Franklin and Harriet

Dosi Cotroneo is a freelance writer living in Manotick, Ontario.

Bourgeois and Clarks’s collection of stories about Franklin the Turtle
have been extraordinarily successful because preschool and school-age
children totally identify with the sensitive little turtle who is full
of human emotions.

In Franklin and Harriet, Franklin realizes that being a big brother
isn’t always such an easy job. Franklin loves his little sister
Harriet, but she can be very demanding at times—especially when she
won’t let go of Franklin’s favorite stuffed dog, Sam. Eventually,
the situation resolves itself, and Franklin discovers that being a big
brother is a good thing after all.

Mr. Heron is giving away trees for planting and Franklin is very
excited. He’s hoping to plant a tree right away and hang a tire swing
from it the same day. Much to his surprise, the tree he gets is just a
sapling and Franklin will have to wait years before the tree grows
strong enough to hold his swing. In Franklin Plants a Tree, the young
turtle learns the importance of patience and of nurturing.

Franklin’s School Treasury contains four stories that feature
Franklin facing many scary firsts in his life: starting school, going on
a class trip, remembering lines in the school play, and learning to make
decisions. The little turtle finds these challenges worrisome and even
sometimes overwhelming. But Franklin is never alone on his journeys. He
always has his loving family and wonderful forest friends who offer him
love and support as he makes his way.

Complementing Bourgeois’s heartwarming stories are Clark’s
captivating illustrations—all of which are full of soft, warm colors
that bring the forest and animals to life and set the tone for the
stories. Highly recommended.