Book Talk: Franklin in the Dark
Narrated by Kellie Wallen
Book Information
• Franklin in the Dark
-by Pauline Bourgeois, Illustrated by Brenda Clark
• Written in 1986
• Is the first in a large series of books about
Franklin the turtle.
Bourgeois, Paulette, and Brenda Clark. Franklin in the
Dark. Niagara Falls, NY: Kids Can Press Ltd.,
1986. Print.
Franklin in the Dark-Overview
• Story of a young turtle boy who is afraid of the
dark.
• Told in third person and is set mostly outside,
near a pond.
• Representational art, double page spreads.
• Some personification, such as animals wearing
clothing, interacting and behaving as humans.
Franklin in the Dark - Theme
• Main theme is fears
• Sends the message that everyone has fears, there
is no shame to hold for having fears, but facing
fears can be beneficial.
• The book is easily relatable to children and adults
of all ages, especially children who are afraid of
the dark. Fear of darkness is a common fear for
young children. Reading about it might help them
better deal with the fear.
• Fear of darkness makes Franklin more relatable to
certain readers.
Franklin in the Dark - Storyline
• Franklin’s fear of darkness made him afraid to
crawl into his small, dark shell; So he dragged
his shell behind him everywhere he went.
• His mother tried to convince him that there
was nothing to be fearful about the dark, but
Franklin was convinced that frightening things
lived inside the darkness of his shell.
Franklin in the Dark – Storyline
• Franklin went around asking his peers for help on
getting over his fear. The book follows Franklin as
he encounters other animals including a duck,
lion, bird, and even a polar bear.
• While none of them can directly help Franklin
overcome his fear, they each reveal their own
unique fears. Franklin also learns that even his
own mother has fears sometimes.
• This realization comforts Franklin and teaches
him that it is okay to have fears in life-and that
everyone has their own fears!
Franklin in the Dark - Storyline
• Still, Franklin’s fear of the dark remains.
• Will Franklin EVER be able to face his fear of
darkness and climb into his shell, or will he be
forced to drag his shell around behind him for
his whole life?
 Pick up a copy of “Franklin in the Dark”
to find out!