Dickens & Rumi

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Franklin's New Friend

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Paulette Bourgeois; Brenda Clark · 1997

Is Franklin's New Friend appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Franklin's New Friend by Paulette Bourgeois; Brenda Clark. This book is positive qualities include Good role models, Kindness & empathy.

Book 17 · Franklin (Original Series)Source checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsNo cautions above 0/5 published
Strongest positivesGood role models 4/5 · Kindness & empathy 4/5
Series positionBook 17 · Franklin (Original Series)
Recommendation3.5/5

Strongest reviewed positive: good role models.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Strongest reviewed positive: good role models.

Recommendation 3.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
7Scored categories
7Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 7, 2026Last updated

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How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth7 scored categories7 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • No numeric ratings published yet.

Strongest positives

  • Good role models4/5
  • Kindness & empathy4/5
  • Positive messages4/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 18 · Finders Keepers for FranklinStrongest cautions: Frightening scenes 1/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · Franklin in the Dark
    Frightening scenes2/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 3 · Franklin FibsAges 4+
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  3. Book 5 · Franklin Is Bossy
    Strong language1/5
    About the same
  4. Book 6 · Franklin is MessyAges 3+
    Strong language1/5
    About the same
  5. Book 7 · Franklin Plays The Game
    Strong language1/5
    About the same
  6. Book 8 · Franklin wants a petAges 3+
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 9 · Franklin Goes to School
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  8. Book 10 · Franklin's Blanket
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  9. Book 11 · Franklin and the Tooth Fairy
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  10. Book 12 · Franklin Has a Sleepover
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  11. Book 13 · Franklin's Halloween
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  12. Book 14 · Franklin's School Play
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 15 · Franklin's Bad Day
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  14. Book 16 · Franklin Rides a Bike (Franklin)Ages 4+
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  15. Book 17 · Franklin's New Friend
    Gets gentler
  16. Book 18 · Finders Keepers for Franklin
    Frightening scenes1/5
    About the same
  17. Book 19 · Franklin and the Thunderstorm (Franklin the Turtle)Ages 4+
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets more intense
  18. Book 20 · Franklin's Valentines
    Products & advertising1/5Romance1/5
    About the same
  19. Book 21 · Franklin's Secret Club
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  20. Book 22 · Franklin's Christmas Gift
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5
    About the same
  21. Book 23 · Franklin's Class Trip
    Frightening scenes1/5
    Gets gentler
  22. Book 24 · Franklin's Neighborhood
    Frightening scenes1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  23. Book 25 · Franklin Goes to the Hospital
    Frightening scenes2/5
    About the same
  24. Book 26 · Franklin's Baby Sister
    Gets gentler
  25. Book 28 · Franklin's Thanksgiving
    Frightening scenes1/5Religious themes1/5
    Gets more intense
  26. Book 29 · Franklin says I love youAges 3+
    Products & advertising1/5
    About the same

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What’s in it?

No numeric content-caution ratings are published for this title yet.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience2/5
Why this rating?

Franklin shows modest social courage by navigating the uncertainty of meeting and accepting a new friend.

Creativity & curiosity1/5
Why this rating?

It may encourage imaginative play through its animal characters, but inventive problem-solving is not central.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

The story explores differences among child characters, though it is not primarily about human cultural or identity diversity.

Educational value2/5
Why this rating?

It supports early social-emotional learning about friendship and inclusion rather than teaching academic facts.

Kindness & empathy4/5
Why this rating?

Caring, inclusion, and considerate behavior are important parts of the friendship story.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

It emphasizes welcoming others, understanding differences, sharing friendship, and working through social uncertainty.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

Franklin and the other characters model empathy, communication, and efforts to build a healthy friendship.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. Which character was the best role model, and what did they do that you admired?
  2. Which choice in Franklin's New Friend would you have made differently, and why?
  3. Who changed the most in Franklin's New Friend, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

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