These kids are the stars of “Xavier Riddle and The Secret Museum”, the offshoot of the “I am” series. Henry Santoro: As each book wraps up, we are, of course, introduced to some modern-day kids who are curious, animated cartoon kids who are also PBS TV stars. But he realized the way to change the world is you got to change yourself. And what Benjamin Franklin worked on more than anything was not about the lightning or about the things he's famous for. Henry Santoro: And it's amazing that we go back hundreds of years to come up with something that makes sense even today.īrad Meltzer: For me, that's what it has to be. He would publish different opinions, things that said the opposite things. Benjamin Franklin says people always have disagreements. These lessons in the past teach us things about the president. In fact, that page you're talking about has one of the great moments.

He's one of the proponents for the free press. But it was Benjamin Franklin who made it, and he makes it 10 years before the American Revolution. Henry Santoro: There is something that I learned from this book, “I am Benjamin Franklin” and that is - and I did not know this - that he was the creator of the very first political cartoon.īrad Meltzer: He was, and in fact, I just bought a T-shirt with it because I loved it so much, but it was a snake that was basically chopped up. There are now 22 books in the series, and it's great to have Brad Meltzer back on GBH to tell us about the two newest books: “I am Benjamin Franklin” and “I am Anne Frank.” Brad, so glad to have you back. People like Amelia Earhart, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Billie Jean King, and Gandhi, to name just a few. And then there’s the “I Am” series of books for children, where Brad and illustrator Chris Eliopoulos tell the life stories of some of the most important people in history. His nonfiction books focus on historical events that include the likes of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and events in their lives that you probably didn't know about.

His suspense novels are so addicting you can't put them down. Henry Santoro: New York Times number one best-selling author Brad Meltzer writes in every genre there is. His book series has now been adapted to a PBS Kids show, “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.” The transcript below has been edited for clarity. Best-selling author Brad Meltzer joins GBH’s Henry Santoro to talk about two new books in his “I Am” children’s book series, “I am Benjamin Franklin” and “I am Anne Frank.” Along with illustrator Chris Eliopoulos, Meltzer tells the stories of important historical figures to inspire kids around the world.

I Am Billie Jean King by Brad Meltzer