Ben Franklin's Big Splash ~ A mostly true story

Ben Franklin's Big Splash ~ the mostly true story of his first invention
by Barb Rosenstock; illus. by S.D. Schindler
32 pages; ages 8 and up
Calkins Creek (Boyds Mills Press), 2014

Is this book nonfiction? Is it historical fiction? Does it really matter?

This much is true: Ben Franklin taught himself to swim. Around the age of eleven, he made the first pair of swim fins and tried them out in the Charles River. He even wrote about his invention in a letter to a fellow scientist many years later.

But he never wrote about how he made the fins or the process by which he developed them. That is the part that author Barb Rosenstock imagines.... and she does so with humor and such wonderful language that you will be drawn into this book immediately upon opening it.

"Before the world knew the famous Doctor Benjamin Franklin, his neighbors knew him as Ben, the sturdy, saucy, smelly son of a soap-maker..."  Ben was the kid who would sneak away from work to swim in the river. As Rosenstock puts it:

He STOOD on his hands...
He SLIPPED like an otter
and SLOSHED like a turtle-
SQUIRTING, SPURTING,
and SPOUTING.

Don't you just love the language she uses to describe this skinny kid playing around in the water? While he's swimming, he wonders why he can't swim like a fish.

So he observes the fish. He notices they have fins, where he has hands.... and perhaps that's where he gets his idea for swim fins - wooden paddles that he uses to swim through the water. Like any other scientist, Ben experiences failure, goes back to the drawing board, and tries something different. Question-Research- Hypothesize - Test - Analyze- Conclude - Repeat.... these are the foundations of the scientific method, and Rosenstock shows Franklin going through them all.

Did it happen exactly the way she wrote it? Probably not. That's why she ends with a lengthy author's note telling what is known and what she imagined. At the end there's a timeline of Franklin's life and lists of resources.

Whether it's a "true story" or not, this book offers a glimpse into an unusual childhood invention of a famous inventor. And it does so through fun, imaginative language. With the story focusing on Swim Fins, there's a preponderance of S-words on the page. They are fun to s-s-say...

More to the point, this is a guide for any kid who wants to do science. If Ben could do research, design and test prototypes, collect and analyze data, then anyone reading this book can do the same. You don't need to be stuck in a lab to make discoveries... you can swim in a river.

Today we're joining the roundup over at the Nonfiction Monday blog where you'll find even more book reviews.  Review copy from publisher.

Shooting at the Stars ~ the Christmas Truce of 1914

Shooting at the Stars: The Christmas Truce of 1914
by John Hendrix
40 pages; ages 3-7
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2014

"One hundred years ago, a horrible war began. It was the biggest conflict the world had ever seen."

theme: history, hope

In this fictionalized retelling, John Hendrix imagines the Christmas Truce of 1914 told from the perspective of a young British soldier, Charlie. The story is based on letters and interviews with real soldiers who were in the trenches during that period of time. But Hendrix tells it through a letter Charlie writes to his mother. Charlie tells about how close they are to the Germans - only 30 paces separated the trenches between the warring sides. He tells about the mud, and how hard it is to keep his feet dry. And he tells about the miracle of that first Christmas eve on the front, when Germans and British soldiers put down their weapons for a day of peace.

What I like about this book: though fiction, it sticks very close to the letters and stories told by soldiers from that night. It underscores the things both sides had in common: their songs, their faith, their deep love of Christmas, and how sharing chocolate and a good game of football (or soccer, as we call it) can bring people together. The story always leaves me wondering how they could go back to shooting at each other the next day, but Hendrix takes care of that. Soldiers follow the orders, but they just can't seem to shoot straight...

I also like the author's note at the back, along with a photo from the Christmas Truce of 1914 and a glossary.

Beyond the Book: For kids who just can't get enough history, head over to history.com for more info about the Christmas Truce. If you're wondering whether they really did play soccer, check out this letter written from the trenches in France by a British general. H documents the troops laying aside their arms, exchanging gifts, and playing that oft-cited Christmas game.

Listen to John McCutcheon sing Christmas in the Trenches and check out this bit of footage from the film, Oh! What a Lovely War.

Play a game of winter soccer. Invite friends and neighbors over for a post-Christmas dinner game of soccer, even if it means stomping down the snow so you can kick a ball. Don't be too serious about choosing teams or how many players are on a side. If you don't have a soccer ball, don't worry. Neither did the soldiers in WWI. They used empty tins, but you can wad up all that used wrapping paper and tape it and tie it into a ball.

Then, when you're cold and wet, make some hot cocoa. The soldiers shared their chocolate bars, but you can have your own cup. Sharing marshmallows is optional.

Today we're joining PPBF (perfect picture book Friday), an event in which bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's site. She keeps an ever-growing list of Perfect Picture Books.  Review copy provided by publisher.

Sweaty Suits of Armor & Author Interview

Sweaty Suits of Armor: Could you survive being a knight?
by Chana Stiefel; illus. by Gerald Kelley
48 pages; ages 10-14
Enslow, 2012

When my sons were of a certain age they decided that what they really wanted to be when they grew up was knights in shining armor. They snuck the colanders from the kitchen and used them as helmets. They turned tomato stakes into swords and pot lids into shields. They also watched every version of King Arthur (and any applicable Monty Python movies) that I would allow. 

What they really needed was this book, because Chana Stiefel lays it out like it was back in the day: those heavy metal suits of armor were stinky and hot! Not only that, knights had to eat bad food, wield heavy swords, and were often taken prisoner and - if lucky - ransomed off. The unlucky ones were chained in the dungeon.

Stiefel strips the romance from the Middle Ages with language that is clear, fun to read, and so descriptive you can smell the sweat-sodden padding beneath the armor. She describes life in the Middle Ages war zone (no MREs), how to train for a knight (blood, sweat and tears), and the weapons of war. 

At the back of the book is a handy glossary and list of resources for the would-be warrior. And an index!

I met Chana at the 21st Century Children's Nonfiction conference this summer, and she's a wonderful person - as well as being an awesome writer. She graciously answered Three Questions about her writing. 

Sally: What inspired you to write this book?

Chana: After writing a book about the science of fingerprints for Enslow Publishers (Fingerprints: Dead People Do Tell Tales), my editor contacted me to see if I’d be interested in writing three books for their new series about the “Yucky Middle Ages.” Did I know anything about sieges, swords, sewage, and suits of armor? Nope! Would I love to write this series? Of course I would! Sweaty Suits of Armor came out at the same time as my other two books in the series, Ye Castle Stinketh: Could You Survive Living in a Castle? and There’s a Rat in My Soup: Could You Survive Medieval Food? Writing these books was an incredibly enjoyable (and gross) learning experience. 

Sally: Talk about your process for researching & writing these books. 

Chana: My background is in journalism, so I’m trained to dig up fascinating facts. I read every book I could find about knights, castles, and the food of the Middle Ages. I trolled the Internet, and I visited the magnificent Suits of Armor Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. You can see medieval armor and weapons in books and online, but when you stand next to them, you get a real sense of their heft, their artistry, and the brutality of war. You also come up with interesting questions, like how did knights go to the bathroom with all that armor on? And how hot did a knight feel when he wore a metal suit in August?

My husband and I had also visited medieval castles in France so I had a good frame of reference for murky moats, poop chutes (medieval toilets), and dark dungeons. There is nothing like seeing these incredible structures in person and imagining what it was like to live there 1,000 years ago.

I took note every time I came across something “yucky” and organized my facts into categories (for example, the hardships of training to become a knight, the weight of metal armor, nasty weapons of war, disease, lack of refrigeration, and so on). A professor of medieval history was also a great resource in helping me check my facts and making sure I had the right balance of historical accuracy and yuckiness.

 Sally: What have you got in the works?

Chana: Last year, I signed with an awesome literary agent and sold my first picture book, Daddy Depot, which will be coming out from Feiwel & Friends in 2016. I’m now writing several other picture books, as well as my first Middle Grade novel, which is a mind-bending exercise. I’m also continuing to write non-fiction, including a book about safari animals coming out in May 2015 from Silver Dolphin Press. 
 
Check out Chana's website at www.chanastiefel.com.

 Today we're joining the roundup over at the Nonfiction Monday blog where you'll find even more book reviews. We're also hanging out with the bloggers who review mid-grade books at the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday round-up.  Review copy provided by author.

Lives of the Explorers

Lives of the Explorers: Discoveries, Disasters (and What the Neighbors Thought)
by Kathleen Krull; illus. by Kathryn Hewitt
96 pages; ages 9-12
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014

With Columbus Day right around the corner - at least around the flip of the calendar page - now seems a good time to talk about explorers. And Kathleen Krull does a pretty good job.

Part of her Lives Of.. series, Krull offers a collection of short biographies of men and women who have pushed the boundaries of their known world. She introduces the book this way:
"Exploring the unknown: it's what humans do. Since the beginning of time, we have wanted to know what else might be out there." And then she delves into the stories of people searching for "what else might be out there": Leif Ericson, Marco Polo, Zheng He, James Cook, Lewis & Clark, Isabella Bird, Sally Ride, and more. From the well-known to the not-as-well-known, Krull tells about explorers' lives, where they traveled, their deed both good and bad. Marco Polo, for example, tended to exaggerate his journeys and Columbus.... his encounters with the New World natives nearly wiped out their populations.

There are plenty of maps for the geographically-minded, with routes color-coded for different voyages. And each chapter ends with an "Onward" section full of interesting facts, towns named after the explorers, myths and more. At the back there's a list of books for further reading. There is no index, but the table of contents fills that need fairly well since this is, after all, a collection of short biographies.

 Today is Nonfiction Monday. Hop over to the Nonfiction Monday blog where you'll find more book reviews. Review copy provided by publisher.

War Dogs

War Dogs

Written and illustrated by Kathryn Selbert  

Ages: 7 - 10

Charlesbridge, 2013

Rufus’s best friend is a busy man, but Rufus still manages to get him out for daily walks. Most days – because his man, Winston Churchill, is the prime minister of England and there’s a war going on. When they’re not walking, Rufus sits under Churchill’s desk and listens to the prime minister’s pen scratch furiously. And sometimes, Winston tells him about the day’s events.

I love how Kathryn Selbert presents history: through the eyes of a VIP (very important pet). She has made Rufus our “guide dog” who gains us entry into Churchill’s bunker and leads us safely around the rubble of London after bombing raids.

I love the  notecards tacked along the way: bits of Churchill’s famous speeches. I love the map room and the tables covered with plans and crumpled papers and telephones and teacups.

And I love the surprise of finding that Churchill’s best friend was a poodle.

If that’s not enough, at the end of the book Selbert has resources galore for history buffs of all ages: a timeline of World War II; more biographical notes, books and websites, and a list of sources for all the quotes pinned to desk drawers and walls throughout the book.

Check out more nifty nonfiction at Booktalking.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

First Peas to the Table

First Peas to the Table: How Thomas Jefferson Inspired a School Garden
by Susan Grigsby; illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
32 pages, ages 6 and up
Albert Whitman & Company, 2012

This book mixes gardening, Thomas Jefferson, and nurturing friendship into one satisfying story. Maya is in the same class as her best friend Shakayla, and they both want to win the "first peas to the table" contest. It's based on a challenge Thomas Jefferson used to present his neighbors: who could grow the earliest peas?

Shakayla raids the recycle closet and plants many kinds of peas. Maya scours the wisdom of TJ's gardening journals and decides to test a few of his tricks on just one variety. Then there's the ethical dilemma of whether to help her friend after a windstorm blows down the trellises.

This book is part science experiment, part competition, and a whole lot of fun to read - with notes about Jefferson's gardening at the back and tons of references for those of us who just gotta know more.


Review copy borrowed from a library.