Franklin the Turtle and his sister, Harriet, are thrilled when Aunt T shows up to babysit with a telescope. They can't wait to do some stargazing! Unfortunately, the sky is too cloudy, and Franklin is disappointed to hear they won't be able to use the telescope after all. Luckily, Aunt T has a great idea for a new plan. Sure, they aren't able to look at the real night sky, but with some ingenuity and plenty of imagination, they can create their own version of outer space -- inside! Based on the 3D-animated TV series Franklin and Friends, this tie-in picture book highlights a very common experience for young children -- being disappointed when highly anticipated plans don't work out. Here, children are reminded that it's always possible to find another alternative, and a lot of fun, if you just know where to look and keep an open mind. This entertaining, brightly colored book with its familiar characters would be a big success as a read-aloud in a preschool or kindergarten classroom. It offers an excellent starting point for a lesson about being creative in any number of ways -- painting and drawing, making up new games to play or even copying the idea of crafting a unique solar system as it's done in the book. As with all Franklin books, this one also ties in beautifully with character education lessons, this time on adaptability, teamwork, optimism or patience.
