Franklin Goes to the Hospital

Franklin the Turtle

by Paulette Bourgeois, Brenda Clark

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, our hero goes to the hospital for an operation to repair his broken shell, and everyone thinks he's being very brave. But Franklin is only pretending to be fearless. He's worried that his X-rays will show just how frightened he is inside. With the help of Dr. Bear, Franklin learns that even though he's feeling scared, he can still be brave.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Health, Animals, Hospitals, Fiction, Medical

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bourgeois graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational therapy from the University of Western Ontario in 1974. She was a psychiatric occupational therapist for three years before deciding to focus on her writing. She studied journalism at Carlton University then worked as a reporter for the Ottawa Citizen and CBC Television. She became a freelance journalist in Washington, D.C. contributing pieces to Chatelaine, Canadian Living, Reader's Digest and Maclean's. She returned to Toronto in 1983.

In 2003, she became a Member of the Order of Canada and in 2007, she received an Honourary Doctor of Laws from her alma mater, the University of Western Ontario.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Franklin is very brave when he has to go to the hospital. He is also scared and he is afraid people will know he is scared and not so brave inside. He is a real trooper. This is good at explaining everything that is going to happen in a hospital, well, not everything, but enough.

My niece had to go to the hospital overnight and she kept saying that she had done that. This book helped her to feel very brave at what she did. She gave this 4 stars. The nephew didn’t see the big deal. He liked seeing the ‘insides’ or the X-rays. He gave this 3 stars.

[Fahimeh · Rating 5 out of 5]

من این کتاب رو به ترجمه ی گلرنگ درویشیان کرمانشاهی و از انتشارات نردبان خوندم .
خلاصه و مفبد بخوام بگم
خوندن این کتاب به بچه ها یاد میده ترس هاشون رو بشناسن و با اونها روبرو بشن .
داستان مثل بقیه ی کتاب های مجموعه روان و خوش خوانه همراه با تصویرگری عالی

[Mason, Natalie & Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great book to read to kids before they have to go in to the hospital...it goes through pretty much EVERYTHING and touches on what being brave means. Mason really liked this book, because he's been through all the things Franklin was going through in the book...and really brought home to him that he IS brave every time he goes in, even though he cries.

[Luisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I liked how it walks kids through the procedures for
having surgery. I like the lesson that courage isn't just not being scared.
Courage is going ahead even though we're scared. Good lesson for
everyone!

[Orsolya Hurta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franklin was a very brave little turtle!!! :)
It's a great little story about going to the hospital. It was great to tell like a bedtime story!

[The Unabridged Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

We really enjoyed this book. We have a fondness for all of the Franklin stories, but this one really resonated with our little family. Our son can be painfully shy, and frequently says that he's scared of things. This book helped introduce the idea that it's okay to be scared & that we can be brave AND scared at the same time. Great lesson!

[magda · Rating 5 out of 5]

to pierwsza ksiazka w moim zyciu jaka przeczytalam sama 🥹

[Angieleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Franklin. The lessons that the books teach are perfect for young children.

After an accident when playing basketball, Franklin needs to go have surgery to repair his shell. He is scared, but tries his best to be brave. With the help of his doctor, Franklin takes a deep breath and makes it through surgery just fine.

I definitely recommend this book for children who are facing surgery and are scared. I also think that this could be read to children who have to go to the doctor and may be scared or whatnot.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids enjoyed this book. They requested it a few nights in a row, and would "read" it themselves too.

It was our first Franklin book. We were all very happy with this book.

They have gone to the hospital, they have had xrays. And they felt bad for Franklin. But was able to understand why he went to the hospital, and happy he made a full recovery.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

08/09: When Franklin cracks his shell playing soccer, he has to go to the hospital for an operation. This book does a beautiful job introducing a child to the sights, sounds and emotions of having to have an operation or spend time in a hospital. This is one of our favorites. It makes a great gift to a child when he/she is going into the hospital or a loved one is.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor Franklin gets hurt while he is playing soccer with his friends. He has been to the doctor before, but never the hospital. Franklin shows readers that sometimes we get hurt and it's okay to be scared.

[Theo Scully · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen...I saw the bandages and I immediately become 7 years old again, and worried about Franklin. What had happened to him to make him have that many bandages?? IS HE GOING TO BE OKAY?
...
He got hurt playing soccer and this is why I don't do sports.

[Chase Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good story for teaching children not to fear the hospital

[The Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Franklin gets injured playing soccer and has to go to the hospital to get his shell fixed. He learns important lessons about being brave.

Typical Franklin illustrations.

[Milton Public · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franklin cracks his shell playing soccer, which makes one wonder if he's getting enough calcium. Then he gets XRays to heartwarming misunderstandings. All is, eventually, well.

[Emilka Ejza]

Chcę być jak Franklin, dzięki mamo za książkę

[One Code 431 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and adorable story of a turtle who is afraid to go the hospital 😍

"Being brave means doing what you have to do no matter how scared you feel "

[Nung Nurchasanah · Rating 4 out of 5]

buku ini saya temukan di loakan buku di deket terminal kalapa. yang paling mengesankan saya untuk buku ini ada pada halaman ketika franklin hendak dironsen oleh dokter bear. di sana dia tidak mau dironsen karena takut akan ketahuan bahwa dia sebenarnya takut dioperasi. dan selama ini dia pura-pura berani saja.

"semuanya menganggap saya pemberani, tapi sebetulnya saya cuma pura-pura. Kalau bagaian tubuh saya dipotret, bisa kelihatan kalau saya penakut." - Franklin

[Ealthafer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Franklin hurt his shell and learns what it means to be brave and that even though he's scared he is still brave about have an operation. This is a really good book to have for students who may have to go to the hospital for nan operation or for students who have a friend or family memeber that has to go to the hospital. This book shows what happens and what to expect for the most part.

[Turrean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this to accompany a nonfiction book on nurses as part of a lesson on "community helpers." Franklin books always strike me as sticky sweet, and this one was no exception. I will say it would be a good book to share with a child who was going to be in the hospital. Best for PK / K.

[jenna Hudrlik · Rating 3 out of 5]

another hospital story checked out via caroline ......

[Oskar Heider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nie wiedziałem, że gra w piłkę jest tak niebezpieczna dla żółwików

[Esther Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a picture book and is intended for children ages four to seven. It is part of a popular children's series that has even been turned into a television show! Because children love to see and invest in a familiar character, I think this book would be appealing to young readers. In this particular story, Franklin the turtle gets hurt while playing soccer with his friends, and needs to go to the hospital for an operation. Everyone tells him that he is very brave, but what he doesn't want them to know is that he is actually really scared. The main reason why I gave this book five stars is because of the many important messages that it imparts on its readers. First of all, it brilliantly defines bravery. "Being brave means doing what you have to do, no matter how scared you feel." Feeling anxious is an entirely natural response to a new or uncertain situation, and it does not make a person any less brave. The sooner a child learns this, the better. Also, the book acknowledges how scary the hospital can seem. It proceeds to demonstrate how considerate doctors are, and how dedicated they are to making sure that their patients are comfortable. If a child hurts themselves and needs to go to the hospital or have an operation done, this book could potentially provide some comfort and relief.
(5/12/2023)

[Haylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story Franklin is playing soccer with his friends and gets hit hard in the chest with the soccer ball. His mother takes him to the doctors the next morning where he is told that he has to get surgery to put a pin in his shell to help him grow properly. Franklin was very nervous to get the surgery done. When his friends visited him he pretended to be brave even though he was not. When Franklin was in the hospital about to get x rays he started crying and told Dr. Bear that he was afraid that the x rays would show how he was not really brave and just pretending. Dr. Bear tells Franklin that it is okay to be scared and that you can even be brave while being scared. This can be a good book to use in younger classrooms before or after going out to do PE in case anyone gets hurt or feels embarrassed for “not being brave.”

[Megan Royce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franklin Goes to the Hospital is wonderful for children afraid of going to the hospital.

The book takes the reader through the entire process of going to the hospital: from being injured and going to the doctor, to being afraid and then being reassured before surgery, and finally waking up in recovery at the hospital surrounded by loved ones.

It emphasizes that it's okay to be afraid and that your friends, family, and the medical professionals caring for you will help support you and do as much as they can to make you feel better before and after surgery.

This book is perfect for readers in Preschool to Grade 3.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Frankline Goes to the Hospital they young turtle cracks his shell out playing ball. When his mother takes him to the Doctor, they find our he needs a pin and surgery to fix it so it will grow back together and be strong.

Franklin pretends to be brave but finally tells the doctor he is scard and the doctor explains everything about the surgery and recovery and Franklin gains the extra courage to face the surgery.

This is an excellent short story to help a child or sibling of a child that is facing surgery or a hospital stay to help with their fears.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Franklin meets the same doctor several times in row and doesn't have to wait at all. I understand now why people have unrealistic expectations of the public health care system.
He does have very supportive and traditional parents though.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to love this book! I checked out from the library all the time, even ten years later I can pretty much retell the whole story!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great kids book.