I, Freddy - Hardcover

Reiche, Dietlof

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0439283566 ISBN 13: 9780439283564

Publisher: Scholastic Press, 2003

Synopsis

Move over Stuart Little, there's a new mouse in town. Except this mouse is a hamster. And not just any hamster. He is a Mesocricetus auratus, a golden hamster of the highest order.

Freddy is dissatisfied w/ his monotonous treadmill life at the pet store. He endures countless indignities in order to get himself adopted so he can lead a more civilized life. After a series of funny misadventures (including encounters w/ a fierce tomcat & 2 guinea pigs who speak in Shakespearean couplets) he teaches himself to read & write & pens a witty & heartwarming autobiography a/b his journey towards self-improvement. Written in jaunty, fast-paced prose w/ deadpan humor & hilarious plot turns, this brilliant novel & the irresistible Freddy will win your heart on the first page.

About this title

About the Author:

JOE CEPEDA has illustrated many books for children, including What a Truly Cool World by Julius Lester and Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron. He lives in Whittier, California. DARCY PATTISON is the author of The River Dragon, illustrated by Jean and Mou-Sien Tseng, as well as the fantasy novel The Wayfinder. She teaches writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and reviews children's books for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. She lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 3-5-Freddy Auratus is an unusual hamster. Unlike his pet-shop mates, he has ambitions beyond traditional cage life. He wants to explore the world and resolves to attract the right buyer. His choice is Sophie, almost six, a budding bookworm with the insight to consult a hamster-care book, and he gradually teaches himself to read from her books. He even devises a secret way to open the latch of his cage. But before he can do much exploring, Sophie's mother proves allergic to hamster fur and plans to get rid of him. He stows away with a visiting family friend, despite concerns about the man's other pets. His two guinea pigs, Enrico and Caruso, are masters of low comedy and excruciatingly bad songs, but, to Freddy's surprise, Sir William, the cat, is a civilized fellow who quietly maintains order in the household. Then, when the Master brings home a computer, Freddy resolves to learn to write in hopes of communicating with the human world. Comparisons with Beverly Cleary's Ralph S. Mouse (Morrow, 1982) are probably inevitable, but Freddy is his own man-er, rodent. Illustrated with amusing black-ink sketches, this engaging story will appeal to fans of animal fantasies.
Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0439283566
• ISBN 13: 9780439283564
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208
• Illustrator: Cepeda Joe