Riley O'Rourke is writing his report on President Teddy Roosevelt in preparation for the fourth-grade biography tea, but he has a far more important goal: to get a saxophone so he can take instrumental music. His mother can't afford to rent him a sax, and he's sure he'll never save up enough money to buy one. But as Riley learns more about Roosevelt's "bully" spirit, he realizes that there just might be a way to solve his problem after all.

Claudia Mills' sparkling story about the influence of important historical figures is enhanced by tender, insightful illustrations.

Being Teddy Roosevelt is a 2008 Bank Street—Best Children's Book of the Year.