User:Zanimum/Franklin in the Dark

Franklin in the Dark is a children's book published in 1986, written by Paulette Bourgeois and illustrated by Brenda Clark.

Bourgeois had a journalism background, and while at home with her first child, she hoped to help with mortgage payments. She decided to write children's fiction, reading How to Write a Kids Book. The plot of Franklin in the Dark was inspired by a repeat of M*A*S*H episode "C*A*V*E".<> In the television episode, Hot Lips tries to coax Hawkeye into a cave. Hawkeye responds: “No, you don't understand, I am so claustrophobic. If I were a turtle, I'd be afraid of my own shell.” Bourgeois saw the episode while nursing her newborn daughter, late one night, having faced writers' block.

A manuscript of the book was rejected by six publishers, before one expressed interest. Established in 1973, non-profit Kids Can Press was in the midst of becoming a privately-owned, for-profit company. The first publisher to show interest in the title, they required the draft go through multiple rounds of revision.

Once the book moved past the draft stage, it was sent to illustrator Brenda Clark. The author and illustrator didn't meet until after publication. Bourgeois has noted “When I first saw the illustrations, I was overwhelmed by Brenda’s talent. I think the reason the books have done so well is because Brenda has made the characters so empathetic.”

Reception
The book became a best-seller. As a result of the popularity, Kids Can Press requested a second book, catching Bourgeois unprepared. Hurry Up, Franklin (1989) was written after she searched for another relatable story for five-year-olds. The illustrations from the book were exhibited in 1989 at Mabel's Fables Gallery in Toronto.

Reviews
In 1986, The Globe and Mail writer Tim Wynne-Jones noted “Bourgeois' story is simply and wisely told. She nudges the young listener to reach his or her own conclusions about the nature of fear. Clark's gouache compositions are vividly hued, clean-edged and sure-handed. She exhibits an excellent sense of design, using the page well.” Wynne-Jones suggested the illustrator hadn't “yet achieved the recognition she deserves.”

A 1987 review by A Reviewing Journal of Canadian Materials for Young People noted that the “excellent picture-book” has a “delightful story... that will have strong appeal”. “The illustrations are bold, colourful, and humorous and complement the clear, simple text. With such a delightful story and an irresistible format, this book is certain to find its place on the shelves of home, school, and public libraries.”

A 2014 review by Night Lights: A Picture Book Blog calls the book “very mediocre”, suggesting that it “holds nothing for adults”. ***chalk***

Translations

 * Benjamin et la Nuit, French title, translated by Christiane Duchesne
 * Franklin tem medo do escuro, Portuguese title
 * Franklin en la oscuridad, Spanish title

Legacy
Sarah Ellis, winner of a Governor General's Literary Award, suggested to Quill & Quire that Franklin in the Dark was one of the first “safer, more market-oriented” picture books in Canada. Fifty million Franklin series books have been printed. (60 million) (65 million)

In conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the book's publication, a special edition was printed, including

Activity pages based on the book were created for Earth Hour 2011, with the World Wildlife Fund noting that it shared the themes of the dark and of courage. This first Franklin book was included in Quill & Quire literary magazine look at children's publishing in Canada, as being of note. The publication has suggested that while “lovely imperfect, fundamentally decent, and slightly neurotic young animal characters” were common as of writing in 2011, Franklin was “one of the true originals” when he was created.