Tricking the Tallyman by Jacqueline Davies

illustrated by S.D. Schindler

picture book
2009

A good story, likeable characters, and an interesting history lesson, all in one picture book! Does it get any better? In 1790, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson sent 650 men out into the new United States of America to take a census; count all the people. Tricking the Tallyman is the story of one of those census takers, or talleymen. Phineas Bump goes to Tunbridge, Massachusetts, to do a count of that town. But the people there are suspicious of tallymen. They think it will only mean more taxes! The brainy boy, Boston, from the Pepper family comes up with a way to fool the tallyman and save their town. But is the census only about taxes? Boston, his family, and the citizens of Tunbridge learn a few things about government, census, and the determination of a patient, enduring census taker. A great read aloud with fun illustrations, Tricking the Tallyman is one you'll enjoy AND come away from smarter, without really trying.