About This Book
Lane Smith's 'John, Paul, George & Ben' offers a wonderfully witty and irreverent take on five of America's Founding Fathers: John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and the 'annoyingly independent' Thomas Jefferson. The book portrays these historical figures as mischievous 'lads' who are always getting into trouble, cleverly weaving in their defining characteristics and historical contributions through a humorous lens. While adults will appreciate the clever parody and subtle allusions, children will delight in the zany illustrations and the idea of historical figures as relatable, troublemaking kids. The book includes an informative and hilarious 'True or False' section at the back, making it an excellent conversation starter for introducing American history in a fun, engaging way. It's best enjoyed with some prior knowledge of the Revolutionary War to fully grasp the humor.
A humorous look at five of our country's founding fathers.
Discussion Prompts
1
What did you find most surprising about how the book described these historical figures?
2
How did the book make learning about American history feel different from a textbook?
3
What does it mean to 'take liberties,' both in the book and in real life?
4
Which of the Founding Fathers do you think was the most 'independent,' 'bold,' 'honest,' 'clever,' or 'noisy'?
5
What's something new and interesting you learned from the 'True or False' section at the end of the book?
External Reviews
Google Books
4.5/5 (2 ratings)
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