Franklin's Neighborhood

Franklin the Turtle

by Paulette Bourgeois

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, Franklin's first school project is to create a picture of what he likes best about his neighborhood. Franklin can't decide what to draw. Beaver chooses the library and Moose decides on the pond. Franklin likes those places, too. But what about the fire station? Or the park? After considering all the many choices, Franklin finally decides that it's the people, rather than the places, that make his neighborhood so special.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Canada, Fiction, Classics, Animals, School

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bourgeois graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 1974. She was a psychiatric occupational therapist for three years before deciding to focus on her writing. She studied journalism at Carlton University then worked as a reporter for the Ottawa Citizen and CBC Television. She became a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C. contributing pieces to Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Reader's Digest and Maclean's. She returned to Toronto in 1983.

In 2003, she became a Member of the Order of Canada and in 2007, she received an Honourary Doctor of Laws from her alma mater, the University of Western Ontario.

Reviews

[C. (Don't blank click my reviews, comment please!]

When I saw “Franklin In The Dark” at one of my favourite book charities last year, it looked special and it is! I discovered that creators Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark are award-winning Canadians - Paulette from my very own city - and was proud. I am excited to snap up Franklin storybooks anywhere they are found and “Franklin’s Hallowe’en” followed. Both garnered five stars from me. Lately I added “Franklin’s Neighbourhood”, from 1999. Brenda drew but they appear to have given permission for Sharon Jennings to compose a story. I noticed this one did not evoke the usual high emotions and what’s more, I was grossed out by a couple of drawings; which resulted in four-star grading. However I appreciate that this legacy will keep on receiving fresh air.

I have found all of my life that the emotions, intellect, and communication of animals is unequivocally real. Thus however cutely genuine traits might be represented: I do not deem it anthropomorphizing, unless animals are portrayed in tableaux that really do pertain to us solely; like Franklin’s bricked community, family, and mixed animal school. The sour note is crude animal lore, suddenly clashing with this. Either depict turtles eating what they usually do, or portray Franklin like a human boy eating cookies at home with his Mother. Please do not show a cookie or pie.... baked out of flies! Wanting to gag, cost this a star. I knew this was not how Paulette & Brenda fashioned their world of dimpled turtles!

The other reason I cited was this book not taking us through an enthralling situation, like Franklin adapting to the dark and his marvellously spooky Hallowe’en outing with friends. Even though the result is endearing, Franklin merely mulled over an assignment: what to draw as his favourite aspect of his neighbourhood.

[Kinga (oazaksiazek)]

Uroczy ten Franklin w tej części swoich przygód. Zaskakuje wszystkich swoją pomysłowością, empatią i serdecznością.

Bardzo lubimy ilustracje tej serii.

[معصومه توکلی]

عنوان ترجمه فارسی: محلّه ی فرانکلین

[Ashley Wampler]

Franklin has to do a school project about the favorite thing in his neighborhood. All of his friends choose their favorite very quickly, but Franklin is stumped. He finally realizes that things and places don't make his neighborhood great, the people in it do!

[Alisa Cupcakeland]

Quand j'étais enfant, j'adorais Franklin. Aujourd'hui, je suis allée à la librairie et j'ai trouvé un livre de Franklin en français, ce qui m'a fait très plaisir. Je l'ai lu et cela m'a rappelé mon enfance. Dans ce livre, Franklin doit dessiner ce qu'il préfère dans son quartier. Après de réflechir, il découvre que ce qu'il préfère dans son quartier, ce sont ses amis et ses voisins.

[Blanka Balbuk]

поредицата за Франклин е много поучителна. има книжка за почти всяка тема ,която може да обясни живота на едно малко дете. чета тази поредица на детето от 3г ,вече е на 5г и има още интерес към нея. не бих казала ,че й е любима ,но определено е високо оценена от мама и дете.

[Kristen Dutkiewicz]

A wonderful children's book to introduce with a community helpers' theme for younger students as Franklin searches for his favorite part of his community.

[Джорджия]

Дядо Коледа се погрижи да имаме и тази.

[Ruth]

love these books

[Rick Christiansen]

Like this series but this one was a bore.

[KaitandMaddie]

A good book for predicting what he will draw and a nice memory for Kait of making our town out of cardboard boxes in kindergarten.

[Chris Hays]

This was a great book to kick off the series with my son. He would like more books like this.

[Fernando]

This is a beautiful book that helped me focus closely on the details of my own neighborhood.

[Lily Tice Weaver]

#mobilityaiduser

[Rosa Cline]

This was one of the better Franklin the turtle books. There were no 'negativity' such as tantrums, or name calling ect that some of his books have in them.

Franklin and his friend each had an assignment to draw abut what was their favorite thing in their neighborhood. While in the tor Franklin thinks hard about what he likes the best he can't decide on one thing to do his project about. One fried is doing her project on the library, another is doing his on the Fire Department, another the lake, all these help Franklin remember good memories of each and how much each person is special to him. At the end of the book he does his project on his 'neighbors'. All his friends (adults and children) are his favorite and is what makes his neighborhood...

A good book to help teach a little one the importance of how much people in your neighborhood help make your area a safe and fun place to live.

[Kimmy]

What is your favorite thing about the neighborhood you live in? Franklin has a new project at school and it is going to be fun, but Franklin has to decide what his most favorite part of his neighborhood is and draw it for school. How will Franklin ever choose from all of his favorite things on such a great neighborhood? I really loved this story.

[Don H.M]

Another great book, this time delving into topics of class, segregation and economics. The facilities in Franklin's neighborhood are built for 2 legged animals as 4 legged animals like mr moose are deprived of even clothes. Civil rights concerns are brought up to make you question the problem inherent in our sociopolitical system.

[The Brothers]

A story of what makes a place special. Everyone in Franklin's class has a different idea of what is the best part of the neighborhood. But Franklin figures out that the neighbors are the best part of the neighborhood.

Typical Franklin illustrations.

[Theresa]

Franklin's Neighborhood
Jennings, Sharon
related to the television show teaching about friends and neighbors..

[Theresa]

a cute childhood story book.

[Jasmine Olivia]

We love FRANKLIN! :)

[Zachary Alcorn]

I liked this book because i remembered watching it when i was a little kid. This is good for kids because if they have a hard time reading they can always watch the show.

[Magdalena]

Piękna, ciepła Bajka. Polecam ! :)

[Paolish]

Somos iguales de indecisos y complicados. Pero no salimos con la nuestra, hacemos trabajos diferentes.

[Child960801]

The last line of this one just seems so smug to me.

[Summer]

I would classify this book as a picture book. This book helps students think about their own neighborhood and what they like about it. After reading this book as a class it would be fun to do the same class project Franklin did and write about what our favorite part of our neighborhood is.