Franklin's Class Trip

May 1, 1999
K-Gr 2-As in her earlier titles about the turtle, Bourgeois describes a situation that most children will find familiar. This time, Franklin is going to a museum with his classmates. He can't wait to go, until he hears from Beaver that, "There are real dinosaurs inside." Terrified, Franklin and his friend Snail worry throughout the entire visit, until they find themselves face to face with a Tyrannosaurus rex-and learn that all that's left of the dinosaurs are their bones. Clark's bright illustrations capture the expressions of Franklin and his friends as they explore the museum-from their joy when dressing up as knights in the medieval room to their fear of the dinosaur exhibit. This book will make a good read-aloud, both one-on-one and in a storytime setting. Children who have been to museums will see plenty of familiar things, and those who haven't may find themselves eager to take a trip to see the dinosaurs and more.-Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY

Copyright 1999 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 1999
Ages 3^-6. Franklin the turtle is off to the museum with his classmates. Beaver, the class know-it-all who has been to the museum before, tells Franklin that the dinosaur exhibit contains real dinosaurs. The bones are "real," but Franklin misunderstands and thinks that the dinosaurs are alive. Snail is nervous, too, and the two become more and more spooked as the class makes its way through the museum. When Franklin and Snail summon up the courage to enter the dinosaur exhibit and discover only skeletons, Franklin manages to cover up the mistake. It may be hard for children, even preschoolers, to believe that Franklin could be so naive, but little ones familiar with Franklin's previous adventures will welcome the lovable character back. Clark's bright, colorful illustrations, depicting a variety of animals with typical school-kids' paraphernalia and filled with interesting details, also help compensate for the predictable plot. ((Reviewed March 1, 1999))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1999, American Library Association.)