Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin. Gene Barretta, Author. Holt $ (40p) ISBN
Table of contents

View all 6 comments. Almost everything Ben Franklin created is still around today! Bifocals, political cartoons, lightning rods, long-arm grabbers - all from the mind of the Franklin.

Never-Ending Book Quiz

This book humorously presents some of Ben's most practical, and a few of his wackier, inventions. There are things I didn't know he had anything to do with - second hands on clocks, odometers, and library chairs. What a guy, this Franklin fellow! May 27, Danette rated it really liked it Shelves: An interesting look at some of Franklin's inventions still in use today. The book is interesting and very informative, written in a way that is sure to please young readers. The artwork is creative with many fun details. Benjamin Franklin invented many things that help shape the way we live our lives today.

I found myself saying, "I didn't know that" several times though out the book. Well, now I know!

Benjamin Franklin ~ Animated Hero Classics

I'll never be able to look at my grabber a long stick with a clamp on the end without thinking of Ben! I would love to revisit this book when my daughter is a little older and able to appreciate it. I only wish it had additional information or history about Ben Franklin at the end of the book. I was expecting tit and was disappointed it wasn't there. Overall an great read for any reader looking for information on Benjamin Franklin. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin never patented his creations because he believed that people should have the freedom to modify and improve them?

In this colorful text for young readers, children will learn about the many roles Franklin played in his lifetime and his amazing inventions. This text would be a great resource for an elementary school social studies or science classroom! View all 3 comments. Jul 22, Krista the Krazy Kataloguer rated it really liked it Shelves: The pages of inventions just went on and on-- I don't know how Ben Franklin had time to invent all those things! The author cleverly linked Ben's time with today by showing things we use now and then telling us how Ben invented them back in the 18th century.

He was a fascinating person. Readers of this book will want to read more about him. I know I do! I thought the title and opening line tied together were clever Now and then we think about Ben Franklin He really was a remarkable man! This is a great book to show kids the ingenuity and talent of Franklin. I also really enjoyed the illustrations. Apr 14, Emily Drake rated it it was amazing.


  • !
  • Last Answer.
  • Stat Labs: Mathematical Statistics Through Applications (Springer Texts in Statistics);
  • Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin by Gene Barretta?
  • Escenas poéticas, Series 1, No. 3: Danza de la Rosa?
  • Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin What musical ( people answered this).

Gene Barretta GR Level: The Lighting rod and Bifocals are two of the many inventions that the book talks about. This book shows reader the importance of creativity, and invention.

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin

I would use this book to start talking about inventions. I would have the students come up with their own invention. They would describe what it is, what it does and how they thought of it. The students would then talk about the impact that it would have on society.

The students would then have to draw a design of it and talk about the things that would be needed to create it. Oct 25, Traci rated it really liked it. Many people may not know that Franklin invented so many things, and this book tells the reader about these things from a comical and engaging perspective. The cover of this book has Ben standing on a cobbled street in the city, and his face is in a frame that he is holding up with "Franklin" at the bottom. Each stone has something that Ben was, such as Cartoonist, Printe "Now and Ben" by Gene Barretta tells the story of Benjamin Franklin's many inventions that have helped create our modern world.

Each stone has something that Ben was, such as Cartoonist, Printer, or Writer. Ben has a playful expression on his face, almost as if he's asking the reader to learn about him in this book. The background color is yellow, and has a watercolor effect to it. The title is in a blue color, and the author's name is underneath Ben's feet. The back cover has a summary of the book in the middle, and there is an image of a modern city on top and the 's city on bottom.

The end pages are playful, and the yellow color continues here. On these pages are the various inventions of Franklin and the year that they were invented.

See a Problem?

The dedication and title page mimic the back cover. The dedication page has the image of a modern city and the title page has the old city. Before going into each invention, the second double page spread has Ben standing in a modern city with a puzzled look on his face. This image showcases how Ben has impacted our modern world, and it almost has a Where's Waldo effect as I was looking at everything in the image to see what I could find. The text is black and doesn't change in the story. When the story is finally begun with each invention, on the left side of the page is "Now" and on the right side of the page is "Ben" as the inventions are compared to today and what Ben created.

Each image is very playful and has bright colors. There are double page spreads, full-bleeds, and border images in this book. There are also images that break the border. This book is chalk full of different images. The images may be simple, but they engage the reader and bring a new perspective on learning about Franklin.


  1. Healthy Without Chemicals.
  2. Now & Ben » Gene Barretta;
  3. Taking Psychology and Law into the Twenty-First Century (Perspectives in Law & Psychology).

    4. The last double page spread of the book has Ben standing in a future city, showing that even in the years to come Ben's inventions will still be present. I love this image and the one at the front because of the look on Ben's face. Feb 21, Tanya rated it really liked it. The book was great at providing information on what Benjamin Franklin accomplished in his lifetime. I love how the book separated Now and Ben. It was helpful for making the comparisons, and thinking how his work has impacted our lives today.

    There were a few things that I didn't love about the book, however, I think this book can be used as a great learning tool. Jul 25, Amy rated it liked it Recommended to Amy by: The pictures were certainly adequate, and did a fine job of illustrating many of Franklin's inventions to children.

    My niece was interested in this entire book, but she is a lover of non-fiction, and she's always been interested in science and technology. My nephew was significantly less impressed with this book, but he's only four, has no idea who Benjamin Franklin was, and had never even heard of some of these inventions before. That said, he was pretty intrigued by the pages about lightning rods and odometers, but he did make a point to inform me that, "that book was too boring for me.

    When all is said and done, some kids may find this book to be interesting, but I bet the book would be put to best use in the hands of a teacher. Not only does it illustrate where some common items came from, but it can also be used in history class to show that not all of America's founding fathers were boring old guys. A creative teacher could use this one to really teach science or history in intersting ways.

    Nov 28, Nicole Nance rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin is a must read-aloud! Throughout the book the author compares the past and present and how Benjamin Franklin invented, discovered, and helped establish many things people still use today. One example is bifocals. Benjamin Franklin use to get tired of switching between his two glasses so he invented bifocals which allowed him to view close objects by looking through the bottom of his glasses, and view objects further away by looking through the top of his glasses.

    Today, bifocals are still worn by many people. Now and Ben is a great historical fiction book to read-aloud to k-2 when studying the past and present. Students can compare and contrast things such as transportation, technology, and communication using a Venn Diagram.

    Students can also use this book when studying famous inventors or historical figures, as well as explain the reasons for Benjamin Franklin's inventions and how they effected the future. This book was a WOW book for me because of the many inventions Benjamin Franklin made that we take for granted today. It's a great lesson for students to learn that even one person can impact lives and the world. I'm very eager to read this book to my class during our past and present unit! Gene Barretta writes and illustrates this fascinating book about Benjamin Franklin, a Renaissance Man: On the left side of each double page layout of the book is a "Now" page, showing the things we use in our modern day, while over on the right is the "Ben" page, showing how Benjamin Franklin's invention was the forerunner.

    Super fun pictures, very readable, interesting text. And I love it because not only do my girls laugh Gene Barretta writes and illustrates this fascinating book about Benjamin Franklin, a Renaissance Man: And I love it because not only do my girls laugh their way through the reading, but they gain important knowledge about one of the world's greatest men.

    How can you beat that? Nov 11, Shelli rated it really liked it Shelves: Benjamin Franklin, was one of those brilliant people in history that seemed to be good at everything.

    Now & Ben : the modern inventions of Benjamin Franklin

    His forward thinking ideas and creations from more than years ago are still being used and improved upon today. This book does a wonderful job of explaining these ideas to young readers. I would definitely recommend this book for 3rd graders on up that are looking to write their first biographies or just interested in learning about great figures in American history. Nov 28, Randie D. I had no idea that Ben drew cartoons, invented the grabber, or invented a great number of other items mentioned in this book.

    I admire Barreta for sharing a new perspective of a well-known American. I appreciate the inclusion of pages in Braille. Nov 10, Thabata rated it it was amazing Shelves: With a funny name, this little book fully and richly illustrated tells the reader about the most interesting inventions of Benjamin Franklin still in use today. It is a very curious, entertaining, instructive and interesting reading.

    With many objects, this is a good and simple teaching tool on many subjects, specially history. It also may be a great incentive and influence for minds of all ages to try and use their brains for the better in this world. He holds a B. He lives in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, with his wife and son. Each left-hand page describes and illustrates one of Franklin's contributions as we know it "Now. Most young children won't grasp the play on the phrase now and then0 but will zero in instead on the well-chosen examples, which include bifocals and lightning rods as well as lesser-known notions a rocking chair that churned butter!

    This will be a punchy read-aloud to lighten up American history units, though teachers wanting more details will need to look elsewhere as the book's biographical context is scattershot and no end matter is provided. Now and then, we think about Ben," begins Barretta's On Top of Spaghetti lighthearted and enlightening picture-book biography. Almost everything he created is still around today. Among the wide-ranging inventions, discoveries and designs included are bifocals, electricity, swimming fins, the benefits of Vitamin C, the Pennsylvania Fireplace later renamed the Franklin stove and the odometer "Ben invented the odometer when he was postmaster general so he could measure his postal routes".

    Barretta also mentions Franklin's pivotal role in establishing the country's first library, hospital, post office, and fire and sanitation departments, and in creating the Constitution and other key documents. The juxtaposition of present and past effectively reinforces the continued relevance of Franklin's inventions and underscores the extraordinary range and depth of his ingenuity and practicality.

    With its breezy format and succinct text, the book delivers facts in an assuredly kid-friendly style. The playful watercolor cartoons, often divided into panels, help to vary the pacing. A concluding futuristic spread envisions even further updated variations on Franklin's inventions. Gr Benjamin Franklin was a statesman, author, wit, inventor, printer, writer, and more-a true Renaissance man. His keen observations and clever innovations still impact us today.

    In this "Special Appearance Video," viewers briefly meet the book's Holt, author and illustrator, Gene Barretta, and learn about his interest in Franklin. The narrator then takes viewers on a voyage of discovery, pointing out modern conveniences that may have largely resulted from Franklin's work. The extensive list includes not only inventions such as odometers and eyeglasses, but also public services like post offices and libraries, and ideas such as daylight savings time, the use of the gulf stream for more efficient shipping, and the importance of vitamin C in the diet.

    The narration is brisk and interesting. Barretta's bright and detailed watercolor cartoon illustrations are scanned iconographically and simply animated.