The Hatmaker's Sign

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson discussing the writing of the Declaration of Independance

This picture book recounts a tale Benjamin Franklin shared with Thomas Jefferson to ease Jefferson’s hurt feelings after the Continental Congress edited his writing of the Declaration of Independence. The tale tells of a hat maker who just couldn’t get his shop sign right because everyone had an opinion to offer. ( )

A hatmaker designs a sign for his shop that he thinks would be perfect for his store window, but along the way, people tell him that he should change this and that until his sign is just a blank piece of paper. He eventually goes back to his initial sign. This book shows that sometimes your first idea is the best idea and that people will have criticisms along the way. If you are happy with your work, you don't have to take peoples' suggestions. Take pride in the work you have done. ( )

A hatmaker designs his own sign. As he makes his way to the signmaker, he encounters numerous people who offer their advice concerning his sign. The hatmaker changes his sign each time an individual makes a suggestion and eventually ends up with a blank design. He then discovers that his sign was just right before he made all of the changes.

The book would be great to talk about advertisement, taking pride in work, self-confidence, and taking criticism. ( )

An interesting story within a story, Candace Fleming retells the tale that Benjamin Franklin told to Thomas Jefferson to spare his feelings when the founders were making seemingly endless changes to his original version of the declaration of independence. He tells the tale of the Hatmaker's sign, a story about a hat maker who writes his sign and lets everyone in town edit it until it is completely blank! The sign maker then leads him back to his original sign, implying that it was perfect just the way it was. A great story to share with new writers, because students need to learn that while editing is part of the writing process the best advice you can take is often your own. ( )