Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

Byrd pushes the bounds of the picture-book format in this exhaustive exploration of the life of Benjamin Franklin%E2%80%94dense blocks of text vie for space with Byrd's meticulously inked and detailed illustrations, as well as the many aphorisms for which Franklin is known ("An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"). There's a wealth of information to be found within, as Byrd covers Franklin's early printing days (including humorous anecdotes about pseudonymous letters and gossip he would publish), his publication of Poor Richard's Almanack, and his involvement in the scientific and political spheres. It's a fascinating and comprehensive portrait, and an asset for student research. Ages 5%E2%80%938. (Sept.)