I'm Frankie Frankenstein

I'm Frankie Frankenstein is a charming picture book by José Carlos Andrés. Frankie is the giant monster daughter of Frankenstein. She lives a very happy life filled with quirky pets like Pokey the piranha and her very own teacher, Ms. Kinsington the skeleton. Despite all the fun things Frankie has, she still feels something is missing and wants to play with the other kids from the village. Most of the children run away, but a girl named Teenie (whose name matches her height) befriends her and encourages Frankie to come to school. Once there, Frankie struggles to fit in; she is too big for the school desks and wishes she could be small like everyone else. In the end, Frankie learns that she has a lot to offer just the way she is.

What I Liked: I love the illustrations. Gómez uses bright colors, and his characters have incredibly expressive faces. Even though Frankie is a giant monster, she is drawn in a way that shows her being timid and scared in new situations, making it easy for young readers to connect with her. The storyline does a wonderful job of exploring acceptance and helping children see that everyone is worthy of inclusion. This is a fantastic book for teachers and librarians to use for social and emotional learning (SEL) discussions. I really enjoy this clever twist on Frankenstein and love how the creators show Frankie’s life as completely wholesome and not scary at all.

I'm Frankie Frankenstein is a delightfully sweet book that proves the best friendships are built on acceptance, not appearances.