What do you think?
Rate this book
Freddy the Pig #2
Freddy Goes to the North Pole
Freddy the pig, Jinx the cat, and Charles the rooster have been to Florida, and back again. But when the other animals who live on the Bean farm want to travel as well, Freddy decides to start Barnyard Tours, Inc. When word spreads across the countryside of the Bean farm's newest innovation, Freddy and friends decide to organize the trip of a lifetime-an expedition to the North Pole! Join Freddy, Jinx, and the rest of the hearty explorers as they trek north, encountering strange sailors, Santa Claus, and a pack of polar problems along the way.
"The American version of the great English classics, such as the Pooh books or The Wind in the Willows." (The New York Times Book Review)
"The American version of the great English classics, such as the Pooh books or The Wind in the Willows." (The New York Times Book Review)
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1930
20 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Walter Rollin Brooks
51 books66 followersWalter Rollin Brooks (January 9, 1886 – August 17, 1958) was an American writer best remembered for his short stories and children's books, particularly those about Freddy the Pig and other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the "Bean farm" in upstate New York.
Born in Rome, New York, Brooks attended college at the University of Rochester and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester, where he married his first wife, Anne Shepard, in 1909. Brooks found employment with an advertising agency in Utica, and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent: in 1917, he went to work for the American Red Cross and later did editorial work for several magazines, including The New Yorker.
In 1940, Brooks turned to his own writing for his full-time occupation. Walter married his second wife, Dorothy Collins, following the death of Anne in 1952.
The first works Brooks published were poems and short stories. His short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" about a talking horse was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series Mister Ed (credit for creating the characters is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks"). His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends.
Source
Born in Rome, New York, Brooks attended college at the University of Rochester and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester, where he married his first wife, Anne Shepard, in 1909. Brooks found employment with an advertising agency in Utica, and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent: in 1917, he went to work for the American Red Cross and later did editorial work for several magazines, including The New Yorker.
In 1940, Brooks turned to his own writing for his full-time occupation. Walter married his second wife, Dorothy Collins, following the death of Anne in 1952.
The first works Brooks published were poems and short stories. His short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" about a talking horse was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series Mister Ed (credit for creating the characters is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks"). His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends.
Source
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 4, 2017
The Freddy the Pig books are never in a hurry. They tend to just pick up whatever thread falls across the stage in the first few chapters and follow it to see where it goes. This particular adventure kicks off when the animals at the Bean farm decide to start a side business giving tours of Centerboro and the surrounding countryside. One thing leads to another and they end up traveling to the North Pole, where they rescue Santa from a whaling crew who are determined to systematize the whole Claus operation - with the best of intentions, of course. Almost everyone in the Freddy books has the best of intentions, and the few villains that exist always turn out to be selfish and small-minded. Friendship, curiosity, and a good laugh always win the day.
Freddy is simply one of literature's great characters.
Freddy is simply one of literature's great characters.
June 28, 2024
Another fun adventure with Freddy the Pig and friends.
The animals are restless after some time has past after their trip to Florida. They decide they want to explore more, but not at the expense of abandoning the work that needs to be done on Mr. Bean's farm. They go into business giving tours (Barnyard Tours Inc.) to other animals in exchange for food or work on the farm.
After a short time, Freddy and Jinx the Cat are burned out with the touring business and decide to take the trip that inspired them in the first place. They organize an expedition to the North Pole and set off! After a year away, the animals remaining on the farm start to worry about them and organize a rescue party.
They learn that the animals have been captured by sailors on their way to see Santa Claus. Along the way, they rescue some children who are being held captive by their cruel aunt and uncle, escape death from a den of wolves, meet Santa (he is the only human who can communicate with them), and hatch a plan to scare off the sailors and recover their friends.
Delightfully absurd as usual. 3.5 stars
The animals are restless after some time has past after their trip to Florida. They decide they want to explore more, but not at the expense of abandoning the work that needs to be done on Mr. Bean's farm. They go into business giving tours (Barnyard Tours Inc.) to other animals in exchange for food or work on the farm.
After a short time, Freddy and Jinx the Cat are burned out with the touring business and decide to take the trip that inspired them in the first place. They organize an expedition to the North Pole and set off! After a year away, the animals remaining on the farm start to worry about them and organize a rescue party.
They learn that the animals have been captured by sailors on their way to see Santa Claus. Along the way, they rescue some children who are being held captive by their cruel aunt and uncle, escape death from a den of wolves, meet Santa (he is the only human who can communicate with them), and hatch a plan to scare off the sailors and recover their friends.
Delightfully absurd as usual. 3.5 stars
December 28, 2020
Until I "met" people on Goodreads, I'd never heard of this series about Freddy the Pig and his fellow moderately anthropomorphic farm animals, produced in great quantities from 1927 - 1956 by Walter Brooks.
In "Freddy Goes to the North Pole", Freddy and his friends, to the confusion of the farm's owner, set up a business running guided tours for other animals. With the proceeds, Freddy leads an expedition to the North Pole .
The book is funny, and good hearted. I'm reminded a bit of Homer Price, and I suspect many people who like his adventures would like Freddy's. I look forward to reading more of them with the kids.
Thanks for cluing me into these, Melora, Yibbie, Emily, and Cheryl!
In "Freddy Goes to the North Pole", Freddy and his friends, to the confusion of the farm's owner, set up a business running guided tours for other animals. With the proceeds, Freddy leads an expedition to the North Pole .
The book is funny, and good hearted. I'm reminded a bit of Homer Price, and I suspect many people who like his adventures would like Freddy's. I look forward to reading more of them with the kids.
Thanks for cluing me into these, Melora, Yibbie, Emily, and Cheryl!
August 18, 2019
So what could possibly induce a lazy pig to organize a tour to the north pole? And just how will he get there with the minimum amount of effort? Who do you think he will see there? What mystery will face him there?
While the last few chapters of this book are even a little farther fetched than usual, I really enjoyed the adventures leading up to them. It was also more like 'Freddy Goes to Florida' in that Freddy is absent for large portions of the book. Oh, he still saves the day, but the other animals shine ever as brightly.
While the last few chapters of this book are even a little farther fetched than usual, I really enjoyed the adventures leading up to them. It was also more like 'Freddy Goes to Florida' in that Freddy is absent for large portions of the book. Oh, he still saves the day, but the other animals shine ever as brightly.
April 29, 2023
A sophisticated silly story!
Written with rich vocabulary, idioms, and stereotypical adult character types, it’s a comical animal tale that the young crowd will enjoy while learning along the way.
Freddy and his farmyard friends have decided to give guided tours to their neighbors. When one neighbor expresses his desire to visit the North Pole, Freddy and Inc. decide it’s time to expand their business and take him there. They certainly bite off more than they can chew and the pirates that take them captive are most definitely another set back. So, more barnyard friends are called upon and a rescue party sets out to save the day! But perhaps its a jolly old man that saves the day more?
Ages: 6 - 12
Cleanliness: Santa Claus is a main character in the story. Two children are tied up in a cabin by mean relatives who beat and spank them. “Gosh” “golly” “tarnation” and the like are used.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
Written with rich vocabulary, idioms, and stereotypical adult character types, it’s a comical animal tale that the young crowd will enjoy while learning along the way.
Freddy and his farmyard friends have decided to give guided tours to their neighbors. When one neighbor expresses his desire to visit the North Pole, Freddy and Inc. decide it’s time to expand their business and take him there. They certainly bite off more than they can chew and the pirates that take them captive are most definitely another set back. So, more barnyard friends are called upon and a rescue party sets out to save the day! But perhaps its a jolly old man that saves the day more?
Ages: 6 - 12
Cleanliness: Santa Claus is a main character in the story. Two children are tied up in a cabin by mean relatives who beat and spank them. “Gosh” “golly” “tarnation” and the like are used.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
December 30, 2021
Täitsa mõnus lasteraamat. Palju erinevat tegevust ja tegelasi, kuid üldiselt mõnusalt soe ja kuidagi turvaline lugu.
Pikemalt kirjutan blogis: https://midaheliluges.blogspot.com/20...
Pikemalt kirjutan blogis: https://midaheliluges.blogspot.com/20...
January 14, 2013
I knew about these delightful books when I was a kid but never came across them. They’ve been notoriously hard to find for years until Overlook Press started reprinting them. Freddy the Pig is a genius among pigs. There isn’t anything he can’t do once he puts his mind to it. When he decides the Bean Farm animals should go South for the winter like the birds, it’s a road full of adventure for them. In the second book, Freddy Goes to the North Pole, he starts a tourism business for local farm animals and wildlife which finally leads him to conducting a tour to the North Pole to visit Santa. These are the first two books in the series and Brooks was still trying to find his footing, they are fun but lack some of the more sophisticated themes that he addresses in the later books. Apparently, he really hit his stride with the next book, Freddy the Detective, and I’m looking forward to getting around to it. The joy with his stories come from a combination of great characters (Jinx the cat, Mrs. Wiggins the cow, Charles the rooster and his hen-pecking wife, Henrietta), a matter of factness from tone (this is a world where people just accept that the Bean Farm animals can talk, they think it’s a bit odd but they accept it) and an adept weaving of complex “adult” concepts into fun, breezy plots with just the right touch of suspense. Brooks never talks down to his audience. If a kid doesn’t understand what a “constituent” is before he starts reading, he will by the time Brooks is through. I look forward to spending long hours reading these stories to my kids someday. For some reason these first three volumes can be a bit hard to find even in their reprint, you can also find the first three published in one volume.
April 1, 2025
An Animal Travel Company, a Rescue Mission, Whalers, and Santa Claus
At the start of Freddy Goes to the North Pole (1930), the second Freddy the Pig series book by Walter R. Brooks, Freddy the lazy polymath pig and his friends are feeling jaded, so they make a travel company, Barnyard Tours, Inc., with Freddy as president, Jinx the black cat as secretary, and Mrs. Wiggins the cow as treasurer. They soon tire of escorting little animals around their New York State farm, and when a second trip to Florida (their destination in the first series book) doesn’t scratch their itch, Freddy suggests a real challenge: the North Pole.
Months pass without word from the explorers, so their animal friends back on the Bean Farm start worrying. One day Ferdinand the crow limps home with a broken wing, explaining that Freddy, Jinx, Mrs. Wiggins’ sister, and a horse had been adrift on the Arctic Sea when a ship full of American whalers, gazing on Freddy and speaking of pork, picked them up, intending to take them to see Santa Claus. Ferdinand has returned to organize a rescue party.
Ferdinand, Mrs. Wiggins, the dog Jack, the rooster Charles and his wife Henrietta, four mice, a horse, and a porcupine soon set off on a rescue mission to the North Pole. They will encounter persnickety Canadian border agents, a child exploiting and abusing sister and brother (the former ungrammatical and brutal, the latter grammatical and pedantic), an anonymous bear, intense cold and deep snow, a lecture tour, some “wicked” wolves, Santa’s Palace, snow fights, a pirate treasure, and more. For much of the book, Freddy is off stage as the Ferdinand leads the party. When he appears, Freddy seems mostly interested in eating and writing poetry.
Interestingly, the main conflict turns out to be the kindly Santa Claus’ desire to make the whalers leave (he can’t just tell them to go), because they try to modernize his operation via mass production, commercial advertising, and other efficiencies: “Suppose, for instance, you had a hundred per cent efficient factory here [with Henry Ford-like mass production]; what good is that if you can’t get rid of your product? What are you doing to make the children of America toy-conscious?”
Brooks introduces some other tricky concepts, like direction relative to the North Pole (“There isn’t any direction but south here”), different time zones (why Santa can deliver presents everywhere in the world at midnight on Christmas Eve), and poetic creation is difficult (Freddy has to think so hard to write his poems that he’s always sleeping or eating).
He also demonstrates through the whalers and their captain that manly men can have feminine and childish sides (giving each other manicure sets and hand towels for presents, playing the flute, reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, etc.)
He has fun with the difficulty of English grammar, whether it’s the abusive brother correcting his unappreciative sister or two of the sailors arguing about subjects:
Then Mr. Bashwater, the harpooner, who knew the answers to practically every question because he had had a college education, would whisper: “‘I’ is the answer.” And Mr. Pomeroy would think that Mr. Bashwater was making fun of him and would turn round, forgetting he was in school, and say angrily: “What d’ye mean—‘I is the answer’! You trying to be funny? You can’t say: ‘I is.’ It’s ‘I am.’”
Like the first book in the series, in this one the animals can understand human speech but cannot make themselves understood in it and therefore can only communicate with each other. (In later books, this barrier is discarded by Brooks.)
Like the later books in the series, in this one Brooks does not write down to kids but wields an extensive vocabulary full of words they wouldn’t know and a varied style ranging from slangy bad grammar to elevated poetic syntax with everything in between.
As in later books, he dispenses tongue in cheek animal facts, like “Like all roosters, he had plenty of courage when he was angry,” and “Eagles always speak in very high-flown language and are very touchy of their dignity, because they are the national bird.”
When I was a boy, I read the Freddy books as straight adventures, and only now as a past middle-aged man chuckle while reading them, because Brooks’ humor is often dry and sly:
“A pig’s duty is just to be a pig, which isn’t very hard if you have a good appetite.”
“Eeny frowned. Being a mouse, he didn’t have any eyebrows, and so he had to do most of it with his ears, which made him look quite terrifying, even though he was so small.”
“But even the strongest brother and sister can’t push open a door if a cow wants to keep it shut.”
He also gives plenty of wise advice, like “it is very silly, when you’ve won an argument, to keep on arguing,” and “There’s too much talk in the cities nowadays about back to nature. I don’t object to men going back to nature, but I don’t see why they have to take a gun with them. This time of year there are more hunters in the woods than there are animals. What I want is peace and quiet.”
Brooks is blessedly non-religious in his approach to Santa Claus and Christmas, unlike, say, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey in Miss Hickory (1946), wherein a bright star shines above the barn, the straw in one of the animals’ mangers takes the shape of a baby’s head and body, and all the animals kneel on the floor to it, or as in the Peanuts Christmas Special when Linus recites the Biblical meaning of Christmas. Brooks focuses wholly on Santa Claus as an eight-hundred-year-old saint of presents and play and ignores the Christian side of the Christmas festival.
Sometimes scenes last a bit too long (like when Freddy and Jinx are chasing the Captain on reindeer), and it’s unfortunate (to me) that Brooks likes all animals and many insects but not wolves, depicting them as nameless, sneaky, “wicked” eaters of children. Kurt Weise's illustrations are lively but rough.
This second book is a worthy second entry in the long Freddy the Pig series, but as good as the better ones, like Freddy the Detective, Freddy the Politician, and Freddy and the Popinjay.
At the start of Freddy Goes to the North Pole (1930), the second Freddy the Pig series book by Walter R. Brooks, Freddy the lazy polymath pig and his friends are feeling jaded, so they make a travel company, Barnyard Tours, Inc., with Freddy as president, Jinx the black cat as secretary, and Mrs. Wiggins the cow as treasurer. They soon tire of escorting little animals around their New York State farm, and when a second trip to Florida (their destination in the first series book) doesn’t scratch their itch, Freddy suggests a real challenge: the North Pole.
Months pass without word from the explorers, so their animal friends back on the Bean Farm start worrying. One day Ferdinand the crow limps home with a broken wing, explaining that Freddy, Jinx, Mrs. Wiggins’ sister, and a horse had been adrift on the Arctic Sea when a ship full of American whalers, gazing on Freddy and speaking of pork, picked them up, intending to take them to see Santa Claus. Ferdinand has returned to organize a rescue party.
Ferdinand, Mrs. Wiggins, the dog Jack, the rooster Charles and his wife Henrietta, four mice, a horse, and a porcupine soon set off on a rescue mission to the North Pole. They will encounter persnickety Canadian border agents, a child exploiting and abusing sister and brother (the former ungrammatical and brutal, the latter grammatical and pedantic), an anonymous bear, intense cold and deep snow, a lecture tour, some “wicked” wolves, Santa’s Palace, snow fights, a pirate treasure, and more. For much of the book, Freddy is off stage as the Ferdinand leads the party. When he appears, Freddy seems mostly interested in eating and writing poetry.
Interestingly, the main conflict turns out to be the kindly Santa Claus’ desire to make the whalers leave (he can’t just tell them to go), because they try to modernize his operation via mass production, commercial advertising, and other efficiencies: “Suppose, for instance, you had a hundred per cent efficient factory here [with Henry Ford-like mass production]; what good is that if you can’t get rid of your product? What are you doing to make the children of America toy-conscious?”
Brooks introduces some other tricky concepts, like direction relative to the North Pole (“There isn’t any direction but south here”), different time zones (why Santa can deliver presents everywhere in the world at midnight on Christmas Eve), and poetic creation is difficult (Freddy has to think so hard to write his poems that he’s always sleeping or eating).
He also demonstrates through the whalers and their captain that manly men can have feminine and childish sides (giving each other manicure sets and hand towels for presents, playing the flute, reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, etc.)
He has fun with the difficulty of English grammar, whether it’s the abusive brother correcting his unappreciative sister or two of the sailors arguing about subjects:
Then Mr. Bashwater, the harpooner, who knew the answers to practically every question because he had had a college education, would whisper: “‘I’ is the answer.” And Mr. Pomeroy would think that Mr. Bashwater was making fun of him and would turn round, forgetting he was in school, and say angrily: “What d’ye mean—‘I is the answer’! You trying to be funny? You can’t say: ‘I is.’ It’s ‘I am.’”
Like the first book in the series, in this one the animals can understand human speech but cannot make themselves understood in it and therefore can only communicate with each other. (In later books, this barrier is discarded by Brooks.)
Like the later books in the series, in this one Brooks does not write down to kids but wields an extensive vocabulary full of words they wouldn’t know and a varied style ranging from slangy bad grammar to elevated poetic syntax with everything in between.
As in later books, he dispenses tongue in cheek animal facts, like “Like all roosters, he had plenty of courage when he was angry,” and “Eagles always speak in very high-flown language and are very touchy of their dignity, because they are the national bird.”
When I was a boy, I read the Freddy books as straight adventures, and only now as a past middle-aged man chuckle while reading them, because Brooks’ humor is often dry and sly:
“A pig’s duty is just to be a pig, which isn’t very hard if you have a good appetite.”
“Eeny frowned. Being a mouse, he didn’t have any eyebrows, and so he had to do most of it with his ears, which made him look quite terrifying, even though he was so small.”
“But even the strongest brother and sister can’t push open a door if a cow wants to keep it shut.”
He also gives plenty of wise advice, like “it is very silly, when you’ve won an argument, to keep on arguing,” and “There’s too much talk in the cities nowadays about back to nature. I don’t object to men going back to nature, but I don’t see why they have to take a gun with them. This time of year there are more hunters in the woods than there are animals. What I want is peace and quiet.”
Brooks is blessedly non-religious in his approach to Santa Claus and Christmas, unlike, say, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey in Miss Hickory (1946), wherein a bright star shines above the barn, the straw in one of the animals’ mangers takes the shape of a baby’s head and body, and all the animals kneel on the floor to it, or as in the Peanuts Christmas Special when Linus recites the Biblical meaning of Christmas. Brooks focuses wholly on Santa Claus as an eight-hundred-year-old saint of presents and play and ignores the Christian side of the Christmas festival.
Sometimes scenes last a bit too long (like when Freddy and Jinx are chasing the Captain on reindeer), and it’s unfortunate (to me) that Brooks likes all animals and many insects but not wolves, depicting them as nameless, sneaky, “wicked” eaters of children. Kurt Weise's illustrations are lively but rough.
This second book is a worthy second entry in the long Freddy the Pig series, but as good as the better ones, like Freddy the Detective, Freddy the Politician, and Freddy and the Popinjay.
May 5, 2015
I would have quit this book long before it's conclusion had my kids let me. A precipitous drop-off from Freddy Goes to Florida. The story drags and is rarely humorous. Don't bother.
October 13, 2022
A classic from childhood. Listened on Audible. Holds up so well. Books like this can't be written today, because they would feel forced and boutiquey. Even if Brooks himself came back and ghost wrote something, it would feel that way, simply because the world is different.
Seasons come and then go for certain types of genuine entertainment. Even the season of good quality animated movies is over, for now--such as they were in the 90's and 00's.
May something like them both come back soon.
Seasons come and then go for certain types of genuine entertainment. Even the season of good quality animated movies is over, for now--such as they were in the 90's and 00's.
May something like them both come back soon.
December 4, 2020
Trigger warning:
This story includes two children who had been abused and were rescued by the animals. They lived with their aunt and uncle, who tied them up with ropes and beat them. The aunt was overfond of whacking people with her broom. This was probably meant to be humorous, but it made me feel sad, knowing this happens in real life all too often.
Later in the story, the abusive couple accepts a pile of money in exchange for renouncing all claim to the children.
This story includes two children who had been abused and were rescued by the animals. They lived with their aunt and uncle, who tied them up with ropes and beat them. The aunt was overfond of whacking people with her broom. This was probably meant to be humorous, but it made me feel sad, knowing this happens in real life all too often.
Later in the story, the abusive couple accepts a pile of money in exchange for renouncing all claim to the children.
August 12, 2022
Half this book is super cute and reminded us of My Father’s Dragon, but the other half is weird. It is about them rescuing these two kids from their aunt who beats them with her broom when she is angry and then Santa Claus paying her for the kids in the end… very weird and unsettling.
Also the animals paint a mask with radium. I guess they haven’t read Radium Girls. ☺️
Would have been a cute book without the strange side plot with the kids.
Also the animals paint a mask with radium. I guess they haven’t read Radium Girls. ☺️
Would have been a cute book without the strange side plot with the kids.
October 2, 2019
Freddy brings so many different things together. We had just learned about radium being used for paint and boom! There was radium paint in this book. The story is fun and Emma liked it a lot (7 years old.) But my older boys like it too. We listened to this one on audio and Jon McDonough is an amazing reader!
June 21, 2018
There are some odd themes in this book, that I’d rather have avoided. Among those, the animals rescue two children who were tied to bedposts and regularly beaten and abused. Nevertheless, my son was hooked on the audiobook.
April 19, 2019
Think William Steig in chapter book format. Hilarious dry humor and stereotyping, veiled social commentary, and cleverly disguised educational lessons, all mixed up in an animal adventure that had me rolling in laughter at the end. We will read more Freddy books for sure.
October 31, 2019
It was really good - cause Santa comes home with them. And he says something about dolls. And he breaks the speed limit. He says what he gave the person. It's a really funny book. The farmer's name is Mr. Bean.
March 17, 2025
These books have everything. Adventure romance travel mystery crime humor. Not one curse word or sex scene. These books are not dumbed down for children. Like I said in book one I now see why these were my favorite books as a child.
February 13, 2022
Another hilarious read. Great for our long drive
June 16, 2022
Another Great Book by Walter R. Brooks. The trip to the North Pole is fun and he takes the readers along for the ride. They meet Santa Clause and its just a heartwarming story 10/10!
November 6, 2022
And the series gets better HERE. This early. Still not completely formed of course, but still—a huge improvement over its predecessor.
April 15, 2023
Fun with the whole gang! I love the cows! and Santa! and the bear! and the ants!
I just wish he had given the children personalities-seems like a missed opportunity.
I just wish he had given the children personalities-seems like a missed opportunity.
December 24, 2023
Once you accept that the animals will be quite humanoid and be mistaken for humans, Freddy books are delightful read-alouds. This one was fun at Christmas!
December 15, 2024
Takes a while to get Christmassy, but ended up being pretty dang adorable... Mrs. Wiggins the cow's remarks especially.
June 12, 2025
Entertaining! Humorous! And Enjoyable! If you liked any of the other Freddy books you'll love this. I listened to it and I loved the narrator.
Read
September 4, 2025kids listened to in 2025
October 11, 2025
3.5 stars. I probably gave it a lower rating because I listened to two of these in a row, so I was a little tired of it. But the kids love it and we all like the characters.
February 22, 2021
Good except for pictures
Another fun Freddy the Pug book, although Freddy plays a very minor role in this one. The one big problem with this edition (Kindle) is that the pictures are microscopic and very bad resolution.
Another fun Freddy the Pug book, although Freddy plays a very minor role in this one. The one big problem with this edition (Kindle) is that the pictures are microscopic and very bad resolution.
May 19, 2011
Fresh back from their trip to Florida, Mr. Bean's barnyard animals, under the leadership of Freddy the Pig, decide to put their experience to good use and establish Barnyard Tours, Inc to provide the same excitement and adventure - on a slightly smaller scale - for all of the neighborhood animals. From tours to the local cheese factory to visits to the nearby towns, their initial exploits are a resounding success! They use the goods and services that the animals give to pay for the tours to help make their lives - and that of Mr. and Mrs. Bean - easier and happier. Soon, the weariness of running a business gets to them, though, and Freddy decides that it's time for another great adventure, this time to the North Pole! He and a small band of hearty travelers set out to explore the vast icy regions, expecting to return in a year full of new stories and tales. When only Ferdinand the crow returns to report that the animals had been taken over by a group of sailors set on finding Santa Clause, a rescue party is formed by Charles the Rooster. Along their way to find their friends, they encounter several adventures of their own including meeting a big bear, saving two children from their abusive guardians and fighting a huge battle with a pack of hungry wolves. They pay their way by giving lectures to the forest animals on all manner of topics including politics and philosophy. When they finally reach the North Pole, they are welcomed warmly by Santa Clause, their friends and the sailors. They are enthralled by the magical Christmas Palace, with its guest rooms that seem just made for them. There, every day is Christmas and everyone gets a present tailor-made for them in the Present Room each night. Rather than elves, Santa employs retired workers who spend their golden years working leisurely to bring happiness to the world's children. All is not well at the Pole, though, and it will take all of the animals' ingenuity to save Christmas and Santa's happiness before they return to Mr. Bean's farm.
This was such an fun read! The author is talented at hiding valuable lessons about sharing, friendship and teamwork in his humorous, enjoyable tales. Although the book is not as well-written as Freddy goes to Florida, I still agree with one reviewer who said, "Freddy the Pig is back. Hooray!" (-The Philadelphia News) or the one who said, "Welcome back, Freddy, you paragon of porkers." (Washington Post Book World.) Some examples of that very humor are seen in my favorite quotes:
"Ella and Everett were very happy. They had got so accustomed to being spanked at least three times a day that they thought it was a regular part of living, like getting up and going to bed, and at first they missed it. So for the first few days they spanked each other every morning before breakfast. But there were so many other things to do and to see that pretty soon they forgot all about it."
"Jinx said something fresh to the bear - you know how Jinx is - and the bear hit him a clip with his paw and took all the hair off Jinx's head - snatched him bald-headed." [My absolute favorite phrase of all time! No wonder I like these books. *smiles*]
" 'Handsome is as handsome does,' Freddy would say. 'And it it's a choice between being handsome and a second helping of chocolate layer cake, I'll take the cake every time.' And to clinch the point he would take a chocolate bar from the drawer of his desk and bite off a big piece."
Great book for all ages but a special recommendation for anyone with children! Foster in them a love of reading and a strong moral sense by sharing classics like this one! Despite its age, it's a timeless book that will be sure to delight any imaginative modern kid.
This was such an fun read! The author is talented at hiding valuable lessons about sharing, friendship and teamwork in his humorous, enjoyable tales. Although the book is not as well-written as Freddy goes to Florida, I still agree with one reviewer who said, "Freddy the Pig is back. Hooray!" (-The Philadelphia News) or the one who said, "Welcome back, Freddy, you paragon of porkers." (Washington Post Book World.) Some examples of that very humor are seen in my favorite quotes:
"Ella and Everett were very happy. They had got so accustomed to being spanked at least three times a day that they thought it was a regular part of living, like getting up and going to bed, and at first they missed it. So for the first few days they spanked each other every morning before breakfast. But there were so many other things to do and to see that pretty soon they forgot all about it."
"Jinx said something fresh to the bear - you know how Jinx is - and the bear hit him a clip with his paw and took all the hair off Jinx's head - snatched him bald-headed." [My absolute favorite phrase of all time! No wonder I like these books. *smiles*]
" 'Handsome is as handsome does,' Freddy would say. 'And it it's a choice between being handsome and a second helping of chocolate layer cake, I'll take the cake every time.' And to clinch the point he would take a chocolate bar from the drawer of his desk and bite off a big piece."
Great book for all ages but a special recommendation for anyone with children! Foster in them a love of reading and a strong moral sense by sharing classics like this one! Despite its age, it's a timeless book that will be sure to delight any imaginative modern kid.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews