45. John, Paul, George, & Ben by Lane Smith

JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE, & BEN by Lane Smith (Hyperion Books for Children, 2006)

GENRE: Picture Book / Humor / Historical

HONORS: Books of the Year Winner, Connecticut Book Award, National Parenting Publications Award Gold Book, New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books of the Year Winner, Quill Awards Nominee, Society of School Librarians International Book Awards Honor Book, Virginia Readers’ Choice Award

REVIEW:

Using their most famous characteristics, Smith reports some of the mischief that the Founding Fathers got into while growing up.  John Hancock was known to sign his name across the whole chalkboard at school.  Member of a bell-ringing club, Paul Revere had to scream to even hear himself talk.  George Washington admitted to his father that he chopped down his cherry tree and, when his father applauded his honesty, he confessed that he chopped down the rest of the forest, the barn, and his father’s carriage, too.  Ben Franklin loved to make up sayings for every situation and share them with others whether they wanted to hear them or not.  Independent Tom Jefferson always did his own thing, especially when he deemed school projects too amateur, and he even constructed his own Declaration of Independence from Idiotic Classwork.  In the end, all of there talents were put to good use as the colonists fought for and won their independence.

OPINION:

This is a hilarious book that elaborates on some of the myths and characteristics of the Founding Fathers.  While some of the humor will be lost on readers that do not know of the historical references, this book is a great way of introducing these influential men.  Smith takes obvious liberties with the material, but a true or false section at the back of the book clarifies any questions that young readers may have.  Although the nods to the Beatles may be lost on younger tweens, adults reading the book will appreciate them.  The antique-looking illustrations add to the humor of the book, especially with the childhood depictions of the famous men and their trademark hairstyles.  John, Paul, George, & Ben will especially appeal to younger tweens that do not like learning about history and hopefully peak their interest in an exciting time.

IDEAS:

This book is a perfect choice to read aloud to younger tweens in the library.  It could also be a starting point for a library program about the American Revolution, with tweens being introduced to the Founding Fathers in this fashion before branching off into more factual materials.  This would be a good book for a library display on American history, as well.