Ben Franklin's Big Splash

Starred review from July 1, 2014

K-Gr 3-Before he was an inventor, before he was a statesman, before he was a printer, Franklin was a young son of a soapmaker with big ideas and a penchant for swimming in the Charles River of Boston. This made him a bit of an odd duck at the time, as many people of the 18th century believed swimming could make them sick. With this "mostly true story," Rosenstock shares how even as a boy, Franklin possessed a powerful curiosity and a can-do attitude that led him to create swim paddles for his feet and hands that would help him move faster and better, much like the fish he observed in the river. The alliterative, sibilant text is a rollicking read to share aloud with young students ("where he slid off his stinky shoes, stripped off his sweaty stockings, squirmed out of his sticky shirt, shed his steamy breeches, and splashed in"). There is plenty of emphasis on words and phrases that are highlighted by colorful and distinct typefaces, some sliding down the page or shaped like a watery wave. The watercolor and ink artwork conveys joy and motion, with young Ben splashing into the water, gleefully trying out his fins. An extensive bibliography, source notes for quotations, and a time line of Franklin's life add to the veracity and strength of this story. This is a fun introduction to one of the nation's founding fathers and a solid addition to collections needing a different perspective on this American icon.-Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2014
Is another picture book about Ben Franklin really needed? The answer is yes, as unlike many of its predecessors, this one takes a fresh approach by focusing on a single childhood fascination-swimming. As a boy, Ben was unusual in that he loved to swim at a time when it was thought that swimming caused sickness. Ben's frustration was that he could not swim like a fish, and true to his nature, he searched for a solution, one that would enable him to swim like a fish. He first made swim fins out of wood and string (they looked like a painter's palettes), then swim sandals. Emphatic, alliterative verbs accentuate both his enthusiasm and his methodical nature: "Ben SPRINTED straight to the river, STOOD on the bank, STRIPPED OFF his clothes, STRAPPED his feet into the sandals, STUCK his thumbs back in the swim fins, SPREAD his arms wide, STOMPED his feet, and SPLASHED IN." This first discovery would lead to bigger and better scientific creations. The finely detailed ink-and-watercolor illustrations, varying type sizes and colors, and clever page design effectively and delightfully depict this significant American scientist. (Schindler deftly keeps Ben's privates underwater.) While the subtitle claims the book is "mostly true," the backmatter provides solid information. As inventive as Ben himself, this presentation is awash with delight and definitely makes a big splash. (author's note, timeline, sources, source notes) (Picture book/biography. 6-9)

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September 1, 2014
Grades 3-5 Statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin got an early start on the creative portion of his r'sum'. As an 11-year-old swimming fan, he was not content to idly paddle Boston's Charles River. Instead, he pondered important questions such as, Why can't I swim like a fish? which led him to his first inventions: swim fins and sandals. Basing her account on an excerpt from a letter Franklin sent to a fellow scientist in 1773, Rosenstock fictionalizes somewhat in describing how Franklin constructed these wooden swim aids. She also spotlights his curiosity and emphasizes the steps of the scientific method (problem, research, hypothesis, test, analyze, conclude) in describing Franklin's thought processes. Schindler's ink-and-watercolor illustrations pick up the comical nuances of the text (especially Rosenstock's penchant for vivid alliterative verbs) and convey the imagination required for invention. Appended with a list of Franklin's inventions, source notes, and time line. Pair with Gloria Whelan's Queen Victoria's Bathing Machine (2014) for another inventive historical swimming story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)