Here's a way to have a range of picture book stories about the ever-popular Franklin the Turtle at your fingertips. Tie-ins from episodes of the 3D-animated television series Franklin and Friends, these eight separate stories provide models for dealing with a variety of everyday concerns and real problems faced by small children as they navigate the new frontiers of their lives. They help explain how to deal with uncomfortable situations, such as the fear of speaking in front of the class (Franklin and the Wonder), getting a nickname you don't like (Franklin, the Little Bubble) or being the only one who still struggles with a skill that all the other children have mastered (Franklin's Ups and Downs). Some explore handling social relationships, as when friends disagree about the best way to make something (Franklin's Partner), a friend doesn't want to play the same game as everyone else (Franklin's Spaceship) or when a decision must be made about which friend truly deserves to win the prize (Franklin and the Gecko Games). And a couple offer suggestions for fun and interesting ways to challenge yourself, such as solving a mystery with teamwork (Franklin and the Big Small Case) or using your imagination to travel to outer space (Franklin in the Stars). Besides being terrific read-alouds that feature familiar, appealing characters, stories about Franklin and his animal friends are always a perfect fit for character education lessons, particularly those on compassion, caring and kindness --- Franklin's strong suits.
