Contents

Franklin Goes to the Hospital

Franklin and the Tooth Fairy

Finders Keepers for Franklin

With Special Thanks to the Community Memorial Hospital in Port Perry and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto – B.C.

Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.

Text © 2000 by Contextx Inc.

Illustrations 2000 © Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.

Story written by Sharon Jennings

Interior illustrations prepared with the assistance of Shelley Southern.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means without, the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from CANCOPY (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E5.

Kids Can Press acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada, through the BPIDP, for our publishing activity.

Kids Can Press Ltd.

29 Birch Avenue

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M4V 1E2

Printed in Hong Kong by Wing King Tong Co. Ltd.

This book is limp sewn with a drawn-on cover.

CDN PA    00 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Franklin goes to the hospital

Based on characters created by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark.

eISBN 978-1-4532-1862-4

ISBN 1-55074-732-0 (bound)     ISBN 1-55074-734-7 (pbk.)

I.     Bourgeois, Paulette.         II. Clark, Brenda.

PS8550.F724 2000 jC813’.54           C99-931786-5

PZ7.F724   2000

Kids Can Press is a Nelvana Company

Franklin Goes to the Hospital

Story based on characters created by Paulette Bourgeois

Illustrated by Brenda Clark

Kids Can Press

FRANKLIN sometimes had colds and tummy aches, and every now and then he got cuts and bruises. He went to the doctor’s for regular checkups, and once the doctor came to Franklin’s house. But, until now, Franklin had never been to the hospital.

Franklin and his friends were playing soccer. The ball was kicked to Franklin, and it hit him hard in the chest.

“Ooof!” he groaned. But he kept on playing.

That night at bathtime Franklin said, “Ouch!” when he dried his tummy.

His mother took a closer look.

“Hmmm,” she said. “We’ll go to the doctor first thing tomorrow.”

With gentle fingers, Dr. Bear poked and prodded Franklin’s shell. She discovered a small crack.

“It isn’t serious, Franklin,” she said. “But I have to put a pin in your shell to help it grow properly. I’ll schedule an operation for you tomorrow morning at the hospital.”

“Will it hurt?” asked Franklin.

“We’ll give you sleep medicine before the operation, so you won’t feel a thing,” replied Dr. Bear. “When you wake up, you’ll be a little sore. But we’ll keep you in the hospital overnight to make sure that you’re okay.”

Dr. Bear explained that operations can only be done when a patient has an empty stomach. She told Franklin not to eat or drink after bedtime that night.

Franklin didn’t mind. His tummy was too busy flip-flopping for him to think about eating.

After school, Franklin’s friends came to visit.

Franklin showed them the book about hospitals that Dr. Bear had given him. Fox pointed to a picture and asked why everyone was wearing a mask.

“Masks keep germs out of the operating room,” explained Franklin.

“Are you scared?” asked Beaver.

“Of course he’s not scared,” replied Bear. “Franklin’s very brave.”

Franklin didn’t say anything.

It was early when Franklin and his parents left for the hospital. With his blue blanket and Sam clutched in his arms, Franklin said goodbye to his room.

Franklin’s mother gave him a hug. “You’ll be home tomorrow,” she reminded him.

“I know,” Franklin said softly.

“You’re a very brave little turtle,” said his father.

At the hospital, Franklin was given a bracelet with his name on it. Then an attendant pushed him down a long hallway in a wheelchair.

Franklin stared at all the strange equipment on carts and trolleys, and he wrinkled his nose at the unfamiliar smells. As they went around corners and through doors, Franklin kept checking to make sure that his parents were keeping up. 

At last, they reached Franklin’s room.

A nurse gave Franklin a special gown to wear.  She took his temperature and his blood pressure and listened to his heart. Next she rubbed some cream on his hand.

“This will numb your hand,” she told him. “Then it won’t hurt when the doctor puts in the needle for your sleep medicine.”

“Okay,” said Franklin in a small voice.

“You’re a very brave patient,” said the nurse.

Soon the attendant came back to take Franklin to another room. Dr. Bear was waiting for him.

“We’re going to take some X-rays,” she said. “I need to know exactly where to put the pin.”

“I don’t want X-rays,” whispered Franklin.

“X-rays don’t hurt,” explained Dr. Bear. “The machine only takes pictures of what’s inside you.”

“I know,” said Franklin.

He started to cry.

 Dr. Bear sat down beside Franklin.

“Please tell me what’s wrong,” she said.

Franklin sniffled.  “Everybody thinks I’m brave, but I’ve just been pretending. X-rays will show that inside I’m scared.”

“Oh Franklin!” exclaimed Dr. Bear. “An X-ray doesn’t show feelings.  It only shows shell and bones.”

“You mean no one will know I’m afraid?” Franklin asked.

“No one,” replied Dr. Bear. “But just because you’re afraid doesn’t mean you aren’t brave. Being brave means doing what you have to do, no matter how scared you feel.”

Franklin thought for a few moments. 

“Well, I am scared to have the operation,” he finally said.  “But I know I have to so my shell will grow big and strong.”

Dr. Bear smiled.  “That’s what being brave is all about.”

Franklin let out a very deep sigh.

“I’m ready now,” he said.

When the X-rays were done, Franklin was taken to the waiting room. 

“We aren’t allowed into the operating room, Franklin,” said his father. 

“But we’ll be with you in the recovery room when you wake up,” his mother promised.

Soon Dr. Bear came to get Franklin. His mother and father kissed him and waved as he went through the doors.

In the operating room, Franklin said hello to the other doctors and nurses. Dr. Bear put stickers on Franklin’s chest and explained that this was how they would watch his breathing and heartbeat during the operation.

Then Dr. Raccoon put a needle for the sleep medicine in Franklin’s hand. It didn’t hurt at all. When that was done, he asked Franklin to count backwards from one hundred.

“But I can only count backwards from ten,” Franklin said.

“That will be just fine,” said Dr. Bear.

“Ten, nine, eight …” began Franklin.

And that was as far as he got.

“Wake up, Franklin,” called a faraway voice.

But Franklin didn’t want to wake up. In his dream he was scoring the winning goal.

“Wake up now, Franklin,” said his mother.

Slowly, Franklin opened his eyes.  He saw his parents and Dr. Bear, and then he remembered.

“I haven’t finished counting,” he said in a wobbly voice.

“But I’ve finished operating,” said Dr. Bear with a laugh.

Two hours later, Franklin was back in his hospital room. He walked slowly to the mirror and looked at his bandages.

“I guess it’ll be a while before I can play soccer again,” he sighed.

“Dr. Bear thinks you’ll heal very quickly,” said Franklin’s father.

“She also said you’re an excellent patient,” added his mother.

Franklin smiled.

That night, after Franklin’s parents had gone home, Dr. Bear came to see him.

“I have something to show you, Franklin,” she said.  She held up an X-ray.

“Is that me?” he asked.

Dr. Bear nodded.  “That’s you,” she said.  “Brave through and through.”

Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.

Text © 1995 Contextx Inc.

Illustrations © 1995 Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.

Interior illustrations prepared with the assistance of Dimitrije Kostic.

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. or, in case of photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright).  For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll free to 1-800-893-5777.

Kids Can Press acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada, through the BPIDP, for our publishing activity.

Published in Canada by

Kids Can Press Ltd.

25 Dockside Drive

Toronto, ON   M5A 0B5

www.Kidscanpress.com

The hardcover edition of this book is smyth sewn casebound.

The paperback edition of this book is limp sewn with a drawn-on cover.

Manufactured in Buji, Shenzhen, China, in 10/2010 by WKT Company

CM 95 0 9 8

CDN PA 95 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Bourgeois, Paulette

        Franklin and the tooth fairy/ Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark.

ISBN 978-1-55453-734-1

1. Franklin (Fictitious character: Bourgeois) – Juvenile fiction.

I. Clark, Brenda II. Title.

PS8553.O85477F58 2011         jc813’.54C2010-906681-2

Kids Can Press is a Corus ™ Entertainment company

Franklin and
the Tooth Fairy

Written by Paulette Bourgeois

Illustrated by Brenda Clark

Kids Can Press

FRANKLIN could count by twos and tie his shoes. He had lots of good friends, and one best friend, named Bear. Franklin and Bear were the same age. They lived in the same neighbourhood. They liked the same games. But one morning, Franklin discovered a way that he and Bear were different.

Waiting for the school bus, Bear put his paw in his mouth and wiggled a tooth back and forth. It jiggled and wiggled and then, with a tug, it came out.

“Look at this!” said Bear. “I lost my first tooth.”

Franklin was startled. There was even a little blood on the tooth. “That’s terrible. How are you going to tell your mother?”

Bear laughed.

“My teeth are supposed to fall out,” said Bear.  “It makes room for my grown-up teeth.”

Franklin ran his tongue around his gums. They were smooth and firm … and completely toothless.

“I don’t have any teeth,” said Franklin.

It was Bear’s turn to be surprised.

Franklin’s friends shook their heads sadly. “Too bad,” they said.

Franklin wondered why. He had never needed teeth before.

Bear wrapped his tooth in a bit of tissue and put it in his backpack. “I need to keep this safe,” he said.

All the way to school, Franklin wondered why Bear wanted to keep his old tooth. Especially if he was going to get a brand-new grown-up tooth. Now that was exciting.

“Why do you want to keep your tooth?” asked Franklin. “Won’t you get a big one soon?”

All his friends looked at him with amazement.

“Don’t you know about the tooth fairy?” asked Fox.

Franklin shook his head.

“At night, before you go to sleep, you put your baby tooth under your pillow. Then the tooth fairy comes and takes the tooth away,” explained Fox.

“But that’s stealing,” said Franklin. “Besides, what does the tooth fairy do with all those teeth?”

There was a long pause.

Bear scratched his head. Fox swished his tail, and Rabbit twitched.

“I don’t know,” said Bear, “but she always leaves something behind.”

“One of her own teeth?” asked Franklin.

Everybody laughed.

“Oh, Franklin!” said Fox. “The tooth fairy leaves a present.”

Franklin wondered what kind of present a tooth fairy would leave.

“I hope I get some money,” said Bear.

“When I lost my first tooth, I got a new book,” said Raccoon.

“I got crayons,” Fox said.

Franklin rubbed his gums. He wished he had a tooth to leave for the tooth fairy. He wanted a present, too.

Bear showed his tooth to Mr. Owl as soon as he got to school.

Mr. Owl was very excited. “Losing your baby teeth means you are growing up,” he said.

Franklin did not say anything. He had no teeth, but he wanted to feel grown-up, too.

Franklin was quiet for the rest of the day.

Even at home, Franklin was quieter than usual.

“What’s wrong?” asked Franklin’s mother.

“I don’t have any teeth,” he answered.

“Neither do we,” said his father. “That’s the way turtles are.”

“But I want teeth,” said Franklin. His parents looked surprised.

“My friends get presents from the tooth fairy when they lose their teeth,” said Franklin.

“Why do they get presents for old teeth?” asked Franklin’s father.

“Because it means they are growing up,” said Franklin.

“I see,” said his father.

That night, just before bed, Franklin had a good idea. Perhaps tooth fairies did not know that turtles have no teeth. He found a tiny white rock to put under his shell.

He asked his mother to help him write a note. It read:

Dear Tooth Fairy,

This is a turtle tooth. You

May not have seen one before.

Please leave a present.

Franklin

Franklin woke up very early the next morning. He looked under his shell. The rock was gone, but there was a note instead of a present.

He ran to his parent’s room. “What does it say?” he asked.

Franklin’s father put on his reading glasses.

Dear Franklin,

Sorry. Turtles don’t have teeth.

Good try.

Your friend, The Tooth Fairy

Franklin was very unhappy until he noticed a big wrapped package near his breakfast bowl.

“Open it,” said Franklin’s mother.

Inside was a beautiful book.

“Who is it from?” asked Franklin.

“From us,” said his parents. “To celebrate your growing up.”

Franklin stood very tall. “Thank you.”

From then on, Franklin didn’t worry about being different from Bear. He knew that, in all the important ways, he and Bear were exactly the same.

Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.

Text © 1997 by Contextx. Inc.

Illustrations © 1997 Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.

Interior illustrations prepared with the assistance of Shelley Southern.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. or in case for photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from CANCOPY (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E5.

Kids Can Press acknowledges the financial support of the Ontario Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Government of Canada, through the BPIDP, for our publishing activity.

Kids Can Press Ltd.

29 Birch Avenue

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M4V 1E2

Printed in Hong Kong by Wing King Tong Company Limited

This book is limp sewn with a drawn-on cover.

CDN PA 97 0 9 8 7 6 5 4

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Bourgeois, Paulette

Finders keepers for Franklin

ISBN 1-55074-368-6 (bound)     ISBN 1-55074-370-8 (pbk.)

I.        Clark, Brenda. II. Title

PS8553.085477F56   1997           jC813’.54        C97-930952-2

PZ7.B68Fi         1997

Kids Can Press is a Nelvana company

Finders Keepers for Franklin

Written by Paulette Bourgeois

Illustrated by Brenda Clark

Kids Can Press

FRANKLIN could count by twos and tie his shoes. He was good at seeing things that others missed. Once Franklin found a lucky four-leaf clover. Another time, he found the keys his mother had lost. But one day Franklin found something special.

Franklin was walking to the park when he spotted a flash of blue. Something was lying by the side of the path.

“Oh!” said Franklin, picking it up. “A camera!”

He had never found anything quite so wonderful before.

Franklin looked through the viewfinder. He imagined he was a photographer, just like Grandma, who took last summer’s pictures.

“Say ‘Cheese!’” he said.

Franklin pretended to click the clicker.

Then he noticed that somebody had already taken one picture.

As soon as Franklin got to the park, he showed the camera to his friends.

“Wow,” said Moose. “Is that yours?”

“Not exactly,” said Franklin. “ I found it.”

Beaver shrugged. “Finders keepers,” she said.

“Well, I looked, but there’s no name on the camera,” said Franklin.

“Then it’s yours,” insisted Beaver.

“It’s not like stealing,” said Moose. “You found it.”

Still, Franklin knew he wasn’t allowed to keep things that didn’t belong to him.

He decided to find the owner later.

Just then, Beaver made a funny face.

“That’s good!” said Franklin.

He snapped a picture.

“Me too! Me too!” cried Moose and Rabbit.

Before he knew it, Franklin had used the rest of the film.

Franklin took the film out of the camera and put it in his marble bag.

“I’ll have to get more film,” he said.

“Are you keeping the camera?” asked Moose.

Franklin looked surprised.

“Whoops! I almost forgot that it isn’t mine,” said Franklin. “I’d better find out who lost it.”

“Maybe the owner will be mad because you used the camera,” Beaver said.

Franklin gulped. “I didn’t think of that.”

Now Franklin wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t like it when someone was angry with him.

Franklin thought for a while.

After his friends left, he put the camera back where he’d found it.

“That’s better,” he sighed. “Now nobody will be mad at me.”

Franklin went home and ate a nice supper.

After supper, Franklin’s father wanted to play marbles. When Franklin opened his marble bag, the film rolled out.

“What’s that?” asked Franklin’s father.

“Ummm,” said Franklin.

His father waited patiently.

Finally, Franklin blurted out the whole story – finding the camera, using it and then putting the camera back.

“So you used something that didn’t belong to you?” asked his father.

“Not on purpose,” answered Franklin. “It just sort of happened.”

“What do you think should happen now?” said his father.

Franklin thought and thought.

“Maybe we could get the camera and try to find the owner,” he said finally.

So Franklin and his father got the camera, made signs and posted them in the park.

They waited a week, but nobody claimed the camera.

Then they went to the police station and told the officers that they’d found a camera. Still nobody claimed it.

Franklin took the film to be developed. He bought a new roll of film with his allowance and popped it into the camera.

The next day, the pictures were ready.

Franklin held up a photo of Raccoon’s family.

“I know who owns the camera!” he shouted. “Raccoon must have taken a picture just before he lost the camera. And he’s been away, so he didn’t see our signs.”

Franklin returned the camera to Raccoon and apologized for using his film.

Raccoon wasn’t mad at all. He was so happy to have his camera back that he shared his snack with Franklin.

“Cheese!” said Franklin, smiling.

And Raccoon snapped a picture.