Teddy Mars Book #1: Almost a World Record Breaker

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!

Teddy's Tips for Record Breaking

1. Escape from your family. (Sleep in a tent if you have to!)
2. Avoid Grumpy Pigeon Man at all costs.
3. Lock up The Destructor!

Strange but true, ten-year-old Teddy Mars has a big dream. He wants to break a world record. And he won't let anything stand in his way. Not his five (FIVE!) older sisters. Not his teacher, who thinks he daydreams too much. And definitely not his little brother, Jake, also known as THE DESTRUCTOR!

With his best friends, Lonnie and Viva, by his side, Teddy is sure to make his dream come true—as long as he can keep The Destructor away!

From a fresh new voice comes the funny and heartfelt story of one boy's struggle to stand out in a house full of siblings, a coop full of pigeons, and a world full of wonders.

“Engaging first-person narration, ample drama and bizarre actual world records. Fans of world-record quests will savor Teddy’s efforts.” - Kirkus Reviews

“A highly entertaining debut. Delightfully rambunctious black and white sketches elevate the comedy, while Teddy’s hard-nosed perseverance with the aid of friends new and old, takes world record-making to hilarious new heights.” - Publishers Weekly

“This heartwarming story starts the Teddy Mars series on a hilarious foot, tracing one boy’s struggle to stand out in a big family, one failed record-breaking attempt after another. Once the wreckage is cleared, what’s left is a loving family that celebrates one another for exactly who they are.” - Booklist

“Teddy is so amiable and put-upon, he’ll find plenty of fans who’ll want to read more in the promised series. The book’s format, with monthly chapters divided into smaller subchapters, makes this a good choice for reading logs, and the report Teddy has to do on pigeons makes this book an ideal pairing with a nonfiction title on these urban birds.” - School Library Journal

“There’s a lot to love here: a quirky family, an eccentric next door neighbor, best friends, and a dream come true.” - Literacy Daily

2016 Sid Fleischman Humor Award Winner - .