Franklin in the Dark

A young turtle is afraid of the dark inside his own shell, so he sets off asking other animals for help, only to discover that a bird, a polar bear, and a duck all have fears of their own.

For the kid who needs a nightlight and a reason why being scared doesn't make them different from everyone else, Franklin's shell full of darkness feels exactly like their own worry.

• Big idea: Everyone is afraid of something — even the grown-ups you think are fearless.
• Vibes: Gentle, reassuring, quietly funny.

• are working on managing fear of the dark
• enjoy stories with a parade of animal characters
• respond well to a calm, reassuring resolution
• like to talk about what scares them

• Story & problem-solving: What did Franklin do when he realized he was afraid of the dark inside his shell?
• Feelings & empathy: How do you think Franklin felt when he found out the polar bear was afraid of the cold?
• Real-life connection: What's something that scares you, like the duck being afraid of water?
• Imagination: If you met Franklin, what would you tell him about your own fears?
• Story & problem-solving: Why do you think it helped Franklin to learn that his mother was afraid of something too?