Tuttle Twins A Review Teaching Kids How The Government Should Be Working For Us
I found the Tuttle Twins books while scrolling through Facebook one day. The ad I saw had an interesting and unique way of promoting themselves. They were posting all their negative reviews in a video ad. It intrigued me so I clicked on it to see what it was all about. They looked like interesting books and the fact they are all based on pre-existing books but adapted for kids made me more curious. I liked them and went back and forth several times about purchasing . Almost $100 dollars on eleven books was a little steep when I didn't know if my kids would even enjoy them. Then they went on sale and that was my sign that these were meant for us to have. I was even happier when I discovered that they included a printout workbook so we could use these in our homeschool day. We've read all the books and wow what my kids have learned.
1. The Tuttle Twins Learn About The Law
The first book in the Tuttle Twins series Ethan and Emily learn about the law. This book is based off Frederic Bastiat's "The Law". In this story the twins are tasked with a report to learn about something important from someone. They decide there is no better person to ask than their elderly and favorite neighbor Fred. Fred teaches the twins all about the law and our rights as citizens. Fred explains why it is so important as citizens to know our rights and how we can exercise them. The twins soon learn that sometimes the bad guys are in the government and that is why it is so important for everyone to know the role the government is supposed to have in our lives. How taking something from someone and giving it to someone else who didn't work for it is wrong but it is important to be charitable and help when you can. Your kids will learn about their rights as citizens and why they are important. They will understand the difference between charitable giving and forced charity.
2. The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil
The second book in this fun series follows the twins as they take a field trip to a local factory that makes school supplies. At first they thought it was going to be boring as they pulled up to a plain brick building. They soon learned how much it took to make a single pencil and that it wasn't as simple as it seemed. They learned that there is a vast network of people all over the world working together and not even realizing it. They also learned that no one single person knows how to make a pencil. They learned that it would be nearly impossible to do it alone. It really helps to expand your child's worldview and how we can all be connected though far apart working on a common goal. Your kids will come away knowing how even something simple is impossible to do all alone and how by working together you can make something miraculous.
3. The Tuttle Twins and the Creature From Jekyll Island
What kind of creature can steal from you? That is exactly what the Tuttle Twins learn in this third adventure. After overhearing a conversation between their parents and grandparents the twins become scared of a monster they think is stealing their grandparents money. They soon come to realize what exactly this monster is and how it can steal money and even how it controls how and when people will spend their money. The twins learn the principles of inflation and how that makes everyones money worth less each time our government decides to just print more. This book teaches kids all about money and the importance of a universal currency but also the problems that can occur when well intentioned government gets involved. Kids will learn how exchanges for goods and services has changed over time and how bartering while a good system can't always work.
4. The Tuttle Twins and the Food Truck Fiasco
Disruptive business practices, crony competitors and unfair government regulations is what the twins will face in their 4th adventure. The twins witness first hand how monopolies and protectionism laws can be unfair and cause competitors to be unfairly burdened when people use their friends in the government to write laws that target their competition. The twins learn how important competition is to the economy and to the consumer to ensure great products and fair prices. Working with local business owners the twins work to right a wrong and get justice to unfair government interventions and regulations. Kids will learn that their voices have power and even kids have the power to make change when they feel a law is unjust.
5. The Tuttle Twins and the Road To Surfdom
What happens when good intentioned plans by the government has unforeseen consequences? Who helps those that get hurt when the plans cause more harm than good? The twins learn how much power the government has over us and if they want something or think they have better use for it they can just take it. In this book the twins learn about eminent domain and how sometimes when people get what they wish for they sometimes get more than they bargained for. The twins work with their uncle to discover what has happened to their favorite beach and how a good plan supported by many could have dire consequences for everyone. Your kids will learn that the unintended consequences are rarely planned for and often ignored when the occur.
6. The Tuttle Twins and the Golden Rule
People all over the world disagree on many things, but there is one universal principle that we all can all agree on the golden rule. We should always treat others how we would like to be treated. In this adventure the twins head to summer camp where competition leads to sabotage and revenge. When one groups actions leaves the rest of the campers in danger the counselors decide to teach them a lesson. It is there that the twins along with the rest of the camp learns the importance of the golden rule and how we shouldn't use violence unless defending ourselves. This was a wonderful story that will teach kids the value of having good morals and that an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind.
7. The Tuttle Twins and the Search For Atlas
In a world of consumers, what happens when our best producers give up and leave? How do we best practice personal responsibility and stop the sense of entitlement our society has seemed to promote.
In this story the circus has come to town and the twins won a contest and will get to be guest clowns in the show. When the twins arrive they find out that Atlas the circuses strong man has quit. The twins soon learn that jealousy and entitlement has caused the ringmaster to not reward hard work. The members of the circus soon realize how much Atlas contributed and how much revenue he brought in. As ticket sales dwindled, work goes undone, and expenses climbed they had to make cuts much to the complaint of others. The twins and one member set out in search of Atlas as they try to save the circus. Kids will learn the value of hardwork and how that greater effort should be rewarded with greater compensation.
8. The Tuttle Twins and their Spectacular Show Business
In this next adventure the twins go on a vacation with their family to New York and take in a Broadway show. The twins loved the show and wished their town had a theater for plays and musicals. The twins soon learn about entrepreneurship and the risk and reward that comes with it. Soon after watching their favorite show Shark Pool the twins come up with the idea of starting a theater in their own home town. With the help of a shark (investor) the twins soon set off designing, planning and making their dream come to life. The twins learned that risk doesn't always payoff and even great plans don't always work. The twins learn just much hard work is involved and how running a business really works. Just after opening their theater a new theater opens as well. At first upset that competition has come so quickly they remembered a past lesson that monopolies are bad and that competition ensures a great product and fair prices. Your kids will learn that even kids can be entrepreneurs and that risk and hard work can have great payoffs.
9. The Tuttle Twins and the Fate Of The Future
The history of the world is full of people bossing others around and using coercion to control the masses. There has also always been brave free thinkers who offered ideas for a better future where people use persuasion instead. After watching a movie about a dystopian society the twins become concerned about the fate of the future. They realize unless we pay attention and hold our government accountable we may soon face a future that is based on coercive practices rather than having to persuade us for our support. They get together with their book club for everyone to come up with ideas to better the world in the future while still allowing people the freedom to choose. Your kids will learn the danger when government overreaches and how we as members of society have to keep our eyes open and hold them accountable for their actions. They will also learn the danger of coercive practices and how when that happens we lose some of our freedoms.
10. The Tuttle Twins and the Education Vacation
Is compulsory education really the best way to educate a child? Is it right or good to teach all kids the exact same thing in the exact same way when we are all so different? Is there a better option? This is what the Tuttle family finds themselves asking when a unique opportunity comes up for the family to travel. With the help of the twins teacher Mrs. Miner the family soon learns there may be a better way. She takes them to hear a former teacher speak about compulsory education and how even great well intentioned teachers hands are tied due to regulations and how sometimes it can be more harmful than good. He talked about the dangers of grading kids like we grade our food and how a poor grade can make a child feel bad and incapable of success. How because everyone must be treated the same we hold some kids back when they could dive deeper and shove some kids ahead before they are ready. Does it not seem crazy to start the next lesson when a child still hasn't mastered the material? The Tuttles decide that homeschool may be a better fit for their family and how they can nurture and expand on each individual child's strengths and help them overcome weaknesses. Your family will learn how an education can happen in many different ways and that one size fits all often leaves many without.
11. The Tuttle Twins and the Messed Up Market
In this next adventure the twins after successfully running and growing their theater get an offer from their competitor to buy them out. After consideration the twins agree to sell their business then must decide what to do with their new found wealth. The twins were then taught about savings and investments and how banks and the market work. The twins decide rather than put their money in a savings account with very little return they would be better suited to take their money and become investors in other kids businesses and make money off interest from the loans. As they receive help from family and friends they make their first few investments. They set up a kids market for kids to sell their products to the community. Just as business started booming they were shut down because of local government regulations. The twins worried their loans may now go unpaid back their parents remind them how they've made change before and if they want to see this work they are going to have to work for it. Your kids will learn about loans, subsidies and bailouts and how all of those practices can positively or negatively affect the market. They will learn an important lesson in immediate and delayed gratification and how incentives can determine how hard someone will work to achieve their goals.
As I stated above my kids have learned so much from reading these books. They have learned to question and research and just because someone is in charge and making all the rules doesn't mean that they are making the right decisions. They have learned to fight back against injustice and helping others is a noble thing we should strive to do when we can but that being forced to is not right. They have learned as kids they can make change in the world and that they can do whatever they put their mind to.
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