#MMBBR #Review @NatGeo @NGKidsBooks #WeridButTrue #Presidents #KnowItAll #BenjaminFranklin #WiseWords

Weird But True Know-It-All: U.S. Presidents by Brianna Dumont, illustrated by Adrian Lubbers (ages 8-12, $12.99, June 2017) - What's so weird about U.S. presidents? Plenty! Did you know that Abraham Lincoln was a great wrestler? That Ulysses S. Grant got a speeding ticket riding his horse – twice! Or that Benjamin Harrison was afraid of electricity? And let's not forget that President McKinley had a pet parrot that whistled "Yankee Doodle Dandy" duets with him. Every president — from the 1st to the 45th — is spotlighted, featuring important historical information alongside vignette’s highlighting the oddities of each prez. “Extras” include an introduction that delves into the powers of the President, Congress, Supreme Court, an explanation as to how the electoral college works, a glossary, an index and even a listing of the Presidents’ most outrageous pranks. 

MY REVIEW: This book is one of the BEST I have seen.  It is awesome how it is laid out.  It is like a vision sensation because it jammed with pictures, illustrations and facts galore.  There is so much to look at and read.  I am sure that you could read this over and over and over and learn something new.  Here is a fun tidbit:  Monroe once defended himself with a fire tongs after a disagreement with his secretary of state.  Learn about so much awesome and wacky facts about our presidents in this book!  It is filled with things that I find fun, interesting and oh so strange.  My kids loved this book so much too.  What a great way to teach history.  Kids cannot help but be entertained because Nat Geo Kids knows what kids want and delivers it in spades.

Benjamin Franklin’s Wise Words by K.M. Kostyal, illustrated by Fred Harper. (ages 8-12, $16.99, hardcover) - In this day and age, we could all use some words of wisdom and there are but a precious few individuals that have proven themselves to be of a greater mind than Benjamin Franklin.  Complete with fifty of Ben Franklin's renowned sayings and paired with modern-day translations, whimsical caricature artwork and fascinating stories about Franklin’s life, this title gives sage advice on everything from good citizenship and manners to friendship, achieving your dreams and being happy. It's a great go-to for inspirational and innovative ways to practice mindfulness, industriousness, and self-improvement by one of the United States’ most famous Founding Fathers.  History buffs young and old will particularly enjoy the book’s forward by H.W. Brands.  Brands’ book, The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. 

MY REVIEW:  
This book is fantastic.  What a great way for kids to be inspired...through the words of the amazing Benjamin Franklin.  This book has 50 of the most inspirational and powerful saying Franklin ever spoke.  It was whimsical, funny and illustrated beautifully and quite ingenuously...really just brilliantly.  This is one of those books that brings history to life.  It allows the reader to become part of history and to explore and think about things like friendship, happiness, humility and sincerity, just to name a few.  I was transfixed by this book and will certainly read it again.  My kids also loved it so much! They were quite moved by this amazing man and this book was one that created great dialogue between my boys and I.  Absolutely loved it! 

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