Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

by Gene Barretta

Book Overview

The inventions and inspiration of Benjamin Franklin and how they've stood the test of time

What would you do if you lived in a community without a library, hospital, post office, or fire department? If you were Benjamin Franklin, you'd set up these organizations yourself. Franklin also designed the lightning rod, suggested the idea of daylight savings time, and invented bifocals-all inspired by his common sense and intelligence. In...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312535694
• ISBN13: 9780312535698
• Release Date: December 2008
• Publisher: Square Fish
• Length: 40 Pages
• Weight: 0.39 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 8.8" x 9.8"
• Age Range: 5 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 4

Customer Reviews

excellent book

This book is suggested reading for grades 2-5 but my 4 year old can't get enough. The drawings spark his imagination in ways that simpler books never could. He may not understand the significance of Benjamin Franklin but I am delighted that he wants to learn more about the inventions that shape our society.

Pleasingly Inventive

Mr. Barretta offers an abundance of pages that make this book a worthwhile purchase. Properly bound, the hardcover edition is chock-full of finely detailed drawings that will grab your child's attention. Packed with illustrations and information about Benjamin Franklin, Now & Ben offers readers, both young and older, insight into our nation's most creative Founding Father! At turns surprising and common sensical, this volume, a generous 40 pages, continues to stimulate and entertain my children (and me!) with Franklin's contributions that permeate our lives daily.

Very nice book!

This cleverly written and nicely illustrated book was enjoyed by my son, and taught me several things about Ben Franklin I didn't know! It shows how Ben's cool ideas are still in use today, without feeling like a history lesson.

Now & Ben

This book has great illustrations. The students I teach spent time looking through all of the details. The stories are accurate and include a fun sense of humor. Students from grade 4-6 also enjoyed the book.

My children loved it!!!

My children (ages 6 - 10) loved the story of Ben Franklin. They enjoyed learning of Ben's inventions and it was fun to talk about how they have evolved over time. The children especially loved the last scene depicting how things will evolve as they grow older. The illustrations and colors on every page were great for the imagination and provided so much insight to every part of the story. Great Job. A+