School Library Journal Review
Gr 2--5--As a young boy, Benjamin Franklin loved swimming and dreamed of a future on the high seas. His father, on the other hand, encouraged his son to find an occupation far from the dangers of the open ocean. Franklin tried everything, from dipping candles to making shoes, but nothing held his attention for long. He crafted a kite to increase the speed of his swimming, but that didn't help him land useful employment. Finally, with his father's encouragement, Franklin found his ideal occupation: printing pamphlets and newspapers in his brother's print shop. Tavares's illustrations bring the rich world of 18th-century dockside to life and include details such as the colonial style of dress (bonnets and tricorn hats), tall ships docked in Boston Harbor, and Union Jack flags rippling in the breeze. Rosen explains the deliberate use of language and speech patterns authentic to the time period. While some children may struggle with the unfamiliar rhythm and words, the meaning of the terms become clear within the context of the narrative. However, the inclusion of a glossary defining words such as joiner, chandler, and indentures may have been helpful. That said, this book is an excellent resource for discussions of American colonial life in social studies classrooms and beyond. VERDICT History lovers will relish this glimpse into the inquisitive childhood of Benjamin Franklin.--Alyssa Annico, Youngstown State University, OH
Publisher's Weekly Review
Rosen (The Horse's Haiku) expands a segment of Benjamin Franklin's childhood to reveal his early motivations and character traits. A straightforward narrative with invented, formal dialogue follows novelty-seeking young Franklin as he tries in vain to convince his father that he's suitable for a sea-faring life. With the help of a book, he masters swimming techniques and adds his own innovations, such as swim paddles and a kite for additional speed. Tavares (Dasher) creates light-infused, multitextured digital illustrations that depict Franklin's spirited escapades in colonial Boston and more somber scenes of Franklin trying, and discarding, apprenticeships. "I fear my mind is unsuited for the craft," he says of candle making and other highly repetitive tasks. An extensive note explains the author's use of creative license, noting that the largely imagined vignettes are based on Franklin's autobiography. A brief bibliography concludes this detailed view of a Renaissance man whose young tenacity and eventual work at his sibling's print shop led to an extraordinarily varied adult life. Ages 5--9. (Mar.)
Booklist Review
Before Benjamin Franklin was one of America's Founding Fathers, he was a swimming-obsessed boy in Boston who wanted to be a sailor. But his candlemaker father had other plans for him. Inspired by Franklin's memoirs, Rosen recreates young Ben's path to finding a suitable trade in this picture-book biography. When Ben's father encourages him to apprentice with a joiner, a boot closer, a turner, and a chandler, the boy finds making identical wooden dowels, dipping identical candles, and other chores monotonous. Breaking these routines are Ben's playful swimming and kite experiments, much to the chagrin of his practical father. Finally, printing, with its opportunities for reading and creativity, becomes a satisfying apprenticeship. Paralleling this discovery is a culminating experiment that combines all the skills he learned from his brief stints with tradesmen. In the process, Rosen depicts Ben as a budding inventor, hints at more kite experiments to come, and adds more about Ben's life in a concluding author's note. Tavares' photo-realistic illustrations offer charm and fine details to this blend of history and technology.--Angela Leeper Copyright 2020 Booklist
