Homework Hassles

Ready, Freddy! #3

by Abby Klein, John McKinley (Illustrator)

Watch out, Junie B., there's a new kid on the block! It's Freddy Thresher, a 1st grader who knows it's a jungle out there. Here's the third in a new series by an elementary teacher who's seen it all. Freddy Thresher has a a really, really, big problem. His teacher wants the class to do reports on nocturnal animals, and everybody but Freddy has a really cool animal to study. How will Freddy find one? When his best friend, Robbie, says the two boys should have a sleepover and sneak outside at night, Freddy makes a huge mistake and ends up getting his late-night wish in a very unexpected way!

Genres: Chapter Books, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, 1st Grade

96 pages, Paperback

First published April 23, 2014

About the author

Abby Klein was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She earned her teaching credentials at Dartmouth College, where she majored in psychology and education. She then went on to earn her master's degree in reading and language development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Currently she teaches in the same public elementary school she attended as a child in the Los Angeles area. She has been a kindergarten and first-grade teacher there for more than fifteen years and is very involved in the school community, as both a teacher and a parent. Her two young children also attend the school where she teaches. In addition, she is a “teacher-leader” in her district, and over the years, she has presented many staff development workshops both at the district level and at her school site that centered on reading, writing, and literacy. She has been a presenter at national conferences as well.

In her first published series, Ready, Freddy!, Klein brings just the right amount of true-to-life humor and drama. She brings young readers a fresh voice, a great sense of humor, and a unique perspective on the trials and tribulations of first grader Freddy Thresher. Utterly authentic and drawn from real experience in the classroom, Abby Klein knows exactly what first graders are thinking.

She lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband, two children, and three dogs. She thinks there's nothing better than a good book, and she loves reading aloud to children.

Reviews

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freddy has to do an oral report on a nocturnal animal for school. While climbing a tree in his backyard at night to look for possible report topics, Freddy falls and breaks his arm. Despite this mishap, he doesn't have any difficulty researching, preparing, or delivering his school report, which makes the title of this book misleading and the ending of the story feel rather expected and anticlimactic. The characters feel more like roles than actual people. The protagonist's defining characteristic (his love of sharks) has nothing to do with the story.

This is the third installment in a chapter book series. Occasional black-and-white drawings support the story. The word "fin" is hidden somewhere in every picture. My copy of the book includes some interactive backmatter: a mad-lib, a make-a-bat craft, and fun facts about sharks. There's also some information about bats sprinkled into the text near the end of the story.

[Auni (girl) I am a kid! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hello,I am doing a book review. I enjoyed this book a lot❤️.This book is about a boy.The name of this boy is Freddy Teresher.He has a friend,the name of his friend is Robbie.In the book ,it says that his friend is good in science. Robbie was coming for a sleepover at Freddy’s house 🏠.They were planning to eat some candies when they were not allowed to eat them.They were planning to go out in the backyard to see nocturnal animals. But there were only small nocturnal animals.This book is nice.You should go read it.📖 By the way I am six years old.😍✋🏼

[melhara · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

Freddy needs to work on a report on a nocturnal animal of his choice. The only problem is that he doesn't know what animal to base his report on. So he and his friend Robbie sneak out of the house in the middle of the night for inspiration.

I liked this book a lot less than the first two, but it does offer some interesting facts about nocturnal animals (and sharks too, because Freddy is obsessed with sharks - too bad they're not nocturnal?)

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Part of a personal challenge to read all of my boyfriend's and his sister's childhood books before we donate and give them away.

*** #50 of my 2022 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book with alliteration in the title ***

[J Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could offer something positive, but as a parent, I can't recommend any of the books in this series. (They were given to us by a friend and I'm getting rid of them as quickly as I can sneak them away from my child, who loves them unfortunately). They are poorly written and formulaic. The characters are stereotypes and never develop in any way. There is the Bully, the Princess, the Tomboy, the Brain and our 'Hero' the mediocre kid Freddy who admires some of his friends but never thinks of emulating them. There is a LOT of name-calling; the kids only seem to know how to argue and interrupt. The school scenes nearly always describe kids being disruptive and rude to each other; the teacher is forever breaking up arguments and punishing the "bad" kids (always the same ones). Family scenes always show siblings bickering, sometimes for several pages (so tedious); normal, constructive conversations almost never take place. There is not an honest, realistic moment in any of these books. My child picked up some unfortunate language and rudeness from reading them. The only positive thing I can say is that kids seem to like them; if you have a reluctant reader, you might get somewhere with a couple of these books (you've read one, you've read them all--they are all the same), but there are plenty more engaging, positive books for kids out there.

[Christine Rains · Rating 3 out of 5]

Freddy must do a report on a nocturnal animal, but which one? He has a sleepover with his best friend, and they sneak outside in the middle of the night. Freddy finds something other than the focus of his report!

This is the second book in this series I've read with my second grader. It's easy and quick to read. Perhaps it would be better for younger readers.

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing. Entire chapters of this book are about Freddy and his best friend sneaking out of the house at night after their parents go to bed. Um, sneaking out of the house for first graders! No thank you! I had to skip over all of the Middle chapters in this book to just read my son the parts that actually pertained to homework and learning about nocturnal creatures. My son really loves this series but I am constantly editing the stories as I read them to skip over lying to parents, rude behavior to other students and a terrible attitude between siblings. I am afraid I would not recommend this at all.

[Benedict Randhawa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Freddy never want to be in trouble. But trouble always chose him. He supposed to study about nocturnal animals and have to make assignments. His friend came over in Freddy house. Freddy forget all about his assignment...

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun story/series for readers who are transitioning into chapter books.

[Jazzie Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun read with one of my students!

[Leilani Silva]

Gemini enjoyed reading this book. His favorite part was after Freddy broke his arm he thought others would do his homework.

[JenniferTheRiver]

En español.

[Fenco Chen]

Lexile®: 570L, 6313W, 90%, 6y4m

[Diana Simpson]

This is awesome

[Saravahn Simpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read these every year with my students! They love these books!!

[James McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was relatable, I too fnid homwork a hasle. The massage was good but it was a tougffh read. Hence the 1 star reeduction

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really hoping for a fun little boy centered boy, that I could relate to as someone who has so much homework. But Klein's book just didn't deliver. There were too many plot points, no clear story. Freddy got a homework assignment at the beginning of the book, but then had a sleep over with his best friend and they decided to stay up all night, they both had to do some crazy sneaking around his parents, and go outside in the middle of the night, then Freddy climbs a tree- hangs upside down from a branch- then falls and brakes his arm, there's a whole chapter in the hosptial, he and his family adjust to his injury, and then for a little bit at the end there's that homework assignment again. Also the entire book read as an older person trying to write for kids and just coming off as really cheesy. All and all just not jazzed about Ready Freddy.

[The Reading Countess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam and I are reading our first chapter book. I think I'll always keep the image of him lying back on his pillow trying to get the pictures in his head and wanting to say something as we read and RAISING HIS HAND not once, not twice, but many times! I had to stifle the urge to laugh. Bless him.


Youngest and I barrelled through the book and finished last night. One night he insisted that we read four chapters! He is now anxious to read another book in the series: Tooth Trouble. My one complaint with the book was the abrupt way in which it ended. Seeing the kids in their underwear was not an ending. Youngest even said, "Is that all?"

[Olivia Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. It is about a boy named Freddy who gets into a little trouble trying to learn more about nocturnal animals. His teacher has given him an assignment over nocturnal animals but he is having trouble figuring out a good one to learn about. This is a great book that will definitely keep the interest of little boys.

[Esmeralda · Rating 3 out of 5]

i thought this book was awesome spoil alert freddy broke his arm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it is cool to have a broken arm your siblings get to do everything and u get to learn how to write with your left arm i cant read the next book:)

[Duane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series and this book is just more of the same. Freddy finds himself with a visit to the hospital and a science report due at the same time. Within each illustration, is a hidden word that the reader can try to find, just to add to the fun. Great for beginner readers.

[Dianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam- currently in 1st grade LOVES these Ready Freddy Books! They take him maybe an hour to read, they're entertaining, and easy enough for Elena to read as well. I have yet to read one to make sure I completely approve, but I think they're alright.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

One in a longer series about first grader Freddy. In this one, Freddy is unprepared for his nocturnal animal oral report and breaks his arm. All the pencil drawings have the word, Fin, hidden as Freddy is a big shark fan. Okay

[Carolyn Ferguson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good book for a young person who is just starting to read chapter books because it is not that long and it has some basic vocabulary. This book had a interesting story and some fun characters too.

[Miranda Gaboury · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very well written and is one that boys will love. It is about a little boy named Freddy who can not decide what animal to choose for his science project. Take a journey with Freddy to see how he decides his animal and what he does for his project.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not too much different from the first book. On this one Freddy and his friend Robbie are staying up so that they can see some nocturnal animals. Grades 2+

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh no! freddy broke his arm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charlysse · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just started but their is a lot problems in the book so i will tell you the rest later
so this many things that is going wrong so this is a good reason why freddy have
to much homework!

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice book. Still I cant forget how I got this book. Read.

[Shynise Nunley]

it will be a good book

[Kaden F · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't like it