A fun historic tale by Newbery Honor-winning author, Jean Fritz!
No matter how busy he was, Ben Franklin always found time to try out new ideas: a remote-control lock (so he could lock his door without getting out of bed), a rocking chair with a fan over it (to keep flies away), and a windmill (to turn his roast meat on its spit). Aside from being a mad of ideas, he was an ambassador to England, a printer, an almanac maker, a politician, and even a vegetarian (for a time, anyway).
"This biography is distinguished by its humanizing detail [and] amusing tone." - School Library Journal
Praise for What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
''Full of tiny Excellences." —New York Times Book Review
''With the first sentence, readers know they are in good hands." —Publishers Weekly
''This biography is distinguished from several others for this age level by its bnmanizing detail, amusing tone, and the perfect marriage of the cheery text with the slyly humorous but accurate illustrations. Rollicking Bicentennial fare." —School Library Journal
"An enjoyable read-aloud. . . Fritz's latest exercise in expertly personalizing a founding father highlights Franklin's inventiveness. The littleknown details that so enlivened her other portraits crop up here, too, as we learn of young Ben's experiments with vegetarianism and fancy swimming; or of his trip to London in his later life to futher the interests of Pennsylvania." —Booklist
A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year ALA Notable Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Bank Street Best Book of the Year
Acclaimed biographer, Jean Fritz, was born in China to American missionaries on November 16, 1915. Living there until she was almost thirteen sparked a lifelong interest in American history. She wrote about her childhood in China in Homesick, My Own Story, a Newbery Honor Book and winner of the National Book Award. Ms. Fritz was the author of forty-five books for children and young people. Many center on historical American figures, gaining her a reputation as the premier author of biographies for children and young people. Among the other prestigious awards Ms. Fritz has garnered are: the National Endowment for the Humanities Medal, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Award. the Christopher Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Non-Fiction Award, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and many ALA Notable Books of the Year, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, and ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice Awards. She passed away on May 14, 2017.
Margot Tomes was an American artist and children’s book illustrator, whose work has appeared in Newbery Honor books as well as New York Times Children’s Books of the Year. Her books illustrated for Penguin Random House include Phoebe the Spy; Anna, Grandpa, and the Big Storm; and What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?View titles by Margot Tomes
A fun historic tale by Newbery Honor-winning author, Jean Fritz!
No matter how busy he was, Ben Franklin always found time to try out new ideas: a remote-control lock (so he could lock his door without getting out of bed), a rocking chair with a fan over it (to keep flies away), and a windmill (to turn his roast meat on its spit). Aside from being a mad of ideas, he was an ambassador to England, a printer, an almanac maker, a politician, and even a vegetarian (for a time, anyway).
"This biography is distinguished by its humanizing detail [and] amusing tone." - School Library Journal
Praise
Praise for What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?
''Full of tiny Excellences." —New York Times Book Review
''With the first sentence, readers know they are in good hands." —Publishers Weekly
''This biography is distinguished from several others for this age level by its bnmanizing detail, amusing tone, and the perfect marriage of the cheery text with the slyly humorous but accurate illustrations. Rollicking Bicentennial fare." —School Library Journal
"An enjoyable read-aloud. . . Fritz's latest exercise in expertly personalizing a founding father highlights Franklin's inventiveness. The littleknown details that so enlivened her other portraits crop up here, too, as we learn of young Ben's experiments with vegetarianism and fancy swimming; or of his trip to London in his later life to futher the interests of Pennsylvania." —Booklist
A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year ALA Notable Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Bank Street Best Book of the Year
Author
Acclaimed biographer, Jean Fritz, was born in China to American missionaries on November 16, 1915. Living there until she was almost thirteen sparked a lifelong interest in American history. She wrote about her childhood in China in Homesick, My Own Story, a Newbery Honor Book and winner of the National Book Award. Ms. Fritz was the author of forty-five books for children and young people. Many center on historical American figures, gaining her a reputation as the premier author of biographies for children and young people. Among the other prestigious awards Ms. Fritz has garnered are: the National Endowment for the Humanities Medal, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the May Hill Arbuthnot Lecture Award. the Christopher Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Non-Fiction Award, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and many ALA Notable Books of the Year, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, and ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice Awards. She passed away on May 14, 2017.
Margot Tomes was an American artist and children’s book illustrator, whose work has appeared in Newbery Honor books as well as New York Times Children’s Books of the Year. Her books illustrated for Penguin Random House include Phoebe the Spy; Anna, Grandpa, and the Big Storm; and What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin?View titles by Margot Tomes
