Franklin's Big Dreams

by David Teague, Boris Kulikov (Illustrator)

Franklin’s trying to sleep, but a construction crew has other plans. Each night there’s a different railroad, canal, runway—and every one of them is being built in the middle of Franklin’s bedroom. Where are all these people going? And why are they in Franklin’s room? Franklin’s determined to find out.

With equal measures of dreamy adventure and down-to-earth construction fun, this collaboration between new author David Teague and established illustrator Boris Kulikov is sure to be a favorite bedtime book in homes everywhere.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Transport

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2010

Reviews

[David Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I'm the one who wrote it, so maybe I'm biased, but I LOVE it.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Julia and I found this at the library this week and only noticed it right then because it was front and center due to the author being from Delaware. It's one of the 5 Blue Hen Nominee's and I plan on getting the other 4 so Julia can vote.
Both Julia and I thought we'd already read this when we looked at the cover more closely when we picked it up at home. Once we opened the book I saw that this wasn't the case. I can't recall the title this cover reminds us of.
A few people have given the jist of the story so I'll skip that.
The biggest plus for me was that it wasn't too repetitive. With a story like this that can happen very easily and it does happen - all over child-lit.
I don't know that Julia really "got" what I did from the story but she enjoyed it, I enjoyed it and it was different. All great points!

[Amberlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book for free through goodreads!!! It thought it was an awesome story and I especially liked the ending. The pictures were really cute.

[Clementine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are interesting enough and help convey the murkiness of dreams, but the ending is super vague and is going to be incredibly confusing for most little kids. It might encourage a conversation between adults and children about the weird ways our brains work when we go to sleep and dream, but my guess is it's going to confuse some adults, too.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young boy wakes up every night to construction taking place in his bedroom everynight. What is happening and why does the construction get dismateled after. Preschool and up

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was sort of vague, but I guess that would lend itself to discussion between parent and child after reading...but it was still kind of weird.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The more time I spend with this book, the more I like it. I love, love, love that what's going on in the book is NEVER explicitly stated. All the clues are there, but it's all for the kids themselves to unpack and discover. Plus there's so much to look at, both on the dream pages as well as on the construction pages, and the idea that these places can be built and taken down in someone's bedroom in just one night is absurd enough to make me smile.

I have this feeling that this book is reminding me of some other particular title that I can't put my finger on right now; it's kind of driving me crazy. Is it something by Chris Van Allsburg? Is it soemthing by William Joyce? Is it Max's Dragon, which Kulikov also illustrated?

[Erin Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first time I read the book I didn't really like it. Then I read it again and liked it a bit more then, I thought about reading it to a group of preschoolers and started to enjoy it more. This book just takes a bit of time to grow on you. I did expect some LOUD word when you turned the page after it set up the quiet room and at first was disappointed it wasn't there but, after my second read I saw that the book was quite clever in not doing it.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great story to read aloud to kindergarten or first grade. The repetition of the construction crew coming into Franklin's bedroom at night to build a different route gives the sense of expectation. The ending confused me a little bit at first, requiring close attention to the illustrations. Children will enjoy the adventure and wonder what will appear next at night.

[OCLS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young boy's sleep is repeatedly interrupted by unusual building projects during the night.

Dream Big (Summer Reading Program 2012) recommended book

Available from OCLS in print.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franklin has had a dream. Actually several dreams. An old man has come knocking in the middle of the night and tears down franklins bedroom, to usher through a train, or a plane, or a boat full of people having dreams. This is a wonderful story, with the slightest bit of mystery, and a whole lot of imagination. Loved both the story and illustrations.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful, imaginative story about a boy and different modes of transportation that come right through his bedroom. Great one-on-one for preschool children, could be read aloud to kindergarten-1st.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Franklin's dreams are raucous and larger than life. My preschooler absolutely loved this book. The illustrations are vital to the book and the type that a child could pour over for hours, taking it all in.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story that makes the adults think while reading it. My little son loved the pictures, and even though the storyline was "above" what I thought his level, he requested this as his favorite library book this week. Story of how dreams can become reality in your bedroom.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a debut for the author, and the illustrator has several published titles. A fun very imaginative dream theme book that boys will love for the adventure of it all. The entire story line is unique. Its a great read.

[Suzanne Lattanzio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and magical. Sure to induce dreaminess and imagination to children at bedtime and even during the day. Fabulous art by Boris Kulikov.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be read and enjoyed on several levels and it may take more than one reading for all of it to sink in! Delightful illustrations and room for lots of imagination!

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

perfect story for a pajama storytime, or for a program that focuses on dreaming and imagination.

[SBPL Storytime · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining story with gorgeous illustrations.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book nicely captures the wonder and surrealism of dreams.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A humorous and imaginative read about dreams and dreaming

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy's sleep is repeatedly interrupted by unusual building projects during the night.