Customer Reviews

Fred Stays With Me!

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Maybe it's a little too soon to start cooing loudly over a 2007 title. And not just any 2007 title but a JUNE 2007 title. Maybe. And maybe it's too soon to start mentioning it to my patrons when they ask for picture books that concern a topic all too common in American today; divorce. Maybe. And maybe it's too soon to start whispering words like "fabulous pictures" and "sensible touching plot" and "must-own title" around Nancy Coffelt's, "Fred Stays With Me". Maybe. Or maybe a blogger like myself should start as early as possible to help rustle up some support for what I strongly believe to be a must-have 2007 pick. Picture books come and picture books go but I think there's gonna be one thing we can all agree on in the upcoming 2007 season... "Fred Stays With Me!"

Says the young girl hero of this book, life can be inconsistent but not when it comes to her dog Fred's living status. Whether she's living with her mom one day or her dad the next, "Fred stays with me!". Of course, it's not as if Fred is a perfect pet at all times. When they're at her mom's he likes to bark at the next door neighbor's poodle. When they're at her dad's, Fred eats every sock you can find. Still, the pup is a constant in the little girl's life. So much so that when each of her parents make the point that Fred can't stay with them, our heroine declares long and loud that there is no question of Fred staying with one parent or another. After all, "Fred stays with ME!" Realizing this, her mom and dad find ways to work around or change Fred's less than desirable habits and all is well in the end.

Now you would think with the sheer number of children of divorce living in America today that there would be a plethora of excellent picture book titles out there reflecting those kids' living situations. Now I'm going to sit you down and ask you a question. Have a seat. You ready? Okay. Look me in the eye and name five books written for young children that are really excellent, talk about divorce, and are instantly relatable. Can't come up with five? I'll make it easy on you then. Come up with three. No, wait, two. Come up with just two titles. Remember, they have to be "good". Not the usual Mommy-And-Daddy-Don't-Live-Here-Anymore Mr. Rodgers knock-offs clogging bookstore shelves nationwide. Honest-to-goodness smart books of divorce are as uncommon as sweet summer rains in December. They can happen, but they're rare. "Fred Stays With Me!" is the very definition of rare too. Few books really capture the heart of a character's story like this book manages to do. The little girl in this book accepts her situation. It's not perfect but she has something constant in her life that she can always count on. Her Fred. And Fred's no saint himself, but with a little pushing on the girl's part, her parents can learn to adapt to the dog's messy ways. He doesn't fit perfectly into their lives but he fits perfectly into their daughter's, and they simply are going to have to accept that. "Fred doesn't stay with either of you. Fred stays with ME!" Says it all right there, it does.

Extra points to the person who roped illustrator Tricia Tusa into this project as well. Ms. Tusa is a memorable illustrator. Even if you've never read any of her picture books, you'll recognize her style from innumerable book covers. Here, Tusa works with a purposefully limited palette. In an era of increased glam and glitz in the children's book industry, Tusa's muted autumnal colors come as a truly gorgeous compliment to Coffelt's low-key action. The entire book is told in golden brown, saffron, and peach watercolors. Tusa then creates characters that are sweet but never maudlin. She manages to create truly amiable people and animals that win your heart with just the slightest of glances at the cover. But when you see the little girl sitting in a tree showing Fred her paper dolls or holding Fred in a kind of makeshift spotlight as she explains that her pet is HER pet, you don't feel overwhelmed by sticky sweet emotions. You are instead facing actual honest-to-goodness raw and realistic feelings that Coffelt and Tusa offer up to you honestly. Add in the details Tusa is able to sneak in here and there (like the footwear-devouring Fred staring lovingly up at a single sock hanging on a line) and you've got yourself the only artist I can imagine Coffelt's book ever pairing with.

This isn't a book that unfairly plays with your heartstrings. It wins your heart fair and square and manages to be the number one best picture book about divorce ever written as a result. On that you can quote me. By far one of the strongest picture books you'll see on your shelves, and a book you should write down the title of right now so that you can remember it's shining face later on down the line. A strong remarkable creation.

For the last 14 years I have taught Positive Divorce Resolution, a 4 hour course for divorcing parents in Florida and this book is my all time favorite. It is simple, clear, a real pleasure to read.

Fred Stays With Me is the first and only book that has you pulling for the child every step of the way. Very well written, well illustrated and complete in its message: kids need to be considered, kids need consistency, kids need support. I would like for every judge in family law and every attorney who practices family law to have a copy in their waiting rooms. I will keep Fred Stays with me on my list of recommended reading for parents.
Thank you Nancy Coffelt, for writing this book!

I have searched for books to help my 4 year old daughter better understand life after divorce. I have not found a book yet that shed a positive family dynamic until Fred Stays with Me! Our family experience was fortunately far more positive than many of the books on the market that deal with divorce suggest. We tried a few others and the father always seems disinterested or abusive. While I recognize these subjects are important for some families, I applaud the author and illustrator for making divorce the background. My daughter adores the book. It has sparked wonderful conversations about our family situation.

Fred Stays With Me is a touching story about the uncertainty a young girl is experiencing when her parents divorce. She must get use to two homes, two beds, but where ever she goes, so does her dog Fred. As she goes through her daily activities, Fred is by her side. Two houses is an adjustment for Fred as well, and although he doesn't mean to, he tracks mud in the house, eats dad's socks and annoys the neighbor's dog when visiting mom. Her new life takes some getting use to, but soon she sees, many things in her life stay the same: same school, same friends, and her loyal furry pal Fred always at her side.

The story is told in the first person, and it was just a delight to read. This is a perfect story to reassure children in similar circumstances that although divorce can be scary, many things that are near and dear to children can stay pretty much stay same. Life, although a bit different, can still be fun. The illustrations, by Tricia Tusa are fabulous. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This book does an amazing job of showing what true commitment and love is really about to a little kids. The story is about a little girl and how much she really cares for her dog. Also I think that this would be a great book for kids to read so that way they can learn how to take care of a dog and how to show love to a dog.

"Fred Stays With Me!" is a really easy book for little kids to read because there are not that many words on each page and i know that when I was little I loved books with very little reading to them. Also the different pictures of the dog and girl in this book were really funny and cute.

In simple and concise language, this book shows how an only child lives, views, and copes with divorced parents; her faithful canine companion Fred provides support and comfort as she travels between her parents' houses.

The text is appropriate for ages three and up and provides a successful opening for divorce issue conversations.

Ok, maybe my title is a little too dramatic, but I found this book to be profound. A young girl stays with her mom sometimes and with her Dad sometimes. In both homes, her dog, Fred, stays with her. Fred's behavior has some issues that concern the parents, who both eventually take the attitude that Fred can't stay with them anymore. Upon the little girl's proclamation that Fred stays with her, the parents find solutions to Fred's behavior rather than kicking him out. Hmmmm, is there a larger message here? Obviously divorce is a reality of our times and this book is the best I've seen for children about the subject. There seems to be a bigger moral lesson here to the parents, as well - that maybe divorce isn't always the best answer when challenges arise.

It's not a preachy, hit-you-over-the-head, sermon. It's a quiet message of commitment and love.