Benjamin Franklin in the Little Great Ones series

by Nancy Shepherd
Illustrations by Xavier Mendoza

Quality Plus Educational Value Makes New Book a Winner

Educators tend to agree that our children need more exposure to role-models outside of rap and rock. I personally like books of substance for my grandchildren to read. Little Great Ones to the rescue.

Benjamin Franklin is one of the books in The Little Great Ones series. It is the well-researched story about a historical figure just quirky enough to hold a child's interest, Old Ben himself, but Ben as a child who, yes, grows up. Not a stodgy old guy on US Currency. It's written simply enough to entice young children back for a retelling and maybe even to learn more about the subjects it introduces, from Ben's father's arrival in America to politics to the lightning rod. And Benjamin Franklin includes a delightful CD, probably to help corral those kids who prefer their entertainment with a bit of tech to it.

One of the things I like most about this book is the quality of the book itself—everything from the heavily glossed pages to the graphic design (illustrations by Xavier Mendoza, graphic design by Vivian Ruzansky). A book like this can't help but impress. Why not expose readers to the sensory appeal of books while they're young? It's one of the reasons many of us prefer reading to TV or the computer screen. That feel and look of the page, the smell of the ink.

I was disappointed in only one aspect of Benjamin Franklin. The author is given little credit. Granted the book is primarily based on research, but "text by" on the copyright page does not adequately recognize Nancy Shepherd who starts this story in the present tense to keep interest alive, then moves it along into third person past tense to accommodate the sense of history required by the subject.

I am glad to have this book, will give copies to several young people I know. On other occasions, I may even follow up with other additions to this series. The quality and educational value simply can't be denied.