Franklin's Halloween. Paulette Bourgeois. Illustrated by Brenda Clark. Toronto: Kids Can Press Ltd, 1996. 32 pp., $4.95.PB, $12.95 HC. ISBN 1-55074-285-X. Subject Headings: Halloween-Juvenile fiction. Halloween costumes-Juvenile fiction. Kindergarten - grade 3 / Ages 5 - 8. Review by Brian Rountree. ****/4

The adventures of Franklin are really coming "fast and furious" from the fertile imagination of Paulette Bourgeois. Here she records the fun which Franklin and his friends have at a community Halloween party. It is complete with games and prizes and a haunted house in the yard.

This is Franklin's 13th book and it is fitting that the superstitious number and the festival fit together. Franklin enjoys himself, as all children do, and manages to solve the mystery of the ghost, but not before he is as frightened as everyone else: Bear is always the ghost, but stayed home this year because of a cold. Franklin is sorry that his friend missed out on the fun and arranges for everyone to share in making up a Halloween bag of goodies for Bear.

Clark's illustrations of Franklin and his family and friends continue to be bright and cheerful. Her costumes for Franklin to try on are quite colourful and flamboyant. His final choice is well done and frightens his father (or is he just pretending?) Clark also pays attention to details not given in the text, such as the mice going trick-or-treating at the same time.

Primary grade children enjoy reading Franklin's stories (to Franklin himself, if you have one!) and this Halloween story will swiftly become another favourite.

Recommended

Brian Rountree is the teacher-librarian at Eastwood Elementary School in Thompson, Manitoba. He is the Archivist for the Manitoba School Library Association.

Other Franklin© stories by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark:

FRANKLIN HAS A SLEEPOVER ©1996
1996 ISBN 1-55074-300-7 $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-302-3 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN'S BLANKET ©1995
ISBN 1-55074-154-3 $12.95 HC
ISBN1-55074-278-7 $ 4.95 PB
* With each copy of Franklin's Blanket sold, a donation will be made to the Canadian Living Foundation's Breakfast for Learning Program - which helps feed Canadian children.

FRANKLIN GOES TO SCHOOL ©1995
ISBN 1-55074-268-X $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-276-0 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN AND THE TOOTH FAIRY ©I995
ISBN 1-55074-270-1 $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-280-9 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN PLAYS THE GAME ©l995
ISBN 1-55074-254-X $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-255-8 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN IS MESSY ©1994
ISBN 1-55074-243-4 $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-245-0 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN AND ME ©1994
A Book About Me, Written and Drawn by Me (With a Little Help from Franklin)
ISBN 1-55074-211-6 $12.95 HC

FRANKLIN WANTS A PET ©1994
ISBN 1-55074-247-7 $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-249-3 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN IS BOSSY ©1993
ISBN 1-55074-119-5 $12.95
HC ISBN 1-55074-257-4 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN IS LOST ©1992
ISBN 1-55074-053-9 $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-105-5 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN FIBS ©1991
ISBN 1-55074-038-5 $12.95 HC
ISBN 1-55074-077-6 $ 4.95 PB

HURRY UP, FRANKLIN ©I989
ISBN 0-921103-68-9 $12.95
HC ISBN 1-55074-016-4 $ 4.95 PB

FRANKLIN IN THE DARK ©1986
ISBN 0-919964-93-1 $12.95 HC
ISBN 0-921103-31 -X $ 4.95 PB

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Copyright © 1996 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364