- 12-year-old Rufus figures out a way to produce toothpaste for a fraction of the competitors’ prices and makes an actual business of it
- readers will be dazzled by fun math while also learning about many aspects of business
- convo: mentions discrimination of blacks in conversations, but it doesn’t actually occur; a girl occasionally mentions how annoying her brother is
Type: chapter book
Ages: 10-18
Author: Jean Merrill
Illustrator: Jan Palmer
Some of you won’t believe me that a math-y story can be good. Ha! But we thoroughly enjoyed it.
The competing toothpaste companies get a little slimy as they try to manipulate the young entrepreneur, but the kids ultimately prevail–not without a few “rude awakenings,” however (like taxes)!
I have no idea if the $5 copy on Amazon has changed any of the text (as many modern publishers think they have the right to do), but our old copy is fantastic! Definitely check it out if you come across it.