Franklin's Thanksgiving

by Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark (Illustrator)

Overview

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, our young hero likes everything about Thanksgiving, from eating pumpkin-fly pie to making cornucopias. But what he likes best is having his Grandma and Grandpa share the holiday with him and his family. This year, however, his grandparents are traveling abroad. Thanksgiving just won't be the same without guests around the table, so Franklin decides to invite some friends for dinner. What a nice surprise it will be for his parents. Only Franklin's mother and father have the same idea, and on Thanksgiving Day all their friends show up for the festivities! With no more room in the house, where will the holiday meal take place?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771380058
Publisher:	Kids Can Press, Limited
Publication date:	08/28/2013
Series:	Franklin Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	217,386
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Paulette Bourgeois is the author of more than 40 books for children, including the In My Neighborhood series and Oma's Quilt. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Brenda Clark is best known as the illustrator of the original Franklin the Turtle series written by Paulette Bourgeois. Other popular titles she has illustrated include Sadie and the Snowman, Big Sarah's Little Boots, and the award winning, Little Fingerling. Brenda lives in Port Hope, Ontario.

Read an Excerpt

Franklin's Thanksgiving

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By Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark, Tara Walker

Kids Can Press

Copyright © 2001 Contextx Inc.
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4532-4097-7

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CHAPTER 1

Franklin liked everything about Thanksgiving. He liked eating pumpkin-fly pie and cranberry jelly. He liked making cornucopias and cornhusk dolls. But, most of all, he liked having his Grandma and Grandpa come for dinner. It was the family tradition, and Franklin could hardly wait.

A week before Thanksgiving, a postcard arrived from Franklin's grandparents.

"Oh dear," sighed Franklin's mother. "Grandma and Grandpa can't make it back for the holiday."

"But they have to!" cried Franklin. "They're always here for Thanksgiving."

Franklin's mother gave him a hug. "There will still be the four of us," she said.

"It won't be the same," Franklin grumbled.

Over the next few days, Franklin was so busy that he didn't have much time to think about Grandma and Grandpa. He helped his mother pick apples and make applesauce. He helped his father dig up vegetables and store them in the cellar. Franklin and Bear helped Harriet and Beatrice pick berries and gat her nuts.

In the gardens and orchards, forests and fields, everyone was bringing in the harvest.

Franklin counted all the jars of jams and preserves.

"I think this year was the most bountiful ever," announced his father. "We could feed the whole town!"

"I just wish we could feed Grandma and Grandpa," sighed Franklin.

His mother agreed. "We'll miss having company," she said.

At school, Franklin's class made a harvest quilt and learned how the early settlers celebrated Thanksgiving.

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving, Mr. Owl?" asked Franklin.

"I'll have dinner with my mother," he replied. "Our relatives can't visit this year."

"Ours neither," said Franklin.

Then he had an idea. He invited Mr. Owl and his mother for dinner.

"It's all right with my parents," Franklin explained. "They want company."

"Well, thank you, Franklin," said Mr. Owl. "We'd be delighted to come."

Franklin smiled. This would be a wonderful surprise for his parents.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Franklin's Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark, Tara Walker. Copyright © 2001 Contextx Inc.. Excerpted by permission of Kids Can Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Editorial Reviews

Franklin’s Thanksgiving offers positive reinforcement of the real meaning of this holiday – sharing and being with family and friends.

Franklin’s Thanksgiving is worth adding to your list of titles in the Canadian series, as well as Thanksgiving themed collections.

Franklin’s Thanksgiving is worth adding to your list of titles in the Canadian series, as well as Thanksgiving themed collections.

From the Publisher

In Franklin's Thanksgiving, based on characters created by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark, the turtle and his family are disappointed when Grandma and Grandpa can't make it, but they find unexpected fun and friendship as they prepare for the annual feast. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Thanksgiving is a time to gather extended family around the holiday table, and Franklin's family of turtles is no exception. But this year, Grandma and Grandpa can't come and Franklin grumbles that "it won't be the same." For awhile everyone is preoccupied with harvesting vegetables and making jam. Gradually, and unbeknownst to each other, each member of the family invites someone for Thanksgiving who is also going to be more alone than usual for the holiday¾Owl the teacher, a neighbor with a broken ankle, the Bear family next door, and the new Moose family. Inevitably, the Thanksgiving feast spilled into the field and not a soul felt lonesome. It's a simple story, with brightly colored cartoon illustrations that introduces the Thanksgiving theme of sharing and shows the ability of a youngster to learn flexibility, come up with ideas and contribute to the family. 2001, Kids Can Press, $10.95. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Karen Leggett

Children's Literature

PreS-Gr 2-Franklin loves Thanksgiving and especially looks forward to his grandparents' visit. However, a week before the holiday, he learns that grandma and grandpa won't be coming for dinner this year. When the young turtle learns that Mr. Owl's relatives are not visiting either, he invites him to join his family, deciding that "This would be a wonderful surprise for his parents." Meanwhile, Franklin's mother decides to invite the Bear family and his father invites Mr. Mole, also without telling the others. Franklin invites the Moose family, too, since they are new in town. When the guests begin arriving, everyone is surprised to see who has come. All have brought platters and bowls heaped with food, and when the house becomes crowded, they move the feast outside-just like the early settlers. At the end of the day, Franklin's grandparents telephone and the young turtle tells them all about the new Thanksgiving tradition. They promise that they will be there next time. The story is thin. It's never explained why the grandparents disappoint their family by not coming, and letting them know by postcard seems very impersonal-particularly since they telephone on Thanksgiving night. Full-page and spot art show the very green turtle family engaging in all of the typical activities of the season, but there's still something lacking in this celebration.-Wendy S. Carroll, Montclair Cooperative School, NJ Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

School Library Journal

Franklin’s Thanksgiving offers positive reinforcement of the real meaning of this holiday – sharing and being with family and friends.

Christian Library Journal

Franklin’s Thanksgiving is worth adding to your list of titles in the Canadian series, as well as Thanksgiving themed collections.

CM Magazine