Benjamin Franklin: Printer, Inventor, Statesman

Children's Literature - Deborah Zink Roffino

This biography explores Franklin's world and the changes he brought about with just the right amount of detail. Pen and ink drawings illustrate the highlights, most of which are taken from his own autobiography. Any study of Ben Franklin correlates perfectly with history, literature, political and physical science for readers in the upper elementary grades.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-4-- This short, readable biography focuses on Franklin's most famous accomplishments and on those aspects of his character that are most admired today--his intelligence, curiosity, inventiveness, abilities as a statesman, and opinions that were ahead of his time. His early life is covered in some depth, with not only well-known anecdotes included, but also interesting accounts of his early work experiences. Some of his writings, inventions, and scientific experiments are described. Adler's writing is clear and easy to read, without being boring. Included are quotations from some of Franklin's letters and speeches. Adler mentions that Franklin never legally married either Deborah Read or the mother of his son William, but does not criticize, even though some historians have found Franklin's treatment of both William (after he became a Tory) and Deborah Read less than admirable. Miller's engravings are competently done and add to the text. Eve B. Feldman's Benjamin Franklin (Watts, 1990) contains better illustrations, including a few photographs but, because it concentrates on Franklin's work as a scientist and inventor, may be less useful for general readers or report writers. A good introduction to one of America's more colorful and interesting figures. --Jean H. Zimmerman, Willett School, South River, NJ