What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? [Paperback]

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 JournalPraise 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
&ll-