ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel Awnie's House ???? Kids Book Read Aloud: BEING FRANK by Donna W. Earnhardt and Andrea Castellani
Hello, my reading friends! I’m so happy you’re here to enjoy a story with me. Today, we’re going to read about a boy named Frank who believes in always telling the truth. But sometimes, being too honest can hurt people’s feelings. Let’s see what Frank learns in the story “Being Frank.” If you have the book, grab it and read along!
Frank is a boy who always tells the truth. He thinks “honesty is the best policy.” But sometimes, his honesty makes others feel bad. For example, he tells his friend Dottie that her freckles look like the Big Dipper, and he tells Carol that her singing is shaky. This makes them upset.
Frank is honest with adults too. He tells his teacher, Miss Aroma, that her breath smells funny, and he tells Principal Wiggins that his toupee looks like a pet weasel. Even his mom gets a dose of Frank’s honesty when he mentions her wrinkles and speeding. But not everyone appreciates Frank’s honesty.
Feeling confused, Frank visits his Grandpa Ernest. Grandpa shows Frank a different way to be honest. When Mrs. Peacock asks about her hat, Grandpa mentions the part he likes best, the purple flower, instead of pointing out what he doesn’t like. Frank learns that it’s important to focus on the good things.
At the school carnival, Frank tries out what he learned. He compliments Miss Aroma’s jokes and Mr. Wiggins’ dance moves. He tells Dottie he likes dots better than squares and praises Carol’s high notes. Everyone is happier, and Frank feels good too.
Frank realizes that he can still be honest but in a kind way. He writes a nice poem for his mom, choosing to say something sweet instead of mentioning her wrinkles. Frank learns that honesty is best when it’s served with kindness.
Frank discovers that being honest doesn’t mean you have to hurt people’s feelings. You can always find something nice to say. I hope you enjoyed our story today. Remember, honesty is important, but it’s even better when you add a little kindness!
See you next time for another fun story!
Compliment Circle: Gather with your family or friends and sit in a circle. Take turns giving each person a compliment. Try to focus on something specific that you like about them, just like Frank learned to do. Notice how it makes everyone feel when they hear something nice about themselves.
Kindness Journal: Start a journal where you write down one kind thing you did each day. It could be a compliment you gave, a helpful action, or a nice word you said to someone. At the end of the week, read through your journal and see how many smiles you helped create!
Spot the Good: Next time you’re outside or at school, try to find three things you like about what you see or hear. It could be a beautiful flower, a friend’s laughter, or a colorful drawing. Share what you found with someone and explain why you liked it. This will help you practice finding the good in everything, just like Frank learned to do.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Olivia from Georgia! Like and subscribe to Annie’s House.
Hello, my fun-loving reading friends! It’s Annie. I’m so glad you came to read with me. Are you ready for a story? In this story, we’ll meet a boy whose motto is “honesty is the best policy.” He always tells the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, even if it hurts people’s feelings. Let’s see if there are some lessons he can learn as we read “Being Frank.” If you have a copy, go get it so you can read along with me.
[Music]
“Being Frank,” written by Donna W. Earnhardt, illustrated by Andrea Castellani, and published by Flashlight Press.
Frank was always Frank. “Honesty is the best policy,” he said. Frank never lied to his schoolmates. “Your freckles remind me of the Big Dipper,” he told Dottie. Dottie pulled her hood over her face. “Your singing is kind of shaky,” Frank told Carol. Carol stomped away.
Frank always told the truth to adults. “Your breath smells funny,” he told his teacher, Miss Aroma. She sent Frank to the principal’s office. “Your toupee looks like my pet weasel,” he told Principal Wiggins. Mr. Wiggins called Frank’s mom. “You wouldn’t get so many wrinkles if you didn’t glare at me like that,” Frank told his mom on the way home. “And by the way, you’re speeding.”
Frank was always honest with police officers too. “Yes, officer,” he said, knowing how fast she was going. Frank was very proud of being honest, but other than police officers, adults weren’t as impressed with Frank’s honesty as he thought they should be. “You’ll have wrinkles one day too,” Mom said, rubbing on some lotion. “Some things are better left unsaid,” said Mr. Wiggins, adjusting his toupee. “You don’t have to say everything you’re thinking,” said Miss Aroma, popping a mint into her mouth.
Frank’s schoolmates weren’t impressed either. Dottie said, “I’m still going to sing in the talent show at the school carnival tomorrow, but I’m not going to ride the Ferris wheel with you,” Carol told Frank. “But we always ride the Ferris wheel together,” Frank whispered. Everyone was upset, and now Frank wasn’t so happy either.
Frank clipped his toenails and alphabetized his bug collection, but he didn’t feel any better, so he walked down the block to Grandpa’s house. Grandpa Ernest was on the porch clipping his toenails. “What’s up, Frank?” Grandpa said. “Everyone is mad at me for being honest. I’m not sure honesty is the best policy anymore.”
“That used to happen to me too,” said Grandpa. Mrs. Peacock walked by and straightened her massive hat. “It’s new. Do you like it?” Ernest thought the hat looked like a flower store on Mrs. Peacock’s head. “Well,” Grandpa said, “there are an awful lot of flowers up there, but my favorite is the purple one in the middle.”
“Thank you!” Mrs. Peacock beamed. Frank couldn’t believe his ears. “Grandpa, you lied!” “No, Frank, I told the truth. I really do like the purple flower best. I talked about the good things on her hat instead of the not-so-good things.”
Grandpa’s best friend, Mr. Pickles, pulled up in his truck. “I’ve got a cold and can’t taste a thing,” Grandpa scooped a spoonful of relish into his mouth. His nose twitched, his eyes watered, and his hair stood on end. “Give it to me straight, Ernest,” said Mr. Pickles. “I can’t sell it if it’s no good.” Grandpa wiped his eyes. “More sugar, less pepper,” Mr. Pickles grinned and shook Grandpa’s hand. “Thanks for your help, Grandpa.”
“He didn’t get mad at you.” “That’s right,” Grandpa drank some water. “Oh, he asked me for the truth, and I gave it to him.”
Frank sighed. “So I shouldn’t give the truth unless someone asks for it?” “You should always give people the truth,” Grandpa said. “You’ll just have to find the right way to serve it.”
That afternoon at the school carnival, when Miss Aroma laughed like a horse, Frank said, “You tell great jokes!” When Mr. Wiggins did a weird dance, Frank said, “Impressive spin, sir!” When Frank saw Dottie, he said, “I like dots better than squares.” And when Carol sang, Frank said, “You sure can hit those high notes!” Carol smiled. “Frank and I are going to ride the Ferris wheel. Wanna come?”
On the way home, Frank gave his mom a poem he wrote for her. “Mom, your hair looks nice today. I only see a little gray.” When she smiled, Frank decided not to mention the wrinkles around the corners of her mouth.
The next day, while Frank helped Grandpa in his garden, Mrs. Peacock stopped by again. “You were right,” she said to Grandpa. “That other hat had too many flowers.” Just then, Mr. Pickles arrived with a new jar of relish for Grandpa to try. “Excuse me a moment,” Grandpa said to Mrs. Peacock. “Say, what do you think of my hat?” Mrs. Peacock asked, but this time she wasn’t asking Grandpa; she was asking Frank.
Frank looked at Grandpa on the porch with Mr. Pickles. Grandpa was taking another spoonful of relish and wasn’t drinking any water. Frank knew just what to say. “I’ve never seen a hat like that before,” Frank replied. “It must be one of a kind. Cute!” Mrs. Peacock beamed.
“So how is it being honest today?” Grandpa asked. “Well, Grandpa, I still think honesty is the best policy,” said Frank, “but now I know it’s best served with more sugar and less pepper.”
Frank learned that you can still be honest without hurting people’s feelings. I hope you enjoyed our story today. See you next time!
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