Let me begin by pointing out the painfully obvious: We are living in odd, tumultuous, relentlessly transgressive times.

As this year closes, we are poised to expect more disturbing revelations, more transgressions. From this strange year, here are two recent, notorious examples. Both emerge from a variety of wondrous play—storytelling—and from the subset of children’s literature. Both thrive on boorish misappropriation. I’ll take them in reverse chronological order.

The first revolves around the helpful, compassionate, considerate, empathetic Franklin the Turtle—a paragon of welcoming play and fairness—who, in books and television storybooks that branched into video games, has helped kids learn lessons of courage, kindness, and understanding since he first appeared in 1986.

Franklin, somewhere near 4 years old, lives in a close-knit, lively village called “Woodland.” Looking a little like Manitoba, Woodland is populated by his family and a large group of helpful friends of various species.

Alongside them, Franklin has had many adventures during which he learns important lessons in growing up. I’ll mention just a few happy endings.

In one story, Franklin and his pal Bear strive to make ice hockey fun for their hesitant friend Skunk, meanwhile delivering a lesson about patient skills-building. Skating backwards? Wow! In another, a group of friends—Polar Bear, Bird, Duck, and Lion—help Franklin overcome his fear of the dark. (This despite their own worries.) When in another tale, Franklin is so frightened by a thunderstorm that he retreats into his shell, his friend Beaver coaxes him out by patiently explaining lightning and thunder. Owl, wise despite his years, supplies the reassuring scientific details. It’s electricity that........

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