Independent Reading Level: Ages: 8-10 Grades: 3rd-5th
Awards: NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book (2007)
Junior Library Guild Selection
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

Kid friendly tour of Franklin's inventions and contributions. Wildly colorful illustrations cover the pages. ( )

I loved this book; I used it for one of my lesson plans. Benjamin Franklin was such an influential human and impacted modern life in such a way that we use his inventions daily. I think every child should be exposed to his brilliance. He can be used as an example on everything one person can accomplish and to explain inventions. ( )

Now and Ben teaches about Benjamin Franklin's inventions from over 200 years ago that are still used in the modern world today and how they compare to how they were back then. I learned that Benjamin Franklin was the first to print a political cartoon in American that advertised how the colonies should come together or die like the parts of a snake. I learned that Ben made himself bifocals, discovered the true nature of electricity, invented the lightening rod and the original device we know now as the grabber. Ben also invented things when he was boy such as wooden flippers to swim and plenty more. Ben shaped the world and his inventions are still used and seen within the modern world. This books can teach students about one of the most important historical figures in history and how he contributed to the world. ( )

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/now-and-ben-lesson-plans.html (discussion questions, activities, you tube link)