Ben Franklin Thinks Big

November 1, 2018
Grades 1-2 After introducing Franklin as an accomplished writer, inventor, and statesman, this beginning-reader biography shows him as a lad of 10, making candles for his family's shop in Boston and reading by candlelight at night. Growing older with each turn of the page, he learns printing from his brother and starts his own business in Philadelphia, where he finds success as a printer, writer, and newspaper publisher. He represents his country abroad, first in London and later in France, but returns to help write the Constitution. Keenan packs a good deal of information into a short book and gives a sense of Franklin's lively mind as well as his varied interests and accomplishments. While Franklin is quoted in the text, no sources are listed. The book's back matter includes a time line, copies of documents, and additional information, such as the fact that Franklin owned slaves but later changed his mind and supported the abolition of slavery. Nicely composed and beautifully lit, Mazali's illustrations are infused with warmth and life. An attractive introduction to Franklin for young readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)