The Toothpaste Millionaire

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Summary: Of all the books I have read in my life, this book is my fav
Review: I first read this book approximately twenty-five years ago when I was in grade school. It kindled a fire of entrepreneurship deep within me. I often thought about the book throughout the years but did not remember the title or the author. Recently, I ran across it on Amazon.com. Now, I am thirty-five years old and using it to fan that same flame that has been instilled in my children. My kids love this book as much as I do. I firmly believe this book should be required reading for every child. In addition to entrepreneurship, it also contains lessons of true friendship, anti-racism and business finance. Of all the books I have read throughout my life, this is number one on my list!

Rating:
Summary: The Toothpaste Millionare
Review: I read this book when I was in 4th grade and I love it still. It is a book that shows that sterotypes are not important. It's a wonderful book for children and I read it to all my babysitting charges. It teachs friendship with no boundries.

Rating:
Summary: The Toothpaste Millionare
Review: I think this book is fun and sensible. It gives you an overall view of the business world. It's on a great level of thinking. It's just a fantastic book! Makes a good math book to read as well!

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Summary: Great story of an enterprising young man.
Review: My daughter brought home this book, and I picked it up and read it myself. It was a very enjoyable story that integrated lessons about realistic applications of math and economics into a fictional tale. The author also worked very hard to avoid stereotyping the children and adults in the story. I would recommend it to everyone.

Rating:
Summary: The Toothpaste Millionaire
Review: The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill was one of the best books I ever read. After the first page I knew this was going to be a great book. I liked the character Rufus. He did not care that Kate was white and he was black. He did not like to waste anything. He was very creative, and figured out a really cool way for a kid to make a million dollars. The plot was interesting and exciting, and the ending was unpredictable. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy being creative, or who want to make a lot of money. If this book has a sequel, I am going to read it. I'm also going to check out other books by this author.

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Summary: Great read & life lessons you don't realize you're learning
Review: This book (purchased at a garage sale) became one of the books I re-read repeatedly throughout my youth. Besides being a great story about how a kid with imagination and ingenuity can outsmart even grownups (which I loved as a kid), it also teaches you to avoid sexism and racism without being "preachy" about it. Growing up in a very rural area (there was literally only one black family in our high school), the fact that the book's genius is black was a positive idea for me to take in. Not only that, but Rufus Mayflower refuses to treat his best friend differently because she's white...or even a girl. (She's Kate McInstrey if I recall the name right..I'm writing from work and don't have my copy immediately handy). The book also subtly teaches you a little about marketing and product costs and even "price wars". I probably learned more business ideas from this book than many classes at school.

As final proof of the lasting value of the book, I submit that I am now 34 years old, will be having our first child this month (a boy) and intend to introduce the book to him when he's old enough. (Also I've begun to seek out some of Jean Merrill's other books...)

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Summary: super as a text in entrepreneurship
Review: This book could be used to teach the whole content area of entrepreneurship! A black boy and a white girl, both sixth graders, make toothpaste from baking soda. From looking at their productive resources to getting a loan to issuing stock to a price war and collusion and exit opportunity, this story holds the attention of most preteen and early teen readers. lots of good vocabulary. math problems become real life problems to the main characters. very readable! i use this book with teachers as well as with my own elementary students.