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Ben Franklin and His First Kite
Learn all about the childhood of one of America's founding fathers in this nonfiction Level 2 Ready-to-Read!
Ten-year-old Ben Franklin finds working in his father's candle shop boring—he'd much rather be doing experiments. He can't wait to try out his latest idea. With nothing but a simple kite, can Ben get across the pond—without swimming a single stroke?
Ten-year-old Ben Franklin finds working in his father's candle shop boring—he'd much rather be doing experiments. He can't wait to try out his latest idea. With nothing but a simple kite, can Ben get across the pond—without swimming a single stroke?
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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December 4, 2015Title: Ben Franklin and His First Kite
Author: Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: Bert Dodson
Genre: Biography K-2
Theme(s): Science, invention, experimentation, social studies, colonial times, culture, and diversity.
Opening line/sentence: Ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin was hard at work in his father’s candle shop.
Brief Book Summary: A young Ben Franklin works in his father’s candle shop but does not enjoy it. He always looks forward to going home to invent and experiment with new things. His friends convince him that he should test if the kite can carry him across the whole pond where they always enjoy swimming.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Hornbook) 32 pp. Simon/Aladdin (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing) 2002. LE ISBN 0-689-84985-0 PE ISBN 0-689-84984-2
(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bert Dodson. Ready-to-Read series. This fictionalized account tells of the day ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin used the wind and a kite to pull himself across a lake without swimming a stroke. Although it is unclear what Franklin's "experiment" proves, the engaging text and watercolor illustrations accurately depict the eighteenth-century Boston setting. A timeline of important events in Franklin's life is appended.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (CLCD) Sally Canzoneri (Children's Literature)
Though billed as nonfiction, this is a fictional story based on an incident from Ben Franklin's boyhood. There is a good deal of dialogue that is obviously fictional. Moreover, the events differ from Franklin's own description of the day he used his kite to pull himself across a pond. In Krensky's version, young Ben purposely sets out to conduct an experiment using his kite. In Franklin's description, he was trying to amuse himself with his kite and enjoy swimming at the same time, when he discovered that the kite would draw him across the water. Aside from concerns always raised by presenting fiction as nonfiction, the approach taken in this book is troubling. Young readers would probably like the real Ben Franklin better than the rather know-it-all character in this book; they would also learn that scientific discoveries are made by close observation of everyday events as well as through planned experiments. This book is one of the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series and a Level 2 "Ready-to-Read" book. 2002, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, $3.99. Ages 6 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Aladdin (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2002.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: This book is perfect to teach student’s about the discoveries of Ben Franklin and his impact on our lives today. It is a slow moving story that gives a description of how accomplishing your dreams takes a lot of hard work and practice but I believe the interest of discovery will make this book enjoyable for young readers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The connection of a young boy that dreams is one many children can relate to which draws the reader in. The use of simple to read text and colorful pictures depict the events throughout the story. I did not like that the book did not have a final resolution to his experiment.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think this book would be great for students to work on retelling of events that happen throughout the book to monitor their understanding. We can also have them devise their own invention through pictures and a story of the process that it would take including a planning and testing stage. Also they would describe how this would affect the people around them just like when you discuss in social studies how inventions have shaped our lives today.
Author: Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: Bert Dodson
Genre: Biography K-2
Theme(s): Science, invention, experimentation, social studies, colonial times, culture, and diversity.
Opening line/sentence: Ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin was hard at work in his father’s candle shop.
Brief Book Summary: A young Ben Franklin works in his father’s candle shop but does not enjoy it. He always looks forward to going home to invent and experiment with new things. His friends convince him that he should test if the kite can carry him across the whole pond where they always enjoy swimming.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Hornbook) 32 pp. Simon/Aladdin (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing) 2002. LE ISBN 0-689-84985-0 PE ISBN 0-689-84984-2
(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bert Dodson. Ready-to-Read series. This fictionalized account tells of the day ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin used the wind and a kite to pull himself across a lake without swimming a stroke. Although it is unclear what Franklin's "experiment" proves, the engaging text and watercolor illustrations accurately depict the eighteenth-century Boston setting. A timeline of important events in Franklin's life is appended.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: (CLCD) Sally Canzoneri (Children's Literature)
Though billed as nonfiction, this is a fictional story based on an incident from Ben Franklin's boyhood. There is a good deal of dialogue that is obviously fictional. Moreover, the events differ from Franklin's own description of the day he used his kite to pull himself across a pond. In Krensky's version, young Ben purposely sets out to conduct an experiment using his kite. In Franklin's description, he was trying to amuse himself with his kite and enjoy swimming at the same time, when he discovered that the kite would draw him across the water. Aside from concerns always raised by presenting fiction as nonfiction, the approach taken in this book is troubling. Young readers would probably like the real Ben Franklin better than the rather know-it-all character in this book; they would also learn that scientific discoveries are made by close observation of everyday events as well as through planned experiments. This book is one of the "Childhood of Famous Americans" series and a Level 2 "Ready-to-Read" book. 2002, Aladdin/Simon & Schuster, $3.99. Ages 6 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Aladdin (New York:), PUBLISHED: 2002.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: This book is perfect to teach student’s about the discoveries of Ben Franklin and his impact on our lives today. It is a slow moving story that gives a description of how accomplishing your dreams takes a lot of hard work and practice but I believe the interest of discovery will make this book enjoyable for young readers.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The connection of a young boy that dreams is one many children can relate to which draws the reader in. The use of simple to read text and colorful pictures depict the events throughout the story. I did not like that the book did not have a final resolution to his experiment.
Consideration of Instructional Application: I think this book would be great for students to work on retelling of events that happen throughout the book to monitor their understanding. We can also have them devise their own invention through pictures and a story of the process that it would take including a planning and testing stage. Also they would describe how this would affect the people around them just like when you discuss in social studies how inventions have shaped our lives today.
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April 25, 2016Title: Ben Franklin and His First Kite
Author: Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: Bert Dodson
Genre: Biography
Theme(s): History
Opening line/sentence: Ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin was hard at work in his fathers candle shop.
Brief Book Summary: This book from the Ready-to-read series informs readers on Ben Franklin. However, unlike most books this book focuses on Ben when he was only 10 years old working in his father’s candle shop. While working in his father’s shop, Ben often experiments, and his latest idea has created the first kite.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Sally Canzoneri (Children's Literature)
Though billed as nonfiction, this is a fictional story based on an incident from Ben Franklin's boyhood. There is a good deal of dialogue that is obviously fictional. Moreover, the events differ from Franklin's own description of the day he used his kite to pull himself across a pond. In Krensky's version, young Ben purposely sets out to conduct an experiment using his kite. In Franklin's description, he was trying to amuse himself with his kite and enjoy swimming at the same time, when he discovered that the kite would draw him across the water. Aside from concerns always raised by presenting fiction as nonfiction, the approach taken in this book is troubling. Young readers would probably like the real Ben Franklin better than the rather know-it-all character in this book; they would also learn that scientific discoveries are made by close observation of everyday events as well as through planned experiments.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Horn Book Guide
K-3 Illustrated by Bert Dodson. Ready-to-Read series. This fictionalized account tells of the day ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin used the wind and a kite to pull himself across a lake without swimming a stroke. Although it is unclear what Franklin's "experiment" proves, the engaging text and watercolor illustrations accurately depict the eighteenth-century Boston setting. A timeline of important events in Franklin's life is appended.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: While this book is listed as a nonfiction title, the first review clearly states some places where it goes back and forth between nonfiction and fiction. While it is clear to see that the first reviewer has some strong opinions on the topic, I think overall this book is a good story for children to read to understand the first kite. It also includes a timeline like stated in the second review which can be good for kids to look back at.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: I think this book does a good job of pairing its words with its illustrations, especially because it is for young readers. While there may be some wordy pages, the illustration is always paired with it to describe what is happening. Overall I think the amount of words per page along with the illustrations make this a good book for early readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application: For this book I would ask the students if they have ever flown a kite. If they have, I would have them write a small response telling about their experiences flying their kite and then draw a picture of it. If they haven’t ever flown a kite, I would have them say what they think it would be like and have them draw a picture of what their kite would look like. Finally, I would take the class outside to fly a kite so everyone can see what it looks like and how it works.
Author: Stephen Krensky
Illustrator: Bert Dodson
Genre: Biography
Theme(s): History
Opening line/sentence: Ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin was hard at work in his fathers candle shop.
Brief Book Summary: This book from the Ready-to-read series informs readers on Ben Franklin. However, unlike most books this book focuses on Ben when he was only 10 years old working in his father’s candle shop. While working in his father’s shop, Ben often experiments, and his latest idea has created the first kite.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Sally Canzoneri (Children's Literature)
Though billed as nonfiction, this is a fictional story based on an incident from Ben Franklin's boyhood. There is a good deal of dialogue that is obviously fictional. Moreover, the events differ from Franklin's own description of the day he used his kite to pull himself across a pond. In Krensky's version, young Ben purposely sets out to conduct an experiment using his kite. In Franklin's description, he was trying to amuse himself with his kite and enjoy swimming at the same time, when he discovered that the kite would draw him across the water. Aside from concerns always raised by presenting fiction as nonfiction, the approach taken in this book is troubling. Young readers would probably like the real Ben Franklin better than the rather know-it-all character in this book; they would also learn that scientific discoveries are made by close observation of everyday events as well as through planned experiments.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: Horn Book Guide
K-3 Illustrated by Bert Dodson. Ready-to-Read series. This fictionalized account tells of the day ten-year-old Benjamin Franklin used the wind and a kite to pull himself across a lake without swimming a stroke. Although it is unclear what Franklin's "experiment" proves, the engaging text and watercolor illustrations accurately depict the eighteenth-century Boston setting. A timeline of important events in Franklin's life is appended.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: While this book is listed as a nonfiction title, the first review clearly states some places where it goes back and forth between nonfiction and fiction. While it is clear to see that the first reviewer has some strong opinions on the topic, I think overall this book is a good story for children to read to understand the first kite. It also includes a timeline like stated in the second review which can be good for kids to look back at.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: I think this book does a good job of pairing its words with its illustrations, especially because it is for young readers. While there may be some wordy pages, the illustration is always paired with it to describe what is happening. Overall I think the amount of words per page along with the illustrations make this a good book for early readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application: For this book I would ask the students if they have ever flown a kite. If they have, I would have them write a small response telling about their experiences flying their kite and then draw a picture of it. If they haven’t ever flown a kite, I would have them say what they think it would be like and have them draw a picture of what their kite would look like. Finally, I would take the class outside to fly a kite so everyone can see what it looks like and how it works.
March 22, 2016
It's cute. This is young Ben, maybe about 10 or so, and the kite incident is not the one you think it is; that doesn't happen for about thirty or more years. The illustrations are engaging and generally correct for the time period, there's a good chronology of Franklin's life at the end of the book, and it's interesting to see old Benjy playing as a kid while still conducting an experiment (and swimming, something he took very seriously as an adult and advocated for rather fiercely). Is this a brilliant biography? No, but it's a cute little slice of life vignette that might make a kid curious enough to read something more advanced, and it's not condescending despite the low reading level.
January 12, 2015
An easy-to-read fictionalized story about a ten-year-old Ben Franklin and an experiment with a kite. There is a timeline of his life and a note saying that this book is based on a story about Franklin, but there are no resources given. This is part of the Childhood of Famous Americans series and is a good introduction to historical fiction.
July 4, 2009
My kids love any book that personalizes American heros. We also love books that introduce us to the people we admire in an informal manner. This one fits the bill.
September 26, 2012
An interesting children's story about Benjamin Franklin as a child, and how he liked to try out experiments. A nice way for children to learn some history.
May 30, 2013
great to read to a 4 y/o
April 1, 2014
nice story.
May 15, 2014
As a boy, Ben Franklin prepares to conduct an experiment using a swimming hole and a kite. His friends urge him on as he tries to get the kite to pull him across the water.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews