Contents
Franklin Goes to School
Franklin Rides a Bike
Franklin Fibs
Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.
Text © 1995 by Contextx Inc.
Illustrations © 1995 Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.
Interior illustrations prepared with the assistance of Dimitije Kostic.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means without, the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. Or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.
Kids Can Press acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada, Through the BPIDP, for our publishing activity.
Published in Canada by
Kids Can Press Ltd.
25 Dockside Drive
Toronto, ON M5A 0B5
www.kidscanpress.com
The hardcover edition of this book is smyth sewn casebound.
The paperback edition of this book is limp sewn with a drawn-on cover.
Manufactured in Buji, Shenzhen, China, in 10/2010 by WKT Company
CDN 95 0 9 8
CDN PA 95 20 19 18 17 16 15
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Bourgeois, Paulette
Franklin goes to school/Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark.
eISBN 978-1-4532-1846-4
ISBN 978-1-55453-726-6
1. Franklin (Fictitious character: Bourgeois) – Juvenile fiction. I. Clark, Brenda. II. Title.
PS8553.O85477F685 2011 jC813’.54 C2010-906672-3
Kids Can Press is a Corus™ Entertainment company
Franklin Goes to School
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
FRANKLIN could count by twos and tie his shoes. He could zip zippers and button buttons. But Franklin was worried about starting school. And that was a problem because Franklin was going to school for the very first time.
Franklin woke up with the sun. “It’s my first day of school!” he told Goldie, his fish.
Franklin packed his new pencil case with a ruler, a pencil, an eraser and twelve coloured pencils that he had sharpened himself.
Then he woke his parents.
“Hurry,” he said to his parents. “I cannot be late for school.”
Franklin’s mother looked at the clock. “Even the teacher is not awake,” she laughed. “It is too early.”
“You must be very excited,” said Franklin’s father.
Franklin nodded.
It was so early that there was time to make a big breakfast.
“You’ll need a full tummy to work at school,” said Franklin’s father.
Franklin was not hungry. “I already have a full tummy,” he said. “It feels like it is full of jumping frogs.”
Franklin’s mother gave him a hug, “I felt that way on my first day of school. But the funny feeling went away.”
Franklin ate a little. He double-checked his book bag. Finally it was time to go to school.
Halfway to the bus stop, Franklin clutched his tummy.
“I don’t want to go,” he said.
Franklin’ father gave him a hug. “That’s how I felt when I started school,” he said. “Look. All your friends are waiting for the bus.”
There was a big crowd at the bus stop. There were brothers and sisters and mothers and fathers.
Beaver was carrying her favourite book.
“I can read it,” she said.
“All of it?” asked Bear.
“Yes,” she answered proudly.
Franklin rubbed his tummy.
Rabbit pulled out a brand-new notebook.
“My big sister showed me how to write my numbers,” he said.
“All of them?” asked Fox.
“Most of them,” boasted Rabbit.
Franklin looked at his mother. “I want to go home,” he said.
“We will be here after school to hear about all the things you did today,” she said.
When the bus arrived, Rabbit grabbed his sister’s hand and climbed aboard. Bear stood on the steps and waved goodbye again and again. Franklin hugged his mother, then his father. He kept hugging even after his friends had found seats.
As the bus pulled away, Franklin looked out the window. He didn’t know if he was ready for school.
“Do you think the teacher will yell?” wondered Rabbit, who jumped at loud noises.
“Do you think there’s a bathroom at school?” asked Beaver, fidgeting in her seat.
“I hope somebody has an extra snack,” said Bear, who had already eaten his.
Franklin did not say anything. The bus ride seemed very, very long.
When they arrived, their teacher was waiting.
Mr. Owl said hello in a gentle voice. He showed them where to hang their coats and where to sit. He showed them where to find the bathroom and offered everyone a piece of fruit.
Then, Beaver and Bear went to the reading and writing centre. Rabbit went to the play kitchen. But Franklin stayed in his seat.
“What would you like to do today, Franklin?” asked Mr. Owl.
“I don’t know,” said Franklin, rubbing his tummy. “I cannot write all the numbers like Rabbit can. I cannot read like Beaver can.”
“Rabbit and Beaver will learn new things at school, and so will you.”
Franklin started to doodle.
“I can see that you are a very good artist,” said the teacher.
Franklin sat up taller. “I know all my colours, too,” he said.
“What colour is this?” asked Mr. Owl, holding up a coloured pencil.
“It’s a special blue,” said Franklin. “It is turquoise.”
“Now you have taught me something,” said Mr. Owl. “Is there something special you would like to learn?”
There were so many things Franklin wanted to learn that he had trouble deciding.
Finally, he asked Mr. Owl to help him read his favourite book.
Franklin made a building of blocks.
He sorted the money in the classroom store and painted four pictures. One for the teacher, one for himself and two for his parents.
It was a wonderful day.
Franklin sat at the back of the bus all the way home. He bumped up and down. He was so busy having fun that he almost forgot to get off at his stop.
His parents were waiting. “How is your tummy?” they asked.
Franklin looked puzzled. It had been such a good day that he had forgotten all about his jumpy tummy.
“My tummy is empty!” he said.
“That’s a feeling that will go away, too,” said Franklin’s father.
“I made this for you,” said Franklin’s mother. She gave Franklin his favorite snack, fly pie.
“And I made this for you,” said Franklin. He gave his parents two pictures and two big hugs.
Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.
Text © 1997 by Contextx Inc.
Illustrations © 1997 Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.
Interior illustrations prepared with the assistance of Shelley Southern.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any me
ans without, the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.
Kids Can Press acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada, through the BPIDP, for our publishing activity.
Published in Canada by
Kids Can Press Ltd.
25 Dockside Drive
Toronto, ON M5A 0B5
www.kidscanpress.com
The hardcover edition of this book is smyth sewn casebound.
The paperback edition of this book is limp sewn with a drawn-on cover.
Manufactured in Buji, Shenzhen, China, in 10/2010 by WKT Company
CDN 97 0 9 8 7 6 5 4
CDN PA 97 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Bourgeois, Paulette
Franklin rides a bike/ written by Paulette Bourgeois; Illustrated by Brenda Clark.
ISBN 978-1-55453-731-0
1. Franklin (Fictitious character: Bourgeois) – Juvenile fiction. I. Clark, Brenda II. Title.
PS8553.O85477F786 2011 jC813’.54 C2010-906677-4
Kids Can Press is a Corus™ Entertainment company
Franklin Rides a Bike
Written by Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Kids Can Press
FRANKLIN could swim underwater and hit a home run. He knew how to climb the monkey bars and pump himself high on the swings. But Franklin had a problem. He couldn’t ride his bicycle without training wheels.
In the spring, all of Franklin’s friends had training wheels on their bikes.
Beaver was the brave one. She took her extra wheels off first. She practised and practised. Then she went to the park to show off.
“Look at me!” she shouted. “I can ride my bike all by myself.”
Franklin watched Beaver ride around in circles.
It wasn’t long before Beaver could signal with one paw and hold on to the handlebar with the other.
Soon, everyone but Franklin could ride without training wheels.
“We’re going on a picnic,” said Bear. “Come on.”
Franklin was worried that his friends would make fun of his training wheels.
“I’m not hungry,” Franklin fibbed. He went home to eat lunch, alone.
Afterwards, Franklin asked his mother to help take the training wheels off his bike. He wanted to ride all by himself.
He sat on his bike, and his mother gave him a push.
Franklin wibbled and wobbled, and teetered and tottered. Then he fell into the flower bed.
“I can’t do it,” he said. “I’m never riding this bike again.”
For the rest of the week, Franklin felt left out.
He watched as his friends rode off without him.
They were becoming great explorers on their bikes.
On Saturday, Franklin’s friends zoomed by his house.
“That looks like fun,” said Franklin’s mother.
“I can’t ride without my training wheels,” groaned Franklin.
“Did you give it your best effort?” asked his mother.
“Well …” said Franklin. “Maybe I could try one more time.”
Franklin sat on his bike.
“It’s tippy!” he cried.
His mother held on the seat. “Try it. I won’t let go until you tell me to.”
Franklin pedalled while his mother guided the bicycle from behind.
He felt unsteady and very unsure.
“I’m going to fall,” he said, and he stopped pedalling.
“Riding a bicycle is difficult,” said his mother. “But you can’t give up just because it’s frustrating.”
“It’s too hard for me,” said Franklin. “It was easy for my friends.”
“Do you think everything comes easily for them?” she asked.
Franklin had to think about that.
Franklin went to the park.
He saw Beaver struggling to swing on the monkey bars. Each time she got to the third rung, she fell into the sand below.
“No, Beaver,” said Bear. “Do it like this. It’s easy.”
“Easy for you,” said Beaver.
She tried one more time and fell again.
“Maybe tomorrow,” Beaver grumbled.
Franklin remembered when Badger learned to swim. She was afraid to put her head under water.
“It’s easy,” said Franklin. “Just do it!”
Badger had spluttered and cried. It took her a long time to feel good in the water. Now she could swim from one end of the pond to the other.
Franklin thought about the first time Fox played baseball.
He couldn’t hit the ball at all. But he tried and tried until, one day, Fox got a home run.
Just then, Porcupine came by.
She moved very slowly. She pointed to the pads on her knees, wrists and elbows.
“They make me feel funny,” she said, “but they keep me safe.”
“That’s it!” cried Franklin. He hurried home.
Franklin put on padding. He lined the walk with old pillows.
“I’m ready to try again,” Franklin told his mother. “Now, I won’t worry if I fall.”
Franklin sat on his bike, and his mother held on to the seat.
Franklin wibbled and wobbled, and teetered and tottered.
He fell many times but he never gave up.
Then it happened. Franklin told his mother to let go. He didn’t veer into the bushes, and he didn’t crash.
“Way to go!” cheered his mother.
Franklin was thrilled. Finally, he was riding his bike all by himself.
“I can do it!” he shouted.
Franklin rode to the park to show his friends.
“Look at me!” he called.
Franklin tried to signal with one hand, like Beaver, but he toppled over.
“I think I’ll work on that,” he laughed. “Not everything is as easy as it looks.”
To Cameron, Lauren and Katie – P. B.
To my son, Robin – B. C.
Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.
Text © 1991 by Contextx Inc.
Illustrations © 1991 Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means without, the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from CANCOPY (The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E5.
Kids Can Press acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada, through the BPIDP, for our publishing activity.
Kids Can Press Ltd.
25 Birch Avenue
Toronto, ON, Canada
M4V 1E2
www.kidscanpress.com
Book design by Michael Solomon and Brenda Clark
Printed in Hong Kong by Wing King Tong Company Limited
This book is limp sewn with a drawn-on cover.
CDN PA 91 20 19 18 17 16
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Bourgeois, Paulette
Franklin fibs
ISBN 1-55074-038-5 (bound) IBSN 1-55074-077-6 (pbk.)
I. Clark, Brenda. II. Title.
PS8553.O85477F54 1991 jC813’.54 C90-094941-4
PZ7.B67Fra 1991
Kids Can Press is a Corus™ Entertainment company
Franklin Fibs
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. H
e could zip zippers and button buttons. He could even tie shoe laces, but Franklin could not swallow seventy-six flies in the blink of an eye.
And that was a problem because Franklin said he could. He told all his friends he could. Franklin had fibbed.
It started with Bear.
Bear boasted, “I can climb the highest tree.”
He scrambled to the tip of a pine.
Then Hawk bragged, “I can fly over the berry patch without flapping my wings.”
He soared over the woods and past the berry patch without ruffling a feather.
Beaver crowed, “I can chop down a tree with just my teeth.”
Beaver gnawed first on one side, then on the other. Chips of wood flew this way and that. The tree crashed down.
“And,” she said, “I can make my own dam.”
Franklin couldn’t climb a tree. He couldn’t chop down a tree. He couldn’t fly. And he forgot everything he could do. So he fibbed.
“I can swallow seventy-six flies in the blink of an eye,” he said.
His friends were astounded.
“Watch me,” said Franklin.
Franklin gobbled two, four, six flies.
“There!”
“But that was only six flies,” said Hawk.
Franklin Goes to School, Franklin Rides a Bike, and Franklin Fibs Page 1