Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts in January 17, 1706. Franklin was born when America was a colony of England. Later, he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and there he remained until his death in April 17, 1790. Benjamin Franklin was born a citizen of England and died a citizen of the United States of America.

Benjamin Franklin was a pivotal player in the founding of the United States of America. England, in great debt due to wars, taxed the colonies and forbade them to trade with other countries. Many people considered this unfair. These like mined people assembled and called them selves the Continental Congress.

The first Continental Congress just demanded fair treatment: abatement of the taxes and freedom to trade with whom they pleased as well as few other things. England balked and called the colonists ungrateful children. The second Continental Congress decided it was in the colonies’ best interest to become a separate entity from England.

The second Continental Congress decided a formal statement of their intentions was needed. They voted a committee to write the intentions. The main composer of the document which we call the Declaration of Independence was Thomas Jefferson. Benjamin Franklin is a signer of the document. America remembers the great man for this and many other things.

Also, Benjamin Franklin is famous for being a printer, a scientist, an inventor, a statesman, an economist and a musician. He invented the Franklin stove to heat people’s homes. The stove heated homes warmer than fireplaces and used less wood. The lightning rod was invented by Franklin. He used the knowledge gained from his famous key experiment. The lighting rod helped people from losing property from lightning strikes.

Benjamin Franklin was a printer. He printed a newspaper known as The Philadelphia Gazette. Ben learned the trade as an apprentice to his older brother, James. James treated badly his brother. Franklin ran away to Pennsylvania to escape completing his apprenticeship.

Many books, fiction and nonfiction, are available for young children to learn about this famous and fascinating colonial American. They range from picture to chapter books. This means babies to teenagers can discover his accomplishments.

Ben Franklin’s Fame is the sixth book in the Blast to the Past series. In the book, Stacia Deutsch and Rhody Cohon’s third grade time travelers return. The fictional characters: Abigail, Zack, Jacob and Bo go to the 1700s to help Benjamin Franklin. The students and the reader learn many things about Ben Franklin. The book is an early reader chapter book for ages: 4-8.


Benjamin Franklin Books

Ages: 4-8
A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David A. Adler

Ages: 8-12
Benjamin Franklin: Young Printer by Augusta Stevenson
Who Was Ben Franklin? by Dennis Brindell Fradin




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