Allen and Unwin ISBN9781911631453 £11.99
In this story we hear all about Fred an excitable, mischievous and very appealing sausage dog. Each delightfully illustrated double page introduces another aspect of Fred’s behaviour which is clearly considered very strange by the unseen narrator. Why for example does Fred howl at the moon or turn around three times before going to sleep? It is only at the end of the book that the identity of the narrator and Fred’s best friend is fully revealed as a cat, although sharp eyed readers will notice the clues in the first few pages – a tail here, a flurry of paws there. Don’t forget to look at the end papers too, with lively sausage dogs at the front and laid-back cats at the back.
This would be a great text to share with Early Years classes who will quickly be able to join in with the repeated phrase ‘My friend FRED.’ They would enjoy going back through the book to spot where the cat is included in the illustrations. The story may lead to discussions about children’s own pets and comparisons to Fred and his behaviour, or that sometimes unlikely friendships can occur, even between traditional foes.
Sue McGonigle