Fred [Hardcover]

Posy Simmonds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 1988

The night Sophie and Nick bury their dearly beloved cat Fred, all Fred's cat friends arrive to reveal his nighttime self and give him a proper funeral and farewell.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Simmonds, a popular British cartoonist, uses a comic-strip format to relate the unusual events that occur the night Sophie and Nick bury their beloved cat. "Poor old Fred" had a lively secret life, as they learn when scores of neighborhood animals gather, in funeral attire, to eulogize the cat they called "Famous Fred." The children discover that each night after Mom let Fred out, he would take to the stage and sing "Meeyowley-yowley-yowl!" with his band, the Heavy Saucers. Now, after the mourners pay their respects, theyand the childreneat and drink and sing and dance, in a glorious fitting tribute to their dear departed Fred. This is an offbeat book, with droll humor and silly good fun in both dialogue and illustrations (the top-hatted feline mourners are a particular treat). At the same time, it bears witness to the comfort to be had through the sharing of sorrow and reminiscence. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3 Fred, Sophie and Nick's old cat, has died, and the children bury him in the backyard. That night they are awakened by a large group of cats who have come to pay their last respects to ``Famous Fred.'' It seems that old Fred, a prodigious sleeper by day, was also a famous singer by night, and now his friends and fans wish to give him a proper (albeit noisy) funeral, which they do with gusto. In the morning, several small signs convince the children that the events of the previous night were not a dream. Told in cartoon-like panels of line and crayon with dialogue (sometimes in bold print) in balloons, this is an offbeat tale which veers toward the macabre on occasion, and it is difficult to determine its focus. There is not enough depth of feelings to use it as a tool in comforting a grieving pet-owner, yet there isn't enough humorexcept for highlighting the differences between cats and peopleto justify that aspect as the premise for the story. In addition, Nick's lapses into baby talk are annoying, particularly as he appears to be well out of the toddler stage and has an otherwise adept vocabulary. Marginally amusing, but this is one you can put outside at nightwith the cat. Kathleen Brachmann, Highland Park Public Library, Ill.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 22 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (January 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039498627X
• ISBN-13: 978-0394986272
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,692,723 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is the cats meow!, July 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Fred (Hardcover)

I haven't read this book BUT I have seen a short cartoon based on it and it was very good. It's about this familly who's cat dies from CAT FLU, and , of course their very sad about it. Well, one night, the little girl hears a sound. A cat meow! She wakes up her brother and tells him, then they go dounstairs and outside to find a cat dressed in fancy close and a top hat. Ginger { the cat with the close who is from up the street} explains to the children that him and all of these other cats are there for Fred 's funeral. Then out from the house comes the familly guinea pig who says a few words about his best friend. The children then find out that Fred was a very famous cat singer and when they try to explain to every one that all Fred did was sleep, the animals didn't want to hear it. What happenes next you'll have to read for yourself! This book is really good for kids, people with animals and/or people who have lost pets. I liked FRED because it had a good ending, it was interesting and funny. Another good book is curious and comical cats.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most beautiful view of death, January 15, 2003

By 

KOJV (Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fred (Hardcover)

This is not just a kid's book, it's for anyone. Think that you - as me - don't cry too easily? Try this book. Gets me every time - in 22 pages. It just doesn't get any better than that.

If you read it enough many times, perhaps you can read it out loud to your child without becoming a wheeping willow. Then do that - they will get a different perspective on life and death.

It's a shame this book is Out of Print.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fred, March 27, 2002

By 

Alicia LM Tremper (West Cornwall, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fred (Hardcover)

This book by Posy Simmonds is a wonderful exploration into the death, and life of a dear cat. It is written with ease, and fluidity making it a very read-able book for many ages groups. It was given to my son some years ago, and he is now 16. I asked him if we should get a copy for his little cousin's birthday, and his response was YES, it's my favorite, and I think I've read it a couple hunderd times.