''Ben and Me'' (subtitled ''An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos'') is a

novel A novel is an extended work of narrative fiction usually written in prose and published as a book. The word derives from the for 'new', 'news', or 'short story (of something new)', itself from the , a singular noun use of the neuter plural of ...

by Robert Lawson, published in 1939 by

Little, Brown and Company Little, Brown and Company is an American publishing company founded in 1837 by Charles Coffin Little and James Brown in Boston. For close to two centuries, it has published fiction and nonfiction by American authors. Early lists featured Emil ...

. The story is about a mouse, Amos, who becomes the advisor to

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and Political philosophy, political philosopher.#britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the m ...

, hiding in his fur cap to secretly whisper advice in his ear. The book humorously recounts the invention of the

Franklin stove The Franklin stove is a metal-lined fireplace named after Benjamin Franklin, who invented it in 1742. It had a hollow baffle near the rear (to transfer more heat from the fire to a room's air) and relied on an "inverted siphon" to draw the fir ...

, Franklin's

kite experiment The kite experiment is a scientific experiment in which a kite with a pointed conductive wire attached to its apex is flown near thunder clouds to collect static electricity from the air and conduct it down the wet kite string to the ground. Th ...

and invention of

lightning rod A lightning rod or lightning conductor (British English) is a metal rod mounted on a structure and intended to protect the structure from a lightning strike. If lightning hits the structure, it is most likely to strike the rod and be conducted ...

s, and his service as ambassador to France. It is illustrated in pen-and-ink by Lawson. In 1953, the book was adapted by

Walt Disney Productions The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...

into a short film of the same name. The film only covers a few of the time periods which were shown in the book, whose timeline is closer to actual history.

Plot

The story begins with Amos, a young mouse from a large family, setting out to find work to support his siblings. After several unsuccessful attempts, he finds refuge in the print shop of Benjamin Franklin, who is struggling financially. Amos, observing Franklin's difficulties, begins to offer subtle advice. He suggests the idea for the Franklin stove to improve heating efficiency, helps Franklin create a successful newspaper, and even contributes to the invention of Bifocals glasses. As Franklin's fame grows, Amos becomes increasingly involved in his life. However, their partnership takes a dangerous turn when Franklin conducts his famous kite experiment to prove that lightning is electricity. Amos, unknowingly attached to the kite string, receives a severe shock. Furious and traumatized, Amos leaves Franklin and returns to his family. Years later, as the American Revolution begins, Franklin, facing challenges in his diplomatic mission to France, desperately seeks Amos' help. Amos agrees to return, but only after Franklin signs a contract outlining his terms. While Franklin is reading the contract,

Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson (, 1743July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the United States Declaration of Indepe ...

arrives, struggling to write the opening lines of the

Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another state or failed state, or are breaka ...

. Inspired by the language of Amos's contract, Jefferson incorporates similar phrasing into the Declaration. It ends with an illustration of Amos sitting on Franklin's tombstone. 1939 American novels 1939 children's books American children's novels Books about Benjamin Franklin Children's books set in Philadelphia Children's historical novels Little, Brown and Company books Novels set in Philadelphia Anthropomorphic mice and rats Novels about talking animals