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Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist #7
The Frandidate
Goosebumps and Bill Nye the Science Guy fans, meet Franny!
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist, has always had her eye on world domination, and she has to start somewhere...like her class elections! If people vote for her, they’ll be giving her all the control she wants.
But Franny’s platform doesn’t have the same appeal as her competitors who are offering new playground equipment, so she creates The Frandidate. Made of DNA samples from a dog, a chameleon and a parrot, along with a scrap of carpet (so she’ll know where people stand), Franny’s special suit helps her say and do exactly what people want! But when The Frandidate starts making promises she knows she can’t keep, Franny realizes she might have gone too far…
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist, has always had her eye on world domination, and she has to start somewhere...like her class elections! If people vote for her, they’ll be giving her all the control she wants.
But Franny’s platform doesn’t have the same appeal as her competitors who are offering new playground equipment, so she creates The Frandidate. Made of DNA samples from a dog, a chameleon and a parrot, along with a scrap of carpet (so she’ll know where people stand), Franny’s special suit helps her say and do exactly what people want! But when The Frandidate starts making promises she knows she can’t keep, Franny realizes she might have gone too far…
128 pages, Hardcover
First published September 2, 2008
43 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Jim Benton
284 books609 followersBenton began his career in a custom design t-shirt shop where he started designing his own characters. At the same time, Jim did illustrations and artwork for magazines and newspapers. People magazine named him "the most visible cartoonist in America" .
Benton also created greeting cards and worked in the magazine and publishing industry. In 1998, his SpyDogs characters became an animated series, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, that aired on Fox Kids. Licensing his own creations brought them widespread attention on products, such as It's Happy Bunny, The Misters, Just Jimmy and more.
Benton currently lives in Michigan, where he operates out of his own studio.
Benton also created greeting cards and worked in the magazine and publishing industry. In 1998, his SpyDogs characters became an animated series, The Secret Files of the Spy Dogs, that aired on Fox Kids. Licensing his own creations brought them widespread attention on products, such as It's Happy Bunny, The Misters, Just Jimmy and more.
Benton currently lives in Michigan, where he operates out of his own studio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
February 2, 2012
I can't praise this series highly enough other than to say that if I brought a Franny K Stein book home, Max would drop everything he was doing in order to start reading. It's a rare book that has that kind of power over a 6 year old. I'm so sad that we reached the end of the series.
December 7, 2010
With great skill, Mr. Benton manages to include some incredibly funny political commentary - aimed at politicians in general rather than a particular party - in this book for young readers without alienating the principle audience.
Franny creates the perfect candidate for office by combining DNA from a dog (who always knows what she wants before she asks), a chameleon (who "can change to look like whatever he needs to"), and a parrot (who can "make any sort of sound it wanted"). Throw in a cobra's hypnotic ability and a spider's skill at luring things into its web along with a few assorted other ingredients (like a scrap of carpet to "make it an expert on where people stand") and you have something very much like one of Franny's normal monsters, "except that this thing had no guts, no spine, and only a very tiny brain."
Someone seems fairly disillusioned regarding politicians, doesn't he?
Anyway, this may be my favorite of the bunch with its message of honesty and integrity nestled between the creative and intriguing illustrations and the witty (sometimes groan-worthy) puns. I'm looking forward to what Franny does next!
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
Franny creates the perfect candidate for office by combining DNA from a dog (who always knows what she wants before she asks), a chameleon (who "can change to look like whatever he needs to"), and a parrot (who can "make any sort of sound it wanted"). Throw in a cobra's hypnotic ability and a spider's skill at luring things into its web along with a few assorted other ingredients (like a scrap of carpet to "make it an expert on where people stand") and you have something very much like one of Franny's normal monsters, "except that this thing had no guts, no spine, and only a very tiny brain."
Someone seems fairly disillusioned regarding politicians, doesn't he?
Anyway, this may be my favorite of the bunch with its message of honesty and integrity nestled between the creative and intriguing illustrations and the witty (sometimes groan-worthy) puns. I'm looking forward to what Franny does next!
For more book reviews, come visit my blog, Build Enough Bookshelves.
December 27, 2010
I thought it was weird, a little funny, and evil! But I gave it four starts because it wasn't the best. I don't exactly like all those adjectives. Sometimes, the book was really nice and sweet. My favorite part was at the very end, but I won't spoil it :)
June 26, 2010
Franny is back and this time she's got her sights set on domination!
While not keen on the idea of world domination, when her teacher announces class elections, Franny is keen to become class president. She starts out by making wonderful posters of all the things she will invent if she's elected: everything from brain boosters for the not-so-smart kids to large jars to keep the noisy kids in. She's shocked when no is keen on her ideas. She watches as the other campaigners propose a new playground and better food for lunch. Perplexed she goes home adn tries to make something that will appeal to everyone...
Franny is always a lot of fun, and while a mad scientist she is not really evil. The idea behind this one is that honesty is the best policy, even in pollitics. Franny's mom is constantly in her mind making sure she can produce what she promises and that she doesn't cheat her way to the top. Great lesson and will easily appeal to children from 7 to 12.
While not keen on the idea of world domination, when her teacher announces class elections, Franny is keen to become class president. She starts out by making wonderful posters of all the things she will invent if she's elected: everything from brain boosters for the not-so-smart kids to large jars to keep the noisy kids in. She's shocked when no is keen on her ideas. She watches as the other campaigners propose a new playground and better food for lunch. Perplexed she goes home adn tries to make something that will appeal to everyone...
Franny is always a lot of fun, and while a mad scientist she is not really evil. The idea behind this one is that honesty is the best policy, even in pollitics. Franny's mom is constantly in her mind making sure she can produce what she promises and that she doesn't cheat her way to the top. Great lesson and will easily appeal to children from 7 to 12.
December 6, 2009
Franny is a little girl with a mad scientist lab in her bedroom and a dog/lab assistant named Igor. Franny's science experiments and inventions regularly get Franny into some sort of trouble. In The Frandidate, Franny decides to run for class president. To appeal to her classmates she invents the "Frandidate", a skin that Franny wears that can alter its appearance to appeal to whomever is looking at it. But the Frandidate wants to be more than just class president. While this is a chapter book, the story relies heavily on Benton's illustrations to bring the bizarre world that Franny creates to life. Because this book has a good mix of illustrations and engaging text, it would be a great choice for reluctant readers. This is also one of the few books that boys will really enjoy where the central character is a girl.
March 6, 2012
In order to win over her classmates in the upcoming election for class president, Franny K. Stein: Mad Scientist combines the DNA from a sensitive dog, a color-changing chameleon, a mimicking parrot, a cobra's stare, a spider's web, and a python's grip. She's sure this will do the trick and get her elected...and it does.
But, things spiral out of control as the flexible skin of The Frandidate has 'ideas' of its own and they are on the diabolical side. Humor, horror, and madcap dialogue (not to mention a trusty lab assisant named Igor) make for a silly story with even sillier results.
But, things spiral out of control as the flexible skin of The Frandidate has 'ideas' of its own and they are on the diabolical side. Humor, horror, and madcap dialogue (not to mention a trusty lab assisant named Igor) make for a silly story with even sillier results.
November 11, 2009
I love these books. My 6-year-old loves these books. The stories are clever, the drawings great. This one is about how hard it is--and wrong it is--to be what others want you to be, rather than who you are. Also some good lessons on how politicians behave ;)
This is the only series with a female main character that my son likes!
This is the only series with a female main character that my son likes!
December 26, 2016
Read with C. She picks the oddest library books at times! I did like there was a picture on every page.
July 28, 2019
Funny And weird but you can learn some lessons too
April 4, 2015
READ....MY....LIPS! FRANNY K. STEIN HAS RETURNED!!! This one has Fran running for political office....and as she's only ten it has to be for class president, not so much the White House Seat, which has not stopped our mini-mad scientist from plotting Hilary Clinton-esque plans for world conquest! (She's a kid genius. She's allowed.) With steely precision and a stubborn tenacity worthy of FDR himself, she has created the ultimate way to get schoolkids to like her as a proper role model, and in spite what you so-called grown-ups may be thinking of her pseudo lesbian relationship with her fave teacher Miss Shelly, she did NOT...HAVE...RELATIONS with THAT WOMAN!!! She's a kid! DUH!!! Her latest invention is a special coat that transforms her into whatever her fans want her to be. If they want a nice old lady, they get a nice old lady. They want Scarlett Johannsen, they get Scarlett Johannsen! A vote for Scarlet will get you a kiss on your baby's lips...but this is too far afield! Then, as usual her plans for political dominance backfires when her suit gains artificial intelligence and thinks for itself! (Kinda like Governor Rick Scott from Florida but that's another story.) Can Fran save America and herself? Can America as well? Dude, if you don't know, don't ask and don't tell! For there's nothing to fear...but FRAN HERSELF!!!!!
May 14, 2014
This is the last book in the Franny K. Stein series by Jim Benton. We first discovered this series when we listened to Frantastic Voyage on audio CD. We all thought it was a humorous tale, so we decided to read the other books in the series.
This story tells what happens when Franny learns about politics and decides to run for class president. The resulting experiment is both humorous and horrific; more of a commentary on our current American political climate than anything. I loved the lesson that Franny's mom taught her about the importance of telling the truth.
I love the fact that Franny is a spunky, smart scientist and I thought it was great how she solved her problems. The story was very engaging and it's a fun, fast read. We enjoyed reading it together, and we are a bit sad to say goodbye to Franny, since we've finished all of the books in the series.
This story tells what happens when Franny learns about politics and decides to run for class president. The resulting experiment is both humorous and horrific; more of a commentary on our current American political climate than anything. I loved the lesson that Franny's mom taught her about the importance of telling the truth.
I love the fact that Franny is a spunky, smart scientist and I thought it was great how she solved her problems. The story was very engaging and it's a fun, fast read. We enjoyed reading it together, and we are a bit sad to say goodbye to Franny, since we've finished all of the books in the series.
May 19, 2017
While other series books can feel like they're phoning it in after a while, Jim Benton's Book #7 THE FRANDIDATE is still spot-on with its humor and clever story line. This book introduces kids to the election process as Franny decides to run for class president. She takes her teacher's advice (trying to think of her classmates as individuals) too literally and uses her Atomic Combiner to change her appearance to suit what each person/voter wants. Benton plays with the ideas of being two-faced and promising more than you can deliver.
Laugh-out-loud illustrations propel the plot forward. These quick reads engage kids who are seeking more plot than in a picture book yet still crave illustrations. The FRANNY K. STEIN series remains popular in classrooms from second grade on up. Even early readers can puzzle out the more advanced text using the pictures which accompany the text on every page.
Laugh-out-loud illustrations propel the plot forward. These quick reads engage kids who are seeking more plot than in a picture book yet still crave illustrations. The FRANNY K. STEIN series remains popular in classrooms from second grade on up. Even early readers can puzzle out the more advanced text using the pictures which accompany the text on every page.
March 27, 2009
Read this and am reading most of the series with/to my six year old twin boys, who definitely enjoy Benton's work. In particular, the Frandidate was noteworthy as for me it oddly echoed "Perfume" (the movie and book). The humor is gentle enough, not strictly relying on gross-out gimmicks by any stretch, indeed there are more often puns, which works for me.
But above all Benton's imagination is very playful and yet purposeful. I guess one might quibble with the fact that science repeatedly creates much havoc that Franny ultimately struggles to undo, but when there are messages about the importance of honesty, or of being able to control one's temper (when tempted by time travel as seen in "The Fran That Time Forgot"), I think it is a success.
Will have to try Happy Bunny, the rabbit who dislikes everybody, next.
But above all Benton's imagination is very playful and yet purposeful. I guess one might quibble with the fact that science repeatedly creates much havoc that Franny ultimately struggles to undo, but when there are messages about the importance of honesty, or of being able to control one's temper (when tempted by time travel as seen in "The Fran That Time Forgot"), I think it is a success.
Will have to try Happy Bunny, the rabbit who dislikes everybody, next.
July 29, 2012
In this seventh entry in the Franny K. Stein series, Franny creates the perfect candidate for class president. Since Franny is a mad scientist, be sure to include some science-related activities, as well as:
• Franny proposes exploding chalk – use sidewalk chalk to do art on the library patio area.
• Franny proposes healthy lunches – so serve fruit as a snack.
• Do some simple hands-on science experiments to dazzle the audience.
• Check out http://books.simonandschuster.com/Fra... for a video of how to draw Franny, and coloring pages.
A great choice for a 2nd or 3rd grade book discussion group.
• Franny proposes exploding chalk – use sidewalk chalk to do art on the library patio area.
• Franny proposes healthy lunches – so serve fruit as a snack.
• Do some simple hands-on science experiments to dazzle the audience.
• Check out http://books.simonandschuster.com/Fra... for a video of how to draw Franny, and coloring pages.
A great choice for a 2nd or 3rd grade book discussion group.
December 31, 2024
A Cautionary Tale, Preferably Required Reading Across the Land.
First, know that this is a very amusing and well laid-out story of the pint-sized mad scientist.
It is a cleverly sophisticated children's book with several indirect layers of social and psychological commentary. A really great addition to any young reader's collection. I'd like to say I wish the entire country had read this one before the 2016 election, though many would have applied its lessons to their own biases, entirely missing its point.
First, know that this is a very amusing and well laid-out story of the pint-sized mad scientist.
It is a cleverly sophisticated children's book with several indirect layers of social and psychological commentary. A really great addition to any young reader's collection. I'd like to say I wish the entire country had read this one before the 2016 election, though many would have applied its lessons to their own biases, entirely missing its point.
Read
October 26, 2010My 7 yo is reading this one. It is a good follow up to the Ricky Ricotta series. Kids who like Ricky and Captain Underpants should like Franny, the young mad scientist. My son likes the pictures and the general silliness. He loves science and anything gross or gruesome so this strange little girl ( even though she is a girl) fits the bill. He laughs out loud at her weird experiments and began and ended the book with a study of the pictures, which are downright captivating.
August 23, 2014
In this case Franny will learn about voting and the meanning of campaing and reaching others. For that she creates a suit that will say and do exactly as the voters want. But the problem is that she start promising things that she knows she can't keep up. Then the suit starts taking over her and for that she realize is time to get rid of. The stories of Franny are always the same. She always creates something that later it needs to be destroy. I still don't like that idea.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2018
Well, this is the one where Benton officially lost his mind and slipped into some sort of JG Ballard fugue state when he was writing. Franny invents a skin that, when worn, is able to give the gazer exactly what it wants to hear. She attempts to use this power to become president of the United States, but then the skin sucks her in and develops a mind of its own and only her mom can save her. There's a metaphor here somewhere in this weirdest of weird finale. God I love this series.
September 6, 2018
Franny K. learns another lesson when one of her creations goes awry. This time Franny puts on a skin that takes the shape of what each individual person wants in order to win a class election. When it works she decides to run for president of the whole country! This time when Franny is rescued from her skin creation, she learns that honesty is the best policy, and finds a suitable use for the skin.
Currently reading
January 27, 2009my review of this book is this book is so fynny and it makes you think a lot and somtimes these kind of books have a message like in this one it isabout how truth will ste you free and it is also really funnyi love this book and i recomed this book to any body who liies funny and who likes a message in there story
May 20, 2009
The Frany K. Stein books are a quick read and this one was just as funny as the others. At one point I couldn't stop laughing when I saw one of the illustrations (see page 40). I don't think I'd ever really vote for Franny (no matter what crazy inventions she came up with to try to convince me otherwise), but I sure vote for Jim Benton writing more of these hilarious books!
July 14, 2014
Franny's attempting to build the perfect class president. Because it would be wrong to take over the world using her devices, but it's perfectly okay if everyone votes for her.
***
The Franidate is a fascinating idea, and the book addresses voting in a novel way for young children.
***
The Franidate is a fascinating idea, and the book addresses voting in a novel way for young children.
March 24, 2011
The seventh installment in the Franny K. Stein Mad Scientist series uses humor and amusing illustrations to teach a valuable lesson. Franny learns that making promises you can't keep is dangerous and that telling the truth ultimately sets you free... (click here for full review http://www.storysnoops.com/detail.php...)
November 13, 2015
Really, 4.75. A quarter to amazing.
The Frandidate got into trouble and tried to eat Franny and Igor was going to save her, but with it's tentacles, the Frandidate held Igor. But then Franny told the truth and the Frandidate got weak and gave up. And then Fran broke open it's head and got out! And it was in the news, too.
The Frandidate got into trouble and tried to eat Franny and Igor was going to save her, but with it's tentacles, the Frandidate held Igor. But then Franny told the truth and the Frandidate got weak and gave up. And then Fran broke open it's head and got out! And it was in the news, too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2012
I liked it. It was about when franny wanted to be class president. So she made this frandidate soup so that everybody would say yes to her. It worked and she made everyone pick her, but frandidate soup started to work by itself and franny had to stop it!
February 28, 2013
Always wanted to read one of the Franny K. Stein books..The Frandidate is such a great title, I couldn't resist. Overall funny, amusing illustrations and loved all of her inventions. The plot is light but the kids not quite old enough for the Wimpy Kid books would enjoy, boys included.
June 9, 2016
I've now read this entire series to both kids. Both kids seem to dig the idea of a little girl mad scientist.
Also, the Frandidate is eerily similar to a current presidential candidate. Kind of terrifying, really.
Also, the Frandidate is eerily similar to a current presidential candidate. Kind of terrifying, really.
April 27, 2016
My daughter and I have now read all of the Franny K. Stein books, and this last one was the best. Dead-on social satire for grown-ups, and an earnest rebuke of politicians everywhere for the kids. Exceptionally well-done.
October 16, 2008
Funny book about running for class president and trying to be all things to all people. Kind of like the race we have going on right now.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews