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Summary
Summary
A biography of the eighteenth-century printer, inventor, and statesman who played an influential role in the early history of the United States.
Author Notes
James Cross Giblin was born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 8, 1933. He received a B. A. from Western Reserve University in 1954 and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Columbia University in 1955. He pursued playwriting before taking a job at Criterion Books in 1959. He focused on the children's book field. In the early to mid-1960s, he was an associate editor at Lothrop, Lee and Shepard. In 1967, he moved to Seabury Press, where he became editor-in-chief, spearheading the development of the children's book line there, later called Clarion Books. When Houghton Mifflin bought Clarion in the late 1970s, he moved to the company as Clarion's publisher. As an editor, he worked with such authors as Eileen Christelow and Mary Downing Hahn.
His first children's book, The Scarecrow Book written with Dale Ferguson, was published in 1980. During his lifetime, he wrote more than 20 books for young readers, mainly nonfiction, historical nonfiction, and biographies. He won several awards including the 1983 National Book Award for Chimney Sweeps: Yesterday and Today and the 2003 Sibert Medal for The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler. He died on April 10, 2016 at the age of 82.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
Horn Book Review
(Intermediate) Man of the world, statesman, writer, inventor, autodidact, politician, public-spirited citizen, humorist-the possible accolades for Benjamin Franklin would cover a sizable monument to his accomplishments. Yet, by his own choice, his gravestone reads simply ""B Franklin Printer."" By selecting this fact for his conclusion, Giblin demonstrates his mastery of the historical-biographical genre-he knows how to define a theme, develop a narrative, and maintain his focus to the last sentence. Like his subject's, Giblin's style is honed; the result is an inviting, flowing narrative. Pace and tone suggest an older audience than Jean Fritz's What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? Giblin's book is appealing in a different way: the facts recorded are similar, but Franklin's difficulties as well as his accomplishments are stressed-particularly his relationship with his son, who remained loyal to Britain during the Revolution. Appended materials include a list of ""Important Dates"" from Franklin's life; a bibliographic essay with notes; a selective listing of his inventions; a descriptive listing of historic sites associated with Franklin; and examples of his wit from Poor Richard's Almanac (""Love your neighbor, yet don't pull down your hedge""; ""There never was a good war or a bad peace""). Michael Dooling's ""Artist's Note"" deserves special attention as it documents the research necessary not only to re-create the man but also to set him against an appropriate background. His realizations are noteworthy-and handsome-examples of the illustrator as historian. This book in text, art, and format is a worthy tribute to Franklin's genius. Indexed. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 4^-6, younger for reading aloud. Following the format of his picture-book biographies of George Washington (1992) and Thomas Jefferson (1994), Giblin, ably aided by artist Michael Dooling, presents the life of Benjamin Franklin--and an amazing life it was. Apprenticed to his brother as a printer, Franklin was soon running his own business and writing his own books, including the popular Poor Richard's Almanack. When Franklin became wealthy enough to retire, his life was just beginning. He indulged himself in his passion for science, worked for public improvements, such as libraries and hospitals, and, of course, became one of the nation's founding fathers as he tirelessly devoting himself to the affairs of a fledgling nation. Giblin's writing is lively, and he wisely uses the story of Franklin's estrangement from his only living son, a Royalist, to heighten dramatic tension. Dooling provides both expertly executed paintings and simple line drawings to bring Franklin's story close to today's readers. An especially useful touch is the wealth of back matter. Besides the expected time line and narrative bibliography, there is a page about Franklin's inventions, another with sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack, a list of historic sites associated with Franklin, and an informative illustrator's note. More than enough material for report writers but an intriguing offering for biography lovers as well. --Ilene Cooper
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-In a concise, readable style, this biography presents a great deal of information about a key figure in American history. Like Jean Fritz's What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? (Putnam, 1976), the book does not romanticize or sentimentalize Franklin's genius or his contributions. Giblin includes the challenges Franklin faced in establishing himself in business, his falling out with his son when they took different sides in the Revolutionary War, and the illnesses he suffered throughout his later years, and balances them with the man's successes in publishing, his inventions, and his diplomatic service. Dooling's realistic full-color, full-page paintings and spot sketches capture not only Franklin, his family, and colleagues, but also reveal much about life in the Colonies and England during this period. Concluding informational pages include a chronology of Franklin's life, a discussion of his inventions, a page of sayings from Poor Richard's Almanack, descriptions of historical sites associated with Franklin, and notes on sources used by both the biographer and the illustrator. These additions enrich and expand on the text. A balanced biography that belongs in all collections.-Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Giblin and Dooling continue their fine collaboration on biographies of the founding fathers (George Washington, 1992, etc.) with this penetrating account of the life of Franklin. Covered is the tale of the gifted diplomat who, at 81 and ill, was instrumental in the adoption of the Constitution. A couple of years later, his health worsening, Franklin agreed to preside over a group urging the end of slavery, a petition that failed. At his death in 1790, Franklin was 84; it will be plain to readers that he had served his country well, while working at the writing and printing of Poor Richard's Almanack, the founding of schools, libraries, and hospitals, and inventing the many useful objects for which he is known. This biography is remarkable for its readable, interesting, and yet strictly reportorial tone, which results nonetheless in bringing Franklin to vibrant life. Dooling's oil illustrations, as well as his sketches of the important figures who surrounded Franklin, extend the book's accessibility and compound its readability. (chronology, sources, bibliography, index) (Biography. 8-12)
