Franklin's Holiday Treasury

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Franklin Says I Love You is a new volume in the highly successful
Franklin series. The story follows the familiar pattern. Franklin has
the best pet goldfish, the best friends, the best stuffed dog, and, of
course, the best mother in the whole wide world. Then comes the dilemma.
Tomorrow is Mother’s birthday, and what kind of present can Franklin
get to show that he loves her when he has no money? His friends all
offer ideas. Eventually Franklin decides to do everything his friends
suggest with one important addition. Franklin gives his mother a hug and
a kiss and then says, “I love you.” And, as his mother tells him,
those three little words are better than any fancy present money can
buy.

Franklin’s Holiday Treasury contains four previously published
stories dealing with special days: Franklin’s Halloween (1996),
Franklin’s Valentines (1998), Franklin’s Christmas Gift (1998), and
Franklin’s Thanksgiving (2001). In all four, the idea that giving and
sharing with others is as rewarding as being on the receiving end is
emphasized. This attractive hardcover (which costs less than the
combined cost of the individual editions) would be an excellent purchase
for home libraries or for schools needing to replace the originals.

Like all Franklin books, these, too, contain an implicit message for
children. And, as always, Brenda Clark’s bright, detailed and
wonderfully expressive illustrations add to the charm of the stories.
Recommended.