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the_herbal_carnivore's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars All the 's' make my tongue dry out
misspippireads's review against another edition
4.0
Ben Franklin's Big Splash is fictionalized telling of one his first invention - swim fins and swim sandals. When he swam in the local river (Boston's Charles River), he observed the fish and the way they moved in the water. Ben wondered if he could create something that would help him move as fast as fish.
I listened to Ben Franklin's Big Splash while paging through the printed version of the story. The pacing was done very well. There are no page cues, but pauses between pages so readers can turn at the appropriate time. This story can be enjoyed with our without the picture biography book.
Barb Rosenstock wrote an active story while highlighting "s" words. I counted over 50 "s" words in the first ten pages of the book. Narrator Susie Berneis read the abundance of "s" words very well. She didn't over or under pronounce any of them just read them smoothly as the story progressed. It sounded like a story, not a tongue twister with "s" vocabulary. Well done!
Music and sound effects were added to this audiobook edition. The sound effects chosen fit the pictures of the story. They were subtle and added to the story, rather than took away from it. I really enjoyed the opening and closing music, which they also used again during the high points of the story - the inventions! The music selected was comprised of musical instruments and a tune that could have been heard during Franklin's life time. It sounded very colonial with drums and fifes. I think it would have been fun to add some glass armonica music to the story, but drums and fifes fit much better. And I am unsure if anyone would recognize the sound of an armonica. I just "discovered" the armonica last month and it has a very unique sound that could be perceived as eerie or ear-piercing rather than historical to listeners.
This book could be shared at any time of the year, but it could be highlighted during a unit on Colonial America, Inventors, or Swimming and Water. I think the target age is elementary students, but anyone with an interest in Ben Franklin would also enjoy this glimpse into Franklin's youth.
The audiobook solely features the story and two quotes of Franklin, but the picture book also shares a timeline, some of Franklin's inventions, and an author's note. Out of all the extras, the author's note would have been a nice addition to the audiobook. Rosenstock shares more about Ben Franklin and his swimming in her note to the readers.
Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Dreamscape Media, LLC!
I listened to Ben Franklin's Big Splash while paging through the printed version of the story. The pacing was done very well. There are no page cues, but pauses between pages so readers can turn at the appropriate time. This story can be enjoyed with our without the picture biography book.
Barb Rosenstock wrote an active story while highlighting "s" words. I counted over 50 "s" words in the first ten pages of the book. Narrator Susie Berneis read the abundance of "s" words very well. She didn't over or under pronounce any of them just read them smoothly as the story progressed. It sounded like a story, not a tongue twister with "s" vocabulary. Well done!
Music and sound effects were added to this audiobook edition. The sound effects chosen fit the pictures of the story. They were subtle and added to the story, rather than took away from it. I really enjoyed the opening and closing music, which they also used again during the high points of the story - the inventions! The music selected was comprised of musical instruments and a tune that could have been heard during Franklin's life time. It sounded very colonial with drums and fifes. I think it would have been fun to add some glass armonica music to the story, but drums and fifes fit much better. And I am unsure if anyone would recognize the sound of an armonica. I just "discovered" the armonica last month and it has a very unique sound that could be perceived as eerie or ear-piercing rather than historical to listeners.
This book could be shared at any time of the year, but it could be highlighted during a unit on Colonial America, Inventors, or Swimming and Water. I think the target age is elementary students, but anyone with an interest in Ben Franklin would also enjoy this glimpse into Franklin's youth.
The audiobook solely features the story and two quotes of Franklin, but the picture book also shares a timeline, some of Franklin's inventions, and an author's note. Out of all the extras, the author's note would have been a nice addition to the audiobook. Rosenstock shares more about Ben Franklin and his swimming in her note to the readers.
Reviewed from an Audiobook Jukebox copy. Thank you, Dreamscape Media, LLC!
teganbeesebooks's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting! I had no idea that this was his first invention! I also like all the added info at the end. All of the scenes were very detailed. Monarch 2018 Nominee.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
4.0
Yes. Ben Franklin. Swimming naked. Inventing Swim Fins well kind of. Always been a Franklin fan. And in my kid's biography of him I remember him swimming naked and being pulled by a kite. But I don't remember swim fins. A great fun book. And a great take on one of my most favorite historical figures.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
Great picture book biography. Loved the lesson on perseverance and continuing to work on a problem until he could find a solution. Fun mentor text for writing.
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting to learn about Ben Franklin's first experiment/invention. I liked the wording of the text in this book and how it highlighted certain words. Good author's note at the end explaining what is true and made up for story.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
When Ben Franklin was eleven years old, he came up with his first invention. Although most people did not go swimming at the time, young Ben loved to swim. While studying the fish in the river, he tried to come up with things he could wear that would improve his own swimming. An interesting look at his inventing process, especially how he approached successes and failures. Recommended for grades 1-3.
jshettel's review against another edition
5.0
Interesting micro bio about Ben Franklin’s passion for swimming and his invention of swim paddles and fins.
sarahrusty's review against another edition
4.0
Great message of never giving up on your imagination. I never knew that the majority of people didn't know how to swim during this time period. Great introduction to the scientific method for juvenile readers. Ben didn't care what others thought of him and kept trying. This book illustrates the message of perseverance perfectly.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
If you're not comfortable with words starting with "S" don't read this aloud. Otherwise it's a great book to read, and has the added bonus of encouraging kids to keep working until they find the solution to their problem.