Picture Book # 14

Author:  Lane Smith
Title:  John, Paul, George & Ben
Illustrator:  Lane Smith
Readability score:  Kindergarten to Grade 2
Genre:  Fiction
Subgenre:  Historical fiction
Theme:  Everyone, even great leaders, begin as children.
Primary and Secondary characters:  John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson
Awards:  2006 NY Times Best Illustrated Book
Date of Publication: 2006
Publishing company:  Hyperion Books for Children
ISBN number:  0-7868-4893-6

In America's early times, there were four young men that paved the way to greatness.  John Hancock was bold.  He had the best handwriting, but he liked to write his name really big.  Paul Revere was a loud mouth.  He liked to ring the bell in the North Church.  He became hard of hearing and had to yell every time he spoke.  He got on a lot of people's nerves when he yelled, but eventually everyone appreciated his yelling when the British came.  George was honest.  When he chopped down a cherry tree, he told his father.  Ben Franklin was clever.  He could speak so eloquently and think so deeply for a young lad.  Many people thought that he talked too much. Thomas Jefferson was independent.  He did things in his own way and to the best of his abilities, which were extensive.  These men grew up to be the Sons of Liberty and are the symbol of freedom in America.

This picture book would be a wonderful addition to a history lesson on America's beginnings as a free country.  I would incorporate this book into a lesson on the American Revolution.  I would teach the facts around this book.  For example, I would teach a lesson on each man in the story.  John Hancock would be first.  I would talk about who he was and what he did.  I would ask the students if they recognize his signature.  If they do not, I would show them a copy of the Declaration of Independence. I would explain that John Hancock penned the Declaration and also signed it.  The Declaration of Independence is now one of our country's symbols of freedom.  I would teach in this same way using the other characters.  My students can relate to this book because the characters are young as well.  There is an obvious theme to the story that I think could be inspiring to my students.  The theme is that the greatest leaders began as small children and childhood experiences shape who they are to become.  I would allow the students an opportunity to come up with the theme on their own.  Then, we could discuss how the theme relates to the story.