Freddy Anniversary Collection

Freddy the Pig #1-3

by Walter Rollin Brooks, Kurt Wiese (Illustrator), Michael Cart (Introduction)

Here, together for the first time, are the first three Freddy books that Walter Brooks wrote, in a single volume, in the order in which they first appeared. Freddy Goes to Florida (first published as To and Again), alongside Freddy Goes to the North Pole (More To and Again), followed by the unforgettable Freddy the Detective-each lavishly illustrated by Kurt Wiese. These are Walter Brooks's first forays into the world of Freddy and his Bean Farm, to which he would return over and over again during the next three decades to create a total of twenty-six Freddy books. With a foil-stamped jacket and color plates of the original jacket and endpaper art, The Freddy Anniversary Collection is the perfect thing for fans and initiates alike: a great starter package, and a great collector's edition.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

432 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2002

About the author

Walter 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.
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Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection has the first three books about the amazing Freddy the Pig. I think these are some of the best children's books ever written. The writing is amazing and not at all childish.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect place to start

When introducing friends and family to the greatest detective alive (Freddy) you will not want to dabble around with just "Freddy the Detective" or you will have to turn around and go back to "Freddy Goes to Florida" and Freddy Goes to the North Pole." This is not her order that was written in but it is better to see how Freddy thinks.
Freddy must use some of his best disguises in the investigation. As with “Freddy stories” there are many adult concepts that are brought up in the story and one must know where loyalty lies and beware of deceit.

Again, the best book to start with is "Freddy the Detective"; it explains how Freddy became a detective, which he uses, in subsequent adventures. After reading a book on Sherlock Holmes he decides he can be a pretty good detective and recruits friends in the process.

The stories are intriguing in themselves. However, underlying the story are several real-life concepts for one to work out as what's the matter with going to jail if you get fed and do not have to work? What do you do when the judge has already made up his mind before the trial? I especially like the way he browbeats the poor little rabbit during his interrogation. One forgets how intimidating it could be.
Well, you will enjoy this story as Freddy must figure out what happened to a child's toy train and what diabolical plot it is used in.

Then you will want to follow up with the other two books. As with many anniversary collection books, there are additions to the book it's self-such as color plates of the original jacket and 84 black and white drawings.