Fred

by Mick Inkpen, Chloë Inkpen (Illustrator)

A follow-up to I Will Love You Anyway, this touching rhyming story is full of friendship and tail wagging and will touch a chord with all children who love pets - by the bestselling author of the Kipper and Wibbly Pig series.'Fetch!' and 'Sit!' and 'Stay!' I understand them all. Those are the words I know. But what is 'Fred'Fred the dog may not know his name yet or how to stay out of trouble but one little boy will love him no matter what.Praise for Mick simply cannot fail to win smiles with a new book about Kipper.' Daily Mail'The charmingly comical Inkpen, as always, hits the spot.' GuardianPraise for Zoe and books will become well-loved members of any child's book collection.' CarouselFor activities, competitions and other fun stuff check out www.chloeinkpen.comMick Inkpen has been a bestselling children's author for over 25 years. He is one of today's most popular picture book author/illustrators and the famous creator of both Kipper and Wibbly Pig. Mick has won the Children's Book Award for Threadbear and the British Book Award twice, for Penguin Small and Lullabyhullaballoo. Kipper won a BAFTA for Best Animated Film. It wasn't until Mick became a father that he began his career in children's books. Now father and daughter have come together for a unique and exciting picture book partnership. Chlo Inkpen grew up surrounded by picture books and has a natural gift for storytelling. A love of language and art saw her swap an English degree course at Nottingham University for a degree in Illustration at the Glasgow School of Art. In her final year Chlo was awarded second place in the Macmillan Prize for Illustration. Chlo's events in schools, libraries and festivals across the UK regularly receive glowing reviews. Mick and Chlo are the co-creators of Hole in the Zoo, the Fred series and the Zoe and Beans series.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Animals, Dogs, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published September 8, 2016

About the author

Mick Inkpen is one of the most popular author/illustrators in the world. His books have sold over 4 million copies, and have been translated into over twenty different languages. His best-loved characters are probably Kipper and Wibbly Pig – who are both stars of their very own TV series!

He began his career as a graphic designer, and worked with another children’s author Nick Butterworth (of Percy the Park Keeper fame) on a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express. In 1989 The Blue Balloon was published to great acclaim, and established him as an important and original voice in children’s picture books. He and his wife, Debbie, also had children of their own by this point: “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”

Mick lives in Essex with his wife and two children.

He began his career as a graphic designer, declining a place to study English at Cambridge University. During this period he worked with Nick Butterworth, a fellow children’s author, from whom he learned design and typography. Together they developed a cartoon strip for the Sunday Express magazine, later to become a first series of children’s picture books. They also worked in children’s television.

In 1989 The Blue Balloon established him as a truly original voice in children’s picture books, by which time Mick and his wife Debbie had two children of their own. “Without the experience of having children of my own I doubt that I would have been capable of writing effectively for children. And yet it’s true that good work really springs from trying to please yourself”

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 3 out of 5]

A funny story about a dog named Fred who is trying to work out how to 'Fred'. He knows how to sit and stay and he knows what ball and walk are but he can't work out how to Fred until the end. Young children would find the book funny, especially when Fred thinks his reflections are other dogs, this could link to science. I would read this book in FS and year 1. There are lots of opportunities for discussion and predictions, for example, what will happen when Fred tries to play with his reflection in the pond. A funny story which I think will engage young children.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tiny little dog, so well-versed in many things, wonders what a Fred is. He wants to Fred as well! This was just too adorable, and I laughed at all the situations. :) The ending was just too sweet and I was delighted for the little dog! Plus points to the little boy (owner of the dog) he did several sweet things for his tiny dog, including saving him! Sweet!
I also liked how the dog was drawn.

[Louise Bath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fred is a little older in this book and has been undergoing training. He's very proud of his achievements! He has more adventures but also gets into danger in the park pond.

This is a picture book full of love, emotion, trust, charm, and big-eyed dogs in legwarmers.

[Homegrown Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up with dogs but my husband and I haven’t had a dog in a long time. There are reasons, that truthfully are long and tedious and I shan’t bore you with them. We do have two cats, something I’d never thought possible ten years ago. However, I still love the insatiable love and curiosity that dogs seemed imbued with. Fred brings all of that to its reader, with laugh-out-loud funny moments.

Fred begins the story by bragging about how he passed his obedience training, he can sit, stay, come and he doesn’t run away, much. He’s refreshingly honest in all his observations and so proud of what he can do and has accomplished. He knows he’s not supposed to go upstairs but mentions it anyway when talking about a dog he found in the bedroom mirror. He wonders if this dog knows what the family wants him to do when they yell: “Fred!” The dog doesn’t know and neither does Fred but that doesn’t stop him from confidently announcing that one day he will Fred and will be the best at Fredding. It’s only when he jumps in a boating pond and finds he can’t swim that he realizes that everyone has been yelling his name. As his young owner fishes him out of the water and cuddles him whispering: “Fred.” a lightbulb goes off. Fred loves his owner even more now and they end the book by cuddling up after their adventure.

The illustrations are fresh, bright, and innocently presented. Fred’s wide-eyed expression is enough to lull even the most ardent dog hater into issuing a soft, “Ahhh…” The colors are bright and exciting with plenty of white space to keep the pages from becoming congested. The perspective on the page where Fred falls into the water is also amazing. His puffed out cheeks and innocent panic is evident but never scary for little ones. Fred scampers through the pages with a love and loyalty that is impossible to ignore and eventually makes wish you he’d scamper off the pages and into your lap.

Story Tips:

Bug loves to help read this one. Every time I read the word Fred, I point to him. It is written so often in the book that he’s begun recognizing it. Plus he loves to feel like his contributing to the reading of the story.

I need more!

You’re in luck! There’s more Fred! Mick and Chloë Inkpen also have: I Will Love You Anyway, featuring everyone’s favorite canine. They’ve also done a series called Zoe and Beans, which I am unfamiliar with but looks cute. Mick Inkpen also wrote the Kipper books; we love our A to Z Kipper book.

[Kristen LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fred" is the story of a little pug that is told from his point of view, "Fetch! and Sit! and Stay!. I understand them all. Those are the words I know." The reader journeys along with little Fred as he tries to understand how to "Fred" because he knows the other commands that his owners tell him, "If only I could Fred. But Fred? It makes no sense." Scarily, Fred falls in a small pond and his boy rescues him, "I shake the water from my ears. I lick your face. I taste your tears." Fred knows that he scared his boy and is happy to be held by him. After his scare for his life, Fred realizes how to "Fred" and exactly what it means, "And suddenly I see that I am Fred! That Fred...is me!"

The lightness of energy portrayed in the book's illustrations keeps the reader in a calm place of mind even when Fred almost drowns. "Fred" is illustrated with images placed purposely on white backgrounds, bringing the colorful illustrations forward. The reader can relate if they have ever owned a pet and will enjoy the book as each page turns to show a different scene as Fred finds himself amongst all of the tricks he has learned. "Fred" is a great read and an excellent choice for a read aloud or for a story time in a class of young readers.

[Kayla Angeletti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a cute book about a dog who did not know what his name meant. He talked about how he could do everything his owners asked him to do such as sit, fetch, lay, rollover etc. He knew everything until they said the name “Fred”. Every time they said it,the dog was very confused and he said that he would one day understand what that meant and that his owners would be proud of him. Towards the end of the story he finally figured out that Fred was his name. I definitely love the rhyming and the illustrations in this book. The illustrations popped out and were colorful, but did not take up too much of the page nor too much of my attention. I would love to read this book again and I would recommend everyone read it.

[Pamela Delgado Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is about a little dog that at the beginning of the story he talks about how obedient he is and how he understands fetch, sit and stay but he doesn't know what Fred is? He wonders throughout the book why they keep say Fred all the time. He doesn't know that Fred isn't something he does, until one day he sees the "other dog"(his reflection) in the water. Fred falls into the water, his owner grabs him and says "Oh Fred". That's when he realizes that Fred is his name. The puppy finally feels like he is part of something just by knowing his name.

[Gabrielle Palmisano · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great way to teach children about identity. Fred knows all these cool commands but he doesn’t know what Fred is, or in this case, WHO! The illustrations were super cute. They looked like they were drawn out with pencil then scanned in with color. The author also did an amazing job of rhyming words like Fred and bed.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute rhyming story about a dog and his simple adventures. He ends up figuring out his name is Fred and he is loyal to his owner. A simple story and is written on the page in a fun way!

Trait: Voice
ATOS: 2.2
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[Jenna Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet book. The middle actually made me tear up!

[Freddie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an adorably daft little dog! The rhyme is wonderful, the illustrations are adorable and you can't help but fall in love with Fred. I love this book.

[Lara Bate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred knew all the commands but didn't know what Fred meant. He eventually found out.

[Elsa Leuty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hate rhyming couplets and I love irregular rhyme so so much.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor Fred 😂

[Alycia Tibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was funny and I do understand to why these book are so successful. I think that they author did a good job writing these books.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhyme has a nice roll to it and the fun illustrations pop out of the page.

"And suddenly I see that I am Fred.
That Fred ...... is me!

I have been Fredding all the time!"

Yep - Fredding - my new word of the year - for just being our own goofy selves. Lindaring doesn't work..

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book to read.

My 16 month old loves it. We read it almost every day.