Franklin in the Dark
25th Anniversary Edition
Franklin Says I Love You
Franklin and the Thunderstorm
Three Classic Franklin Stories
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
Contents
Franklin in the Dark
A Letter from Paulette Bourgeois
A Letter from Brenda Clark
Franklin in the Dark
The Story of Franklin the Turtle
Franklin Says I Love You
Franklin and the Thunderstorm
Copyright page
To Natalie and Gordon — P.B.
For Bob and Robin, with love — B.C.
Franklin in the Dark
25th Anniversary Edition
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
The first page of Paulette’s original manuscript for Franklin in the Dark
A Letter from Paulette Bourgeois
Dear Reader,
If you had told me twenty-five years ago that a little turtle named Franklin would become a family favorite all over the world, I wouldn’t have believed you. Nothing that has happened to Franklin the Turtle was planned way back then.
I was a journalist when I had my first baby and I thought, naively, that since I was a writer with a child, I should start writing children’s books. After hearing the television character Hawkeye on M*A*S*H say he was so claustrophobic that if he were a turtle, he’d be afraid of his own shell, I had my idea for my story. I wrote Franklin in the Dark and was thrilled when Kids Can Press decided to publish it. I was even more delighted when they asked Brenda Clark to illustrate. I thought it was a one-time deal, but readers wanted more, and so the series began.
I like to think of Franklin as just like any kid, anywhere. He and his friends share many of the same joys and sorrows, successes and failures experienced by children around the world. Franklin has been glad, sad, mad—and sometimes even bad. Many of the stories draw on my own experiences as a child (no, I wasn’t afraid of the dark, but I was afraid of small spaces) and those of my two children, who grew up alongside Franklin (they both loved their blue blankets, too).
A lot of people work very hard behind the scenes to develop the best Franklin stories for the books and the animated television series, and I am very grateful that they do such a good job bringing Franklin to you. But mostly I want to thank you, the reader. Without you, there would be no reason for Franklin to celebrate his great, long adventure. Thank you for coming along.
Brenda’s original storyboards for Franklin in the Dark
A Letter from Brenda Clark
Dear Reader,
There is something very special about Franklin in the Dark, the original Franklin story by Paulette Bourgeois. It is, without a doubt, my favorite book in the series.
Reading that first manuscript all those years ago, I felt instantly connected to Franklin’s world. The images came so clearly to me that I could hardly wait to begin drawing!
My biggest challenge was designing Franklin. Because he is a turtle who acts like a boy, I wanted him to be somewhat realistic, but capable of showing human emotion. Using several different turtle references and my experience drawing children, I worked through a number of sketches before settling on Franklin’s final design. He looks like a real turtle, but walks on two legs. He can crawl out of his shell and pull it behind him with a rope. Franklin is both imaginary and real.
We didn’t know then that Franklin would become the star of a series of books, but Paulette had more stories to tell, and I was delighted to illustrate them. Over the years, the tales about Franklin and his friends have given me endless ideas for illustrations. For extra inspiration, I would sometimes ask my son to pose using an expression I needed for Franklin. It was also fun to add details in the art not found in the text so that readers could make their own discoveries and interact with the story. My hope is that you will enjoy returning to each book again and again.
I feel very fortunate to have spent the past twenty-five years helping to bring Franklin’s stories to life. It’s been an unbelievably rewarding experience. Many people have helped make Franklin a success, but I would most like to thank Kids Can Press, Paulette, my family and especially all of you who have welcomed this special little turtle into your lives.
Introducing my very first adventure...
Franklin in the Dark
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
FRANKLIN could slide down a riverbank all by himself. He could count forwards and backwards. He could even zip zippers and button buttons. But Franklin was afraid of small, dark places and that was a problem because …
Franklin was a turtle. He was afraid of crawling into his small, dark shell. And so, Franklin the turtle dragged his shell behind him.
Every night, Franklin’s mother would take a flashlight and shine it into his shell.
“See,” she would say, “there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
She always said that. She wasn’t afraid of anything. But Franklin was sure that creepy things, slippery things, and monsters lived inside his small, dark shell.
So Franklin went looking for help. He walked until he met a duck.
“Excuse me, Duck. I’m afraid of small, dark places and I can’t crawl inside my shell. Can you help me?”
“Maybe,” quacked the duck. “You see, I’m afraid of very deep water. Sometimes, when nobody is watching, I wear my water wings. Would my water wings help you?”
“No,” said Franklin. “I’m not afraid of water.”
So Franklin walked and walked until he met a lion.
“Excuse me, Lion. I’m afraid of small, dark places and I can’t crawl inside my shell. Can you help me?”
“Maybe,” roared the lion. “You see, I’m afraid of great, loud noises. Sometimes, when nobody is looking, I wear my earmuffs. Would my earmuffs help you?”
“No,” said Franklin. “I’m not afraid of great, loud noises.”
So Franklin walked and walked and walked until he met a bird.
“Excuse me, Bird. I’m afraid of small, dark places and I can’t crawl inside my shell. Can you help me?”
“Maybe,” chirped the bird. “I’m afraid of flying so high that I get dizzy and fall to the ground. Sometimes, when nobody is looking, I pull my parachute. Would my parachute help you?”
“No,” said Franklin. “I’m not afraid of flying high and getting dizzy.”
So Franklin walked and walked and walked and walked until he met a polar bear.
“Excuse me, Polar Bear. I’m afraid of small, dark places and I can’t crawl inside my shell. Can you help me?”
“Maybe,” growled the bear. “You see, I’m afraid of freezing on icy, cold nights. Sometimes, when nobody is looking, I wear my snowsuit to bed. Would my snowsuit help you?”
“No,” said Franklin. “I’m not afraid of freezing on icy, cold nights.”
Franklin was tired and hungry. He walked and walked and walked until he met his mother.
“Oh, Franklin. I was so afraid you were lost.”
“You were afraid? I didn’t know mothers were ever afraid,” said Franklin.
“Well, did you find some help?” she asked.
“No. I met a duck who was afraid of deep water.”
“Hmmm,” she said.
“Then I met a lion who was afraid of great, loud noises.”
“Uh, hmmmm,” she said.
“And then I met a bird who was afraid of falling and a polar bear who was afraid of freezing.”
“Oh,” she said. “They were all afraid of something.”
“Hmmmm,” said Franklin.
It was getting late. Franklin was very tired and very hungry. They walked and walked until they were home.
Franklin’s mother gave him a cold supper and a warm hug. And then she sent him off to bed.
“Good night, dear,” she said.
Well, Franklin knew what he had to do. He crawled right inside his small, dark shell. He was sure he saw creepy things, slippery things, and a monster. But he said a brave “Good night.”
And then, when nobody was looking, Franklin the turtle turned on his night light.
Read on for the rest of the story of Franklin the Turtle …
The Story of Franklin the Turtle
In 1986, Franklin was just a little turtle trying to overcome his fear of the dark. Twenty-five years later, Franklin might still be little (and might still sleep with a night light), but he has grown into an international star!
Franklin’s Start
When Paulette first sent her manuscript to Kids Can Press, the title of the story was The Turtle They Called Chicken. In the original version, not only was Franklin afraid of the dark, he also had the problem of being teased and called “chicken.” Paulette’s editor suggested they focus on just one problem—Franklin’s fear of the dark—and Paulette agreed. The title was changed to Franklin in the Dark to fit the new story. Once Paulette finished working on the manuscript, the search for an illustrator began. Kids Can Press didn’t have to look far: Brenda had already illustrated two books for them, and everyone thought her style would be perfect for Paulette’s story. And it was! In its first year in print, Franklin in the Dark sold 10,000 copies. Children took an instant liking to the lovable turtle who experienced many of the same challenges, milestones and problems as they did.
Turtle on the Go
Delighted by readers’ response to Franklin, Paulette wrote another Franklin story, and then another. Within a few years, Franklin the Turtle had become a popular book series. Franklin was busy enjoying new adventures all the time!
Franklin’s World
Together, Paulette and Brenda had created a whole world for Franklin and his family and friends. With each new book, Franklin’s personality shone through more and more. Readers learned all about his favorite foods, activities and toys, and got to know the special people in his life.
Reaching for the Stars
Franklin was such a hit with readers all over the world that, by 1997, 15 million copies of the Franklin books had sold in 13 countries and in 10 different languages. That same year, Franklin made the leap to television, starring in his own animated series, which now airs throughout North America, Latin America and Europe. Franklin has also starred in two feature-length films and a stage production. More books were added to the celebrated original series, and then two new book series based on the TV show were launched, along with activity books, treasuries, flap books and other special editions.
But Franklin wasn’t only found in books and on TV—Franklin-themed plush toys, puzzles, games, action figures, clothing, shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, piggy banks, bedding, furniture and many other different products were created for the little green turtle’s fans around the world.
Franklin in the Real World
Perhaps the most enduring testament to readers’ love of Franklin was the opening of the Franklin Children’s Garden in Toronto, Ontario, in 2003. Inspired by the original series, the garden is as special as Paulette and Brenda’s books. There’s a spot for storytime, a tree house, a turtle pond and even a spiral snail trail. With so much to explore, it’s Franklin’s world come to life!
Franklin Helps Out
Young readers’ enthusiasm for Franklin is well matched by Paulette and Brenda’s appreciation for his fans. In the books, although Franklin might solve his problems himself, his family, friends and neighbors all help—Franklin is part of a community. Paulette and Brenda have seen to it that Franklin plays a role in the real world’s communities, too, supporting literacy campaigns, parks and wildlife societies, breakfast programs and other worthwhile causes that help make the world a better place for everyone, but especially for children.
Franklin the Turtle Today — and Tomorrow!
Now, twenty-five years after Franklin in the Dark was first published, over 65 million books have been sold, over 100 titles are in print and Franklin stories can be read in over thirty languages. Franklin is known as Franklin in most countries, but in French Canada he’s called Benjamin; in Belgium and the Netherlands, Sam; in Finland, Konrad; and in Denmark, Morten!
A whole generation of children has grown up with Franklin, and still more adventures lie ahead: Franklin is set to star in a new animated 3D television series, more books are in development and Franklin has new community support projects on the go, too. So here’s to another twenty-five years of fun and friendship—and great stories!
To Bob and Robin, for the love we share — B.C.
Franklin Says I Love You
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
FRANKLIN thought he was very lucky. He thought he had the best pet goldfish. He thought he had the best friends and the best stuffed dog. But, most of all, Franklin thought he had the best mother in the whole wide world.
Franklin’s mother baked fly pie, just for him.
Franklin’s mother played catch, even when she was busy.
And Franklin’s mother always read him two stories before bed, even when she was tired.
So when Granny told Franklin that his mother’s birthday was the very next day, he decided to give her the best present ever.
Franklin wanted to show his mother how much he loved her.
Every year, Franklin made a birthday present for his mother.
She had loved her macaroni necklace.
She had hung Franklin’s self-portrait on the wall.
She had even worn her birthday hat shopping.
This year, Franklin decided to buy his mother something fancy.
He emptied his piggy bank and went to town.
Franklin looked in all the stores.
But everything cost too much.
“How can I show my mother I love her,” he wondered, “without a fancy present?”
So Franklin went looking for help.
He walked along the path and over the bridge until he came to Bear’s house.
“Bear,” said Franklin, “how can I show my mother I love her without a fancy present?”
“I always make my mother breakfast in bed,” said Bear.
But Franklin’s mother had told him that she didn’t like crumbs in bed.
Franklin walked through the berry patch until he came to Snail’s house.
“Snail,” said Franklin, “how can I show my mother I love her without a fancy present?”
“I always bring my mother flowers,” said Snail.
But Franklin had given his mother a bouquet of dandelions just the day before.
Franklin walked across the meadow until he came to Beaver’s house.
“Beaver,” said Franklin, “how can I show my mother I love her without a fancy present?”
“I always draw my mother a picture with hearts and flowers and X’s and O’s.”
“X’s and O’s?” asked Franklin.
“Kisses and hugs,” explained Beaver.
But Franklin always hugged his mother when he came home from school, and he kissed her every night.
Franklin walked around the pond until he came to Goose’s house.
“Goose,” said Franklin, “how can I show my mother I love her without a fancy present?”
“I always make my mother some pretty jewelry,�
� said Goose.
But Franklin’s mother already had a macaroni necklace and a string of pearls.
Franklin was tired and hungry.
He walked all the way home.
His mother’s birthday was the next morning, and Franklin still didn’t have a present.
Franklin asked his father, “How can I show Mother that I love her without a fancy present?”
“You do nice things for her every day,” answered Franklin’s father. “Why do you ask?”
“Because tomorrow is her birthday,” said Franklin.
His father looked surprised.
“Why don’t you and your sister make her a card?” he suggested. “I’ll run to the store.”
Franklin in the Dark, Franklin Says I Love You, and Franklin and the Thunderstorm Page 1