Do you ever wish English was eez-ee-yer to spell? Ben Franklin and Noah Webster did! Debut author Beth Anderson and the New York Times bestselling illustrator of I Dissent, Elizabeth Baddeley, tell the story of two patriots and their attempt to revolutionize the English alphabet. Once upon a revolutionary time, two great American patriots tried to make life easier. They knew how hard it was to spell words in English. They knew that sounds didn’t match letters. They knew that the problem was an inconvenient English alphabet. In 1786, Ben Franklin, at age eighty, and Noah Webster, twenty-eight, teamed up. Their goal? Make English easier to read and write. But even for great thinkers, what seems easy can turn out to be hard. Children today will be delighted to learn that when they “sound out” words, they are doing eg-zakt-lee what Ben and Noah wanted.

What Kind of Book is An Inconvenient Alphabet

What Questions Should I Ask My Child

Consider the pros and cons of changing the alphabet and spelling today - what would you change? Would you vote to reform our language?
How did Ben Franklin respond to failure? What does that tell you about him?
When is the "greater good" worth inconvenience or difficulties for individuals?

Reviews

The Goodfather

6.00

This children's book tells the fascinating story of Ben Franklin and Noah Webster's attempt to revolutionize spelling in colonial America. A hefty amount of historical information is conveyed in an interesting and entertaining manner. It's on the long side for children's books, but it's very educational and worth the effort.

Kirkus

Critic

Full review

“Both Anderson’s text and Baddeley’s illustrations are energetic and compelling… Deelytful and iloominaating for noo and seesuned reeders alyk.”

School Library Journal

Critic

Full review

The combination of bold illustrations, humorous anecdotes, and fabulous storytelling makes this true tale anything but boring…a delightful, relatable, and eye-catchingly illustrated tale…

Publisher's Weekly

Critic

Full review

“Engaging…A comprehensible, lively read.”

Book Lists That Include This Book

The Little Red Cat Who Ran Away and Learned His ABC's (the Hard Way)

Books about alphabet (ABCs)

This Little Trailblazer: A Girl Power Primer

Books about historical figures

Books about reading

The Creatives Behind the Book

Author

Beth Anderson

Beth Anderson has always been fascinated by language - yep, a word nerd. A former teacher, she now loves digging into history and culture for undiscovered gems, exploring points of view, and playing with words. Beth is drawn to stories that open minds, touch hearts, and inspire questions. When she’s not writing, she might be weaving, gardening, exploring nature, or playing with her grandkids. Born and raised in Illinois, she now lives near the mountains in Colorado. Beth believes in laughter, learning, and…that truth really is stranger than fiction. Beth has more historical gems on the way. From serious to quirky, she’s found some historical characters we can all relate to. And she’s on the lookout for more…

Illustrator

Elizabeth Baddeley

Elizabeth Baddeley is an award winning illustrator of such notable titles as: I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark, A Woman in the House (and Senate): How Women Came to the United States Congress, Broke Down Barriers, and Changed the Country, Women Who Broke the Rules: Mary Todd Lincoln, and The Good Fight: The Feuds of the Founding Fathers (and How They Shaped the Nation) among others. Elizabeth has been honored by Communication Arts, American Illustration, 3x3 Magazine, Print and The Society of Illustrators for which she received a gold medal for her Swimmer Girls series. Elizabeth resides in Kansas City, Missouri with her husband and small menagerie. Besides her keen interest in hand lettering and politics, Elizabeth’s hobbies include embroidery and collecting vintage class photos. Her dog Franklin was recently named: Most Improved in his obedience class.