Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words by K.M. Kostyal, illustrated by Fred Harper from National Geographic Kids [Review & Giveaway]

My thoughts:  Who ever thought that learning could be so much fun? My guess is that the folks at National Geographic Kids (amongst others) decided that kids need a bit of incentive to encourage them to delve into the lives of historical figures, historical events, and applying what happened "way back then" to today's world. With the creation of Benjamin Franklin's Wise Words publisher, author, and illustrator have teamed together to compile, categorize, and present familiar quotes of Ben Franklin as well as those obscure words of wisdom that this grand old man from history bandied about.

I love the way the quotes are categorized which helps to go back and find a quote specific to a subject. I think the terse explanation in varied typesets directly under the quote "spot on" in being appropriate. And the couple of great anecdotal paragraphs follow which tell a bit about Mr. Franklin himself throughout his life and how his choice of words (specifically the quote on the page) applied to him.

So while the young reader (and parents and teachers as well) is absorbing these "wise words" they are gaining a bit of knowledge about how it can apply to them and read a short bit about Mr. Franklin. (He was apprenticed at age 12. He had three children of his own. He wrote furiously about the colonists' massacre of native Americans.)

This is a fun, educational, and timely book that I hope will find its way into libraries everywhere and into teacher resources for classroom use. Perhaps someone wants to bless a school library or a classroom with a copy as school for the year 2017-2018 begins. I highly recommend.

About the book: Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words by K.M. Kostyal, illustrated by Fred Harper. (ages 8-12, $16.99, hardcover) - In this day and age, we could all use some words of wisdom and there are but a precious few individuals that have proven themselves to be of a greater mind than Benjamin Franklin.  Complete with fifty of Ben Franklin's renowned sayings and paired with modern-day translations, whimsical caricature artwork and fascinating stories about Franklin’s life, this title gives sage advice on everything from good citizenship and manners to friendship, achieving your dreams and being happy. It's a great go-to for inspirational and innovative ways to practice mindfulness, industriousness, and self-improvement by one of the United States’ most famous Founding Fathers.  History buffs young and old will particularly enjoy the book’s forward by H.W. Brands.  Brands’ book, The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of National Geographic Kids Books and the author to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own and freely given.