream? Lastly, he explains how to slow the aging
process via the use of nucleic acids.

The work is a good investment in developing a vitamin regimen
to complement key components of health maintenance.

One of the best information sources about in vitro fertilization. Very well written with sensitivity and compassion by an experienced doctor who has successfully helped many overcome infertility with IVF. Although IVF is not for me and my husband, after reading Expecting Miracles I am much more informed about those who travel down this journey to parenthood. An excellent recommendation for friends and/or family members of (as well as) those attempting IVF.

This book is an accurate and amazing portrayal of the intelligence, skill and compassion of Dr. Christo Zouves. I am one of his patients. I was told by other physicians that there was no known cause and no treatment for my continued pregnancy losses. Dr. Zouves discovered and treated the cause and the result is my son. I endured extensive treatment to moderate my immune response to pregnancy and complete successfully one cycle of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
The ordeal of infertility diagnosis and treatment is discovered by the reader in a fascinating manner through the true stories of individual families. You will be surprised at what people will endure to have a child. This book is informative and compelling reading. When he is old enough, I plan to give it to my son to explain how much he was wanted and how hard we and Dr. Zouves worked to bring him into our family.

Expecting Miracles: On the Path of Hope from Infertility to Parenthood gives you a very realistic look at the lives of fertility patients. The book is helpful medically, but written with heart and compassion. I found myself laughing and crying -- it's definitely inspirational and provides hope to continue seeking the child of your dreams! END

I really enjoyed this book and found it so inspirational. I loved the format---basically all stories (I called them case studies in the title, but that's really too dry a term---they are warm and complete stories) of people going through treatment for infertility, and the outcome of these treatments. I think almost every possible kind of case is covered! The book is very honest about how tough it can be to go through the treatment---I really had no idea how much was involved in assisted reproduction, and I gained new respect for what some families go through to have children. I did think once or twice that the book might have been more balanced if there were one or two more cases in it where the technologies were not successful, to make the book more like the statistics of how often such treatments really do work. But I know this was a book about successes, and I think it would be very inspirational to a lot of people, in addition to being well written and a great read.

"Expecting Miracles" is a warm, compassionate and uplifting description of the experiences of a dozen or so couples who sought help in conceiving a child from the author's infertility clinic. Each chapter tells one couple's story, as a sort of a mini-character study or "case study"; we learn about the patients' medical histories, their relationship with their significant others, their personalities, and the impact that their difficulty in conceiving & carrying to term has had on them & their families. Interspersed with the human stories are clear & succinct explanations of the science and medical technology used to help infertile couples conceive. Dr. Zouves' reverence for the spirituality and mystery inherent in the reproductive process was particularly refreshing.

As someone currently undergoing the initial stages of fertility treatment, I found the scientific information very helpful in understanding more about the delicate reproductive process (and how today's medicine can assist). I also found myself responding very emotionally to the plight of these couples. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to shed a tear at some of these beautiful, yet painful, stories! Nearly all of the stories have happy endings, though, and while that certainly does make for a less depressing book, it probably represents an unrealistic cross-section of infertility patients. Not everyone can be helped (sadly, I have several dear friends who fall into this category) and I imagine relatively few couples have the resources to pursue the kind of cutting-edge treatment Dr. Zouves describes - flying to the West Coast constantly, staying in hotels, paying for surrogates, not to mention the cost of the treatment itself (rarely covered by insurance). On the other hand, the book may well provide the necessary hope for those who are just barely hanging on in the midst of the physically and emotionally grueling treatment.

This is one awesome book. It really helps the reader let go of unwanted body fat for good so that it doesn't come back again.

Finally a book that empowers the reader with the knowledge and tools for creating health, instead of blindly following another 6 or 12 week program. I appreciate the fact that the authors of "Fat That Doesn't Come Back" acknowledge the intelligence of the reader. This book gives straight answers without sugar coating the information. This is the only book you will ever need to guide you towards a healthier lifestyle. It gives a holistic approach to health, which is truly the only way to achieve success! As a parent, it excites me to pass on the knowledge of nutrition and tools to create health to my children. Thank you Krista and Robert!

OK, how many diet books can we possibly take in this country?? You can pretty much do away with 90% of them, the only thing they offer is "eating plans" that you won't follow for more than 1 week and while you do you feel like it is torture.

This book is about reversing that mentality taking responsibility for your eating habits, but not having a "plan" where certain foods are off limits, because those are always doomed and leaving you feeling the urge to "be bad" and have a cookie. This book talks about changing your mentality from "I can't have" to "I don't want to have".....

Great book, I never review books, lots of personal examples make this interesting and the writers are very knowledgeable and
honest. Will change the way you look at carbs, fat, calories and exercise.

Robert and Krista,

Thank you so much for such a great, inspiring book. Being a professional Martial Arts instructor and teaching in a systematic way for my students, your book used the same organized approaches to send the message for all types of learners. The concepts of this book: healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, and overall quality of life are very simple and easy to understand. It is very inspiring and motivating for the reader. Personally, I felt I was already fit, but as I applied the principle of healthy and balanced eating, I realized I had consistently improved my energy level. Learning how to balance the intake of protein, fat, carbohydrates and the importance they play in your life, makes it easier for the individual to understand eating and being healthier. After reading this book, I became very cautious and aware of what I might say to my students, so then I recommend it for their own reading as to erase their books of "so-called-dieting." Furthermore, I like the idea of "releasing" the fat. It is interesting because releasing the fat seems to be more permanent than losing it. When you lose something, you always have the possibilty of finding it again. My wife and I, have throughly enjoyed this book so much that we apply it personally to our lives and encourage our children so they can also begin to understand what a healthy lifestyle is about.

I have tried practically every diet on the planet. No longer because this book has helped me transition in to a lifestyle free of dieting. The authors are right on with this book and I will do what I can to encourage others to benefit from it as I have. It includes everything. From the mental importance to the physical exercise to all that a person needs to know about nutrition. This book was an easy read. It was inspirational. It moved me and I am now enjoying a life that will forever evolve. The book is excellent!

Fantastic book! What a joy! I agree with some of the other reviews that this is perhaps, not a book for novice sculptors. However, if you are working in clay; already been creating sculptures; and are looking for a way to increase the size of your work, this is the book for you. It will be a timeless treasure for me. Just seeing how other sculptors are currently working gets my juices flowing.

Pay particular attention to the "gallery" at the end of each section. After being blown away by the featured artists work, you get into their heads a little more by seeing examples they have chosen of other sculptors work. Good stuff!

If you are a beginner, don't be put off by the lack of basic information. Go take a class in clay--whether it's on the wheel or hand-building--get inspired and keep this book to remind you of what could be in your future.

Better than expected. Some novel and interesting techniques as well as anatomical knowledge put to use in unique visions makes for a very useful book for beginner and advanced sculptors. There is just enough personal and aesthetic information to make me want more. And, the focus on individual artists who then select other admired artists offers a sense of network and insight.

I am fairly new to building in clay, and I found this book a treasure trove of ideas and techniques by masters of the art. The book is beautifully illustrated, and each of the artists describes their personal vision with regards to their work and then gives a detailed description of the process and techniques used in creating a piece along with formulas for their clay bodies, glazes and firing techniques. I found this book very helpful and inspiring.

I've been wanting to get into ceramics for a while and this book was just the thing to get my creative juices flowing. It has many (500 actually) beautiful pieces to admire, with such a wide selection of styles. I love that it has a both beautiful and grotesque figures revealing so many artistic view points. It's definitely not a "how to" book, with just enough info to get a basic idea of how each piece was created but the beautiful photographs and wide variety of sculptures makes it well worth purchasing.

A rich and exciting collection of wonderful artists and a never ending wealth of inspiration. My favorite book of contemporary ceramic art

For anyone newly diagnosed with Hep C the initial reaction can be one of shock and the result can be deep depression. This book helps to shed light on some of the common stages of accepting this disease.

Excellent book for patients. I would also suggest any patient, friend, or family alos read "Hepatitis C - through a patient's eyes", written by Suzy Smith, who went through the treatment, and wrote her book to help others with hep c get through the process with a positive outlook.

I work as a therapist in a teen counseling program, and one teen girl has just been diagnosed with HCV. She's experienced all the common reactions: denial, grief, "This is a death sentence and God doesn't want me to be happy," and fear. I bought this book for her and she devoured it. Her entire affect changed, and now she's teaching US how to relate to her, how to talk about this diagnosis, why certain things WE say are insensitive or incorrect (without knowing it), and what emtional and lifestyle changes she needs to make for health. This book alone reduced her fear in half, and made her feel confident rather than powerless.

This is an excellent work for the layperson with very little
knowledge about Hepatitis A,B, C or the more exotic strains.
The authors describe a 6-7 week incubation period. Those
persons exposed have a 75-80% chance of infection with the HCV
virus and a 70% chance of developing the chronic form of
the hepatitis virus. In addition, there is a 10-20% chance of
developing the liver complication cirrhosis over a 20-30 year
period and a 1-5% chance of dying from a chronic liver condition. Hepatitis C is an RNA virus as opposed to a DNA
strain. Vaccination helps for the Hepatitis A and B strains
wherein 3 shots are administered over a 1/2 year period.
To reduce the likelihood of the disease, it is necessary
to reduce smoking , as well as exposure to all toxins.
The disease may be monitored with tests for bilerubin, albumin,
PT time and the anti-HCV antibody test. Treatment is enhanced
with reducing stress, commitments and responsibilities
until the condition is well under control. This work is perfect
for the layperson who seeks to prevent the disease or treat it
in the event of exposure and relevant symptomatology of
the disease process.

Although I think this is a good book to start with if you have recently been diagnosed, I find it lacking the depth I was looking for. It gives some great resources which is why I think it is a good book to start with, but at the same time, I would also suggest that you buy the following in addition to this. These are essential:"The Hepatitis C Helpbook"by Misha Ruth Cohen OMD and Robert G.Gish MD, "The Liver Cleansing Diet" by Dr Sandra Cabot, "Herbs for Hepatitis C and the Liver" by Stephen Harrod Buhner, and see if you can find "Who Gets Sick;How Beliefs, Moods, and Thoughts affect your health" by Blair Justice. The treatments out there are scary and can hurt you more than help you, so if you don't feel like poisoning yourself with a biotherapy, this is where to start.

I had just spent the summer in the dentist's chair. I found this book in my granddaughter's library and thought it would be perfect for my dentist and his waiting room. It was a gift to thank him for his gentle and successful treatment. Poor George, how he must have suffered with his terrible teeth.

Like this book for the boys in my family. It combines history and fiction in a light hearted way. Want to keep the children reading.

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.

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.

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.