Books Kids Will Love RATING: BBBBBook: Franklin's Bad Day
By Paulette Bourgeois & Brenda Clark
Recommended for ages 2-6
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My daughter likes Franklin. Personally, I find the character a bit too whiny. (Little Bear is more my style.)
Franklin's Bad Day is one in a series of Franklin books. (There is even a Franklin TV show.) In this book, Franklin wakes up in a cranky, grumpy mood. He tells his family and friends he doesn't want to do anything. His parents tell him to go outside and play as "fresh air will do you good." Typically, a fan of winter, Franklin complains it is even a bad day outside. He goes out with his friends anyways. He is unhappy while sledding. Loses his temper when he finds out that the ice is too thin for skating, and heads home.
Once home, life doesn't get better for Franklin. He yells at his mom when she asks him to pick up his wet clothes and skates. Afterwards, he is so mad and frustrated that he kicks over a castle, by accident, that he made with his friend otter. Now, he is even more upset and not in control of his emotions. Franklin's dad then figures out that Franklin is sad (and mad) that his friend otter moved away. His dad talks to him about his emotions and suggests a way for him to reconnect with his far-away friend.
This is a great book for a young child who has a hard time controlling or expressing his or her emotions. It is also a great book for a child who has lost a friend to another school or community, recently.
If your child is a fan of Franklin, and learning to read, these books are a great addition to a home library. I would add a half dozen to your child's bookshelf.
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Scholastic
first printed in January 1997
$3.99, paperback