The Leather Apron Club

Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this picture book.

Jane Yolen is one of my favorite authors of children's literature. I read the book several times and enjoyed it more at each reading. As I read, I caught an inkling of the life of Benjamin Franklin, his family, the city of Philadelphia in 1739, and the Leather Apron Club, America's first library.

First of all, I recommend that the reader peruse pages 32, 33, and 34 before beginning the book. The pages describe Franklin's son Billy, the Leather Apron Club, Franklin's opinions on slavery, Poor Richard's Almanac, and the bibliography. This will refresh recollections and help to better comprehend the story.

Billy is an active 8 year old, berated by a stepmother and adored by his father Ben Franklin. Billy prefers to play with his cousin James, and is not thrilled when sent to be tutored. However, he is captivated by Homer's The Odyssey and begins to devour books. Ben Franklin then introduces him to the library he created, The Leather Apron Club.

The illustrations by Wendell Minor are fantastic and full of heart. When gazing at these illustrations, I really get a sense of who Billy was and how much he loved reading. They enrich the book.

This picture book will produce conversations about the role of Benjamin Franklin in American history, Greek classics, the wise sayings of Franklin, and the daily life of children in colonial America. I highly recommend it.

This is a fun introduction to Benjamin Franklin’s library in Philadelphia, while historical fiction - as its noted we don’t know if William visited the library - it’s accompanied with Yolen’s lovely illustrations and historical notes on the various individuals and topics to provide further information on Franklin, his son, and his library.

An excellent historical picture book.

A nice and informative glimpse into a specific point in United States history. Billy, the son of Benjamin Franklin, would rather spend his days out around town with his friend than be stuck inside forced to learn. But after his father hires him a tutor, Billy starts to understand the lure of literature, and goes with his father to the Leather Apron Club, a place for books and deep thoughts. The story is simple, but the information it gives on the daily life of Benjamin Franklin and children pre-Revolutionary War is very interesting. Having the story written in the same way grammar was used back then, with Important words Capitalized, was a nice touch. This would be a good book to incorporate into a read-aloud for children when learning about the founding fathers.

THE LEATHER APRON CLUB, geared to readers 7-10 years, is a beautifully illustrated story about Founding Father Ben Franklin, his son Billy, and the first successful lending library in America — started by Ben in Philadelphia in 1727. A lovely hist fic picture book, it introduces young readers to the Franklin family, life during the pre-Revolutionary War era, and some of Ben’s famous aphorisms from Poor Richard's Almanack.

In reality, it’s not clear if Billy ever visited the library. But his father indeed founded it, with a lasting impact on literacy and education in America. An important addition to any school, public and private library.

5 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
#TheLeatherApronClub #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Charlesbridge, and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

In this picture book for older readers told in first person, Benjamin Franklin’s 8-year-old son Billy describes work in his father’s print shop. This fictionalized version of a true story roots itself in Billy’s relationship with a tutor who inspires him to learn to love reading and literature. The text is lively, containing many of Franklin’s famous sayings, and uses unusual capitalizations throughout. The story describes Franklin’s first lending library (the club of the title), and how it inspired many of the leaders of that time period. Minor’s full-color pencil-and-watercolor illustrations depict the era with distinction. The book ends with author notes on related historical facts, such as Franklin’s anti-slavery work. Fifth grade classes studying Colonial American history will find this interesting.