July 1, 2001
Franklin the turtle is a good big brother to Harriet, taking care of her at the playground and cheering her up with his toy dog, Sam, when she cries. But it's hard to be understanding when Harriet tries to keep Sam as her own. In the end, Franklin realizes that it isn't really Sam that Harriet needs, it's her big brother. Franklin's fans will welcome this new story, but the text, accompanied by cartoonish illustrations, carries a heavy-handed message.
(Copyright 2001 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)