Franklin is Messy

This week i decided to re-visit the children's picture book, 'Franklin is Messy' written by Paulette Bourgeois. This book is in the 'Franklin Series' and I chose to focus on it because I can remember it being read to me when I was at school. 

Throughout the book, Franklin becomes very untidy and he cannot find anything in his room. He cannot find his special sword that he made to play with his friends and he cannot find the puzzle that he borrowed from one of his friends. When Franklin is trying to find the puzzle to return to Goose, he hears an almighty crunch under his feet, only to discover his sword shattered. He becomes very upset by this, and decides that it is time to clean his room up and make special places for all of his belongings so things did not get lost and broken anymore. 

This book would certainly be appropriate for young children starting school, up to about age 8. Franklin is messy has an underlying message to children, teaching them to be neat and tidy. It is told from the perspective of how it feels to learn from logical consequences and also relate to the children by including common childhood experiences. 

I think this book would be good to introduce to your students in the first week of school, as it can remind them of your expectations of being neat and tidy in the classroom, and encourage students to always pack up and put things back where they belong. It is a very simple book however I believe it has an excellent message for young students to take notice of and encourages them to remain tidy.