User:Zanimum/Franklin in the Dark
| Author | Paulette Bourgeois |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Brenda Clark |
| Country | Canada |
| Publisher | Kids Can Press |
| ISBN | 0-919964-93-1 first printing, paperbound board binding |
| Website | http://www.kidscanpress.com/products/franklin-dark |
Franklin in the Dark is a children's book published in 1986, written by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark.
Bourgeois had a journalism background, and while at home with her first child, she hoped to help with mortgage payments.[1] She decided to write children's fiction, reading How to Write a Kids Book.[1] The plot of Franklin in the Dark was inspired by a repeat of M*A*S*H episode "C*A*V*E".<> In the television episode, Hot Lips tries to coax Hawkeye into a cave. Hawkeye responds: “No, you don't understand, I am so claustrophobic. If I were a turtle, I'd be afraid of my own shell.”[1] Bourgeois saw the episode while nursing her newborn daughter, late one night, having faced writers' block.[1]
A manuscript of the book was rejected by six publishers, before one expressed interest.<pbfranklinfaqs> Established in 1973, non-profit Kids Can Press was in the midst of becoming a privately-owned, for-profit company.[2] The first publisher to show interest in the title, they required the draft go through multiple rounds of revision.<pbfranklinfaqs>
Once the book moved past the draft stage, it was sent to illustrator Brenda Clark.<pbfranklinfaqs> The author and illustrator didn't meet until after publication.<pbfranklinfaqs> Bourgeois has noted “When I first saw the illustrations, I was overwhelmed by Brenda’s talent. I think the reason the books have done so well is because Brenda has made the characters so empathetic.”<pbfranklinfaqs>
Reception[edit]
The book became a best-seller.<pbfranklinfaqs> As a result of the popularity, Kids Can Press requested a second book, catching Bourgeois unprepared.<pbfranklinfaqs> Hurry Up, Franklin (1989) was written after she searched for another relatable story for five-year-olds.<pbfranklinfaqs> The illustrations from the book were exhibited in 1989 at Mabel's Fables Gallery in Toronto.<MFGallery>
Reviews[edit]
In 1986, The Globe and Mail writer Tim Wynne-Jones noted “Bourgeois' story is simply and wisely told. She nudges the young listener to reach his or her own conclusions about the nature of fear. Clark's gouache compositions are vividly hued, clean-edged and sure-handed. She exhibits an excellent sense of design, using the page well.” Wynne-Jones suggested the illustrator hadn't “yet achieved the recognition she deserves.”<cozyboat>
A 1987 review by A Reviewing Journal of Canadian Materials for Young People noted that the “excellent picture-book” has a “delightful story... that will have strong appeal”. “The illustrations are bold, colourful, and humorous and complement the clear, simple text. With such a delightful story and an irresistible format, this book is certain to find its place on the shelves of home, school, and public libraries.”<CM>
A 2014 review by Night Lights: A Picture Book Blog calls the book “very mediocre”, suggesting that it “holds nothing for adults”.<nightlights> ***chalk***<spotlight>
Translations[edit]
- Benjamin et la Nuit, French title, translated by Christiane Duchesne
- Franklin tem medo do escuro, Portuguese title
- Franklin en la oscuridad, Spanish title
Legacy[edit]
Sarah Ellis, winner of a Governor General's Literary Award, suggested to Quill & Quire that Franklin in the Dark was one of the first “safer, more market-oriented” picture books in Canada.<spotlight> Fifty million Franklin series books have been printed.<pbfranklinfaqs> (60 million)[1] (65 million)[2]
In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the book's publication, a special edition was printed, including
Activity pages based on the book were created for Earth Hour 2011, with the World Wildlife Fund noting that it shared the themes of the dark and of courage. <earthhour> This first Franklin book was included in Quill & Quire literary magazine look at children's publishing in Canada, as being of note.<QQ> The publication has suggested that while “lovely imperfect, fundamentally decent, and slightly neurotic young animal characters” were common as of writing in 2011, Franklin was “one of the true originals” when he was created.<Mabel>
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e "Author of Franklin children's books to speak in Charlottetown". CBC News Prince Edward Island. 26 July 2016.
- ^ a b Williams, Leigh Ann (31 January 2014). "The Can-Do Spirit: Four Decades of Kids Can Press". Publisher's Weekly.
The 25th anniversary edition was given a 2012 award from the Canadian Children's Book Centre, in the category of Best Books for Kids & Teens.
It has been reprinted 1 February 2011 (
In ebook format, it has been made available as part of an anthology titled Three Classic Franklin Stories: Franklin in the Dark (25th Anniversary Edition), Franklin Says I Love You, and Franklin and the Thunderstorm.
The first television series based on the books, Franklin (1997), used the story as part of the basis for season 1 episode “Franklin and the Red Scooter/Franklin in the Dark”.
Franklin in the Dark
Written by Paulette Bourgeois Illustrated by Brenda Clark Series: Franklin Classic Storybooks This larger-format special collectible edition of the first Franklin book celebrates the 25th anniversary of the world's most beloved turtle. Includes never-before-seen archival material and personal letters from the author and illustrator that offers a fun behind-the-scenes peek at this Canadian classic. A perfect gift for long-time fans and a new generation of readers alike.
In the Franklin Classic Storybook that started it all, poor little Franklin has one of the most common childhood afflictions --- he is afraid of the dark. This is particularly distressing for Franklin as he happens to be a turtle, and the darkness he fears is, of course, inside his own shell. Bravely, with shell in tow, he sets forth to seek help and in the course of his travels discovers a bird who is afraid of heights, a polar bear who is afraid of the cold, and even a hydrophobic duck. In the end, Franklin discovers that everybody is afraid of something, even his own mother, and his response to what he has learned is guaranteed to draw a smile.
Share Hardcover Paperback 978-1-55453-616-0 | Feb 1, 2011 List Price: USD $18.95, CAD $18.95 4-color 8 1/2 x 9 1/2 48 pages Grades: PreSchool To 3 / Ages: 3 to 8