Sure, almost all kids know Benjamin Franklin as one of America's Founding Fathers, a man with a hand in both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. And they may even have some vague idea that he once flew a kite during a lightning storm. What Kathleen Krull sets out to do in this very different biography is show Ben Franklin the "natural philosopher" (the term for scientists back in the 1700s), whose experiments led to important discoveries about the nature of electricity - including his famous demonstration that electricity and lightning were one and the same.

The swimmer -- The runaway -- Extraordinary ambition -- How to keep warm -- Electronic picnics? -- Lightning strikes -- And more -- Wrong turns, right turns and funny turns -- In his spare time -- Franklinmania -- Under the mulberry tree -- Lasting impact.