Synopses & Reviews
At the time of his famous kite experiment, Benjamin Franklin was unaware that his theories about electricity had already made him a celebrity all over Europe, especially in France, where fashionable circles loved to discuss scientific discovery. Admired by the French court and beloved by French citizens, Franklin effectively became Americas first foreign diplomat, later helping to enlist Frances military and financial support for the American Revolution. A father of the revolution and a
signer of the Constitution, Franklin was a lightning rod in political circles - “a dangerous Engine,” according to a critic. And although he devoted the last twenty-five years of his life to affairs of state, his first love was always science. Handsome pen-and-ink drawings highlight moments in this revolutionary thinkers life. From the author and illustrator of The Longitude Prize, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book and winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, comes another story of adventure and invention, of one mans curiosity and the extraordinary rewards of his discoveries, just in time to celebrate the 300th anniversary of his birth (January 17, 1706).
Review
"Readers will come away with a profound understanding of this great man's mind, heart, achievements, and. . . sense of fun." -- Starred,
Kirkus Reviews "Joan Dash has a flair for history and technology that serves her well in telling the Franklin story." --The New York Times Book Review "Superb." --San Francisco Chronicle "Well written." -- VOYA "Dash delves into considerable detail. . . but her smooth storytelling and Petricic's sassy full-page black-and-white illustrations draw readers steadily along."-- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Franklin's long, productive, and interesting life is vividly recounted in a lively manner." --School Library Journal "Through smart, selective use of Franklin's correspondence, Dash keeps readers close to the thoughts and personalities of the book's historical figures. Petricic's black-and-white illustrations are a fine complement to the text." --The Horn Book "Petricic's droll artwork interprets events with a wit that America's first political cartoonist surely would have appreciated." --Booklist
"A fascinating and illuminating book. It charts the journey of one of our nation's founders . . . with creativity, energy, and astonishing detail." --Signal
About the Author
JOAN DASH is the author of several notable books for young readers. She lives in Seattle, Washington. Dušan Petricic illustrated many acclaimed childrens books. He lives in Toronto, Ontario.