Franklin's Big Dreams -- A Review for Perfect Picture Book Friday

Thought for the Day:

"If writers of children's books had to take an oath it might begin, 'First tell the truth.'"
~ William Zinsser ~

 Some Gifts for My Writer Friends:

The folks at Children’s Book Insider and the Fightin’ Bookworms posted an interesting article about generating some fresh ideas. In case you haven’t seen this, click HERE to have a look.

Kathleen Temean has a guest post from Erika Wassall that SHOWS a way to TELL if you are TELLING, not SHOWING. Click HERE. It’s worth your time.

Some great ideas for getting ready to write from Writers Helping Writers. Click HERE to find these great ideas. 

Last week, Susanna Leonard Hill didn't run a Perfect Picture Book Friday, so neither did I. But I am going to try to keep this up, although time doesn't always cooperate. This month is Poetry Month and my friend JaNay Brown-Wood told me about a month-long series of posts all about rhyme and poetry and rhyming picture books called RhyPiBoMo (Rhyming Picture Book Month). It is put on by a wonderful, sharing writer/illustrator named Angie Karcher. There are guest posts and lessons (and HOMEWORK!!!) every day. It's a bit overwhelming at times, but I am loving it and am getting a lot of writing done. If you are interested, it's not too late to jump in. You can find it HERE.

The book I've chosen for today, unfortunately, is no longer in print, but you should be able to find it in the library and you can find used copies on Amazon. I found this book while working on something special for my blog that will appear the end of the month, and I simply fell in love with it. 

Title: Franklin's Big Dreams

Author: David Teague

Illustrator: Boris Kulikov

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Books

Year: 2010

Fiction

Intended audience: ages 3-7

Topic: Dreams and Imagination

Opening: One night, while he was staring at the moon, wishing he could visit it, Franklin heard somebody tapping on his wall. Only it wasn't exactly tapping. It was more like . . .

Isn't that a great opening? You have to turn the page. Franklin seems to have a little trouble going to sleep at night and, consequently, he isn't yet asleep when, well, odd things happen that would normally happen while a child slept. Things that would happen only in a child's dream.

David Teague

Boris Kulikov

This is simply a wonderful, imaginative book that will free children to use their own imaginations. It will help them think and will give parents a lot of "what if" ideas to charge up that imagination. At the same time, the children and the adults reading with them will be charmed completely by this beautifully illustrated story. Unfortunately, when a book goes out of print, there are not usually a lot of resources available, and this is no exception. There is, however, a wonderful interview with David Teague you can find HERE. Some of Boris Kulikov's illustrations can be found HERE.

Don't forget to check Susanna Leonard Hill's Perfect Picture Book Friday for lots of other suggestions for picture book reading. Just click HERE to find it.