Ben Franklin's Almanac: Being a True Account of the Good Gentleman's Life

Introduce middle grade readers to Founding Father Benjamin Franklin with this accessible and engaging exploration of his accomplishments and philosophy—interspersed with illustrations and quotes from his contemporaries—from award-winning author Candace Fleming.

“What good shall I do today?”

How Ben Franklin answered that question—through his work as a writer, printer, statesman, and inventor—forever established him as one of America’s greatest figures. On one day in 1729, he published the first edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette; on another, he changed the Declaration of Independence by adding the famous words “We hold these truths to be self-evident”; and it was all in a day’s work when he planted the first willow trees in America.

Modeled on his own Poor Richard’s Almanack, this unique scrapbook captures Franklin’s countless accomplishments. Biography, anecdote, cartoon, and etching mesh to create a fascinating portrait of this most fascinating man. Anyone interested in the birth of American democracy, curious about the rise of the US postal system, wondering how paper money came to be, or wanting to know how Ben Franklin was part of it all, is sure to love Ben Franklin’s Almanac.

Candace Fleming has been honored with both the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Children’s Literature Legacy Award for her lasting impact on children’s literature. She is the acclaimed author of numerous books for children, including Penny & Pip; the Bulldozer books; Our Eleanor and Ben Franklin’s Almanac, both ALA Notable Books and ALA Best Books for Young Adults; as well as Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! and Sibert Medal honorees The Honeybee and The Giant Squid. She lives in a suburb of Chicago.