Franklin the Fly

There are some who think some of the illustrations or things our little fly friend discusses in this book might not be suitable for small children. My son Devon loves this book, has for sometime. It's 2008 for heck's sake, a fly getting squashed isn't going to harm the sensibilities of a child today. At least not in my opinion. I liked the illustrations, Devon did too. Lots of laughter from him when we read this book together. No great moral, just lots of good fun. Sometimes that all you need in a children's book. Well, maybe there is a moral. Maybe one should be happy in his own clothes, rather than long for another's. Being yourself, that's what it's all about. Devon gets it, flypaper and all.

"Franklin the Fly," by R.O. Blechman, who illustrates for the New Yorker, is a delightfully illustrated children's book about a fly who buzzes around a big city. The premise is an interesting one, and the pictures are well-illustrated. The writing is a bit awkward in many spots, however, and the content seems a bit too deep for younger children. I read it to my daughter, and she 'got it' but some of the predicaments Franklin finds himself in are beyond the reach of young children. Overall a nice book for kids in the 6-8 yr range. Good for parents to discuss with children.

I REALLY loved this book. As an entomologist, it exictes me to see things like explaining that he doesn't have bones (I'm a nerd, I know) but a lot of times, children's books give inaccurate information that can stick with a child...I can think of a few instances of my own... For you more conservative buyers, there is a bit of graphic art, such as the part about the butcher, but it's nothing detailed and it's kinda cute...in a grotesque way. Maybe your kid will become vegetarian haha. Good book, I like it.

This book is not suitable for children. One of the pictures shows a butcher holding a bloody knife as the text describes the surprise a pig or chicken might feel upon discovering it is "somebody else's meal". Yuk. The colorful drawings are very well painted and the author turns out to be an animator for Sesame Street. However, there is not really too much plot -- there's just a boring fly telling us about his life and how his uncle's family almost got wiped out by flypaper. Lucky my family is not a family of flies! The illustrations are the strong point of this book.

Imaginatively written and nicely illustrated by award winning artist and animator R. O. Blechman, "Franklin The Fly" is the story of a little fly who lives in the big city where he is constantly swatted at, frets about flypaper, and is ridiculed by his fellow flies for his eccentric ways. Franklin likes country air, flying loop-the-loops, and cleaning up crumbs. Taking as optimistic an outlook on life as a fly can have, Franklin's easy-going heroics are wonderfully entertaining and highly recommended for young picturebook readers and for anyone of any age who enjoys an iconic story which is as carefully crafted as it is charmingly original. "Franklin The Fly" would make an exceptionally popular addition to any school or community library collection.