Franklin Goes to the Hospital, Franklin and the Tooth Fairy, and Finders Keepers for Franklin: Three Classic Franklin Stories (5 page)

Bear showed his tooth to Mr. Owl as soon as he got to school.

Mr. Owl was very excited. “Losing your baby teeth means you are growing up,” he said.

Franklin did not say anything. He had no teeth, but he wanted to feel grown-up, too.

Franklin was quiet for the rest of the day.

Even at home, Franklin was quieter than usual.

“What’s wrong?” asked Franklin’s mother.

“I don’t have any teeth,” he answered.

“Neither do we,” said his father. “That’s the way turtles are.”

“But I want teeth,” said Franklin. His parents looked surprised.

“My friends get presents from the tooth fairy when they lose their teeth,” said Franklin.

“Why do they get presents for old teeth?” asked Franklin’s father.

“Because it means they are growing up,” said Franklin.

“I see,” said his father.

That night, just before bed, Franklin had a good idea. Perhaps tooth fairies did not know that turtles have no teeth. He found a tiny white rock to put under his shell.

He asked his mother to help him write a note. It read:

Dear Tooth Fairy,

This is a turtle tooth. You

May not have seen one before.

Please leave a present.

Franklin

Franklin woke up very early the next morning. He looked under his shell. The rock was gone, but there was a note instead of a present.

He ran to his parent’s room. “What does it say?” he asked.

Franklin’s father put on his reading glasses.

Dear Franklin,

Sorry. Turtles don’t have teeth.

Good try.

Your friend, The Tooth Fairy

Franklin was very unhappy until he noticed a big wrapped package near his breakfast bowl.

“Open it,” said Franklin’s mother.

Inside was a beautiful book.

“Who is it from?” asked Franklin.

“From us,” said his parents. “To celebrate your growing up.”

Franklin stood very tall. “Thank you.”

From then on, Franklin didn’t worry about being different from Bear. He knew that, in all the important ways, he and Bear were exactly the same.

Franklin is a trademark of Kids Can Press Ltd.

Text © 1997 by Context
x.
Inc.

Illustrations © 1997 Brenda Clark Illustrator Inc.

Interior illustrations prepared with the assistance of Shelley Southern.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of Kids Can Press Ltd. or in case for photocopying or other reprographic copying, a license from CANCOPY (Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency), 1 Yonge Street, Suite 1900, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E5.

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