Freddy Goes to Florida [School & Library Binding]

Walter R. Brooks (Author), Kurt Wiese (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

It's winter, and the barn is cold. There's no central heating for the ducks. No quilts for the mice. The animals of Bean Farm know that Mr. Bean can't afford to fix up their barn properly for the coming winter, so Freddy and friends decide to do the next best thing: head to Florida for a vacation. On the way south with the migrating birds, Freddy, Jinx the Cat, Charles the Rooster and the other animals foil burglars, outwit a band of hungry alligators, meet the President, and even uncover buried treasure.

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

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Birds migrate south for the winter--why shouldn't farm animals? In Walter R. Brooks's Freddy Goes to Florida, that's precisely what the thoughtful beasts of Mr. Bean's upstate New York farm decide to do. Not wanting to leave the imperfect yet kindhearted farm owner in the lurch, they draw straws to select the lucky travelers. A robin draws them a map that shows them how to get to Florida, and they're off! The parade of animals--Jinx the cat, Freddy the pig, Robert the dog, Hank and Mrs. Wiggins the cows, Mr. and Mrs. Webb the spiders, two ducks named Alice, and four mice--causes quite a stir on the cross-country trek. In Washington, D.C., they even meet the president, who "shook them each by the claw or a paw or a hoof." After a series of humorous and suspenseful near misses, including a battle of wits with some Florida alligators, they end up safely back home, where Freddy poetically concludes, "And however they wander, both pigs and men / Are always glad to get home again." Brooks is hilariously tongue-in-cheek; his insightful descriptions of animal characters are always compassionate; and his subtle appeal to a child's instinct for justice is no less than masterful. As Adam Hochschild of the New York Times Book Review writes, "The moral center of my childhood universe, the place where good and evil, friendship and treachery, honesty and humbug were defined most clearly, was not church, not school, and not the Boy Scouts. It was the Bean Farm."

From 1927 to 1958 Brooks wrote 26 Freddy books--including Freddy the Detective--all focused on the well-rounded pig, who has been described by various fans as ingenious, intelligent, loyal, and resourceful. Since Brooks's books fell out of print, librarians across the country have scrounged up copies wherever possible, even resorting to photocopying the books and binding them with hockey-stick tape. Finally, to the delight of thousands, the fabulous Freddy books have been reprinted by Overlook Press. Welcome back, Freddy! (Ages 9 to 12, but great for reading aloud to younger children.) --Karin Snelson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Available for the first time in paperback, Freddy the Pig stars in two adventures. In the first, fresh from reading about Sherlock Holmes, Freddy is drafted to solve several disappearances on Bean farm. In the second, the porcine hero and his friends escape the drafty barn for a vacation in sunny Florida. Ages 9-12. (July)
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 196 pages
• Publisher: Topeka Bindery (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613360621
• ISBN-13: 978-0613360623
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,380,785 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Starting Out Fresh, October 24, 2001

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Freddy Goes to Florida (Freddy Books) (Hardcover)

This is the re-released edition of "To and Again," which was the book that started Freddy the Pig on his road to fame. As such, it will go down in history as one of the great American children's tales. It is written for all of us who sometimes want to drop everything, leave the irritations of a job, escape difficult conditions, or simply need a change. It teaches it's lessons of the value of a dream, the nature of adventure and friendship, and the real meaning of home with a characteristic aplomb which will go on to mark all the Freddy books to come, and make them accessible to young and old.

Charles the Rooster was depressed. He was tired of waking up before sunrise to greet the sun, and he hated the cold winter the would be coming all too soon. Then a passing barn swallow explained to Charles about migrating and the excited rooster went to work convincing the rest of the animals to go south for the winter. That wasn't hard, Mr. Bean was a good farmer, but he didn't have the money to keep the barn all warm and cozy. In no time at all everyone (Freddy the Pig, Jinx the Cat, Mrs. Wiggins the cow, Hank the horse, dogs, ducks, mice and even a pair of spiders) are headed down the road to Florida.

They go from one picaresque adventure to another. They get a bit lost, survive kidnapping, and fall in a few rivers. The get to meet the President and find gold. Best of all they reach Florida and spend some wonderful time being lazy and basking in the sun. There they have the biggest adventure of all. Wandering in the Big Cypress Swamp the animals are surrounded by alligators and Charles must pull a trick on the Grandfather of All the Alligators to escape the swamp and begin their trip home. On the way, of course, even more exciting things befall them.

"Freddy Goes to Florida" was written before Freddy really became the star of the series, although he plays a big part here, especially for his inventive mind and wonderful songwriting ability. He is proof that even the chubbiest of pigs is a fine friend and good company. But the reader, young, or old, will find much to enjoy in each of the characters. Even the hen-pecked Charles is worth the price of admission. And the Webbs too, spider-adventurers extraordinaire, will tick your nose too as they ride between Mrs. Wiggins horns.

The lessons of this book are simple, yet incredibly important. That friends are important, that sticking to your word is the right thing to do, and that you are never too small to play a part. That helping others helps one's self. And the perseverance reaches its goal. But the best lessons of all come from Freddy's wonderful songs. "Oh, a life of adventure is gay and free, and danger has its charm; and no pig of spirit will bound his life by the fence on his master's farm....[yet] however they wander, both pigs and men are always glad to get home again."

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book Which Got Me Into Reading, March 21, 2004

By 

Ralph White (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Freddy Goes to Florida (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1955 I was eight, and the eldest of three brothers. My mother couldn't go to the grocery store with all of us so she'd drop me off at the children's room at the West Hartford, CT, public library, and pick me up on the way home. It was there that I discovered Freddy, and that pig spoke my language! It was Freddy, his wonderful compatriots on the Bean farm, and their fabulous adventures, that started me out right. Freddy Goes to Florida is the first of the series, and is where I recommend starting your own adventures with Freddy the Pig. Hats off to Overlook Press for re-publishing these books in their original look.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's hats off to Freddy once again!, June 24, 2000

By 

Billy J. Hobbs "Bill Hobbs" (Tyler, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freddy Goes to Florida (Freddy Books) (Hardcover)

Freddy the Pig never ceases to amaze his friends--or his readers either, for that matter! And this time, Freddy and the Bean Farm animals are off to Florida! Walter R. Brooks "animation" continues the adventures of Freddy in his usual fashion and demeanor!

In "Freddy Goes to Florida," it seems that the Bean Farm animals have grown tired of the cold New York winters--and the fact that their beloved Mr. Bean can't afford to make modern refurbishments. So they decide to migrate South, just as the birds do! The animals draw lots to see who gets to go--after all, some of them have to stay and take care of the farm!

Headed by Freddy the Pig, Mrs. Wiggins (the cow), Jinx (the cat), Henrietta (the hen) and her husband Charles, Hank (the horse), the Webbs (Mr. and Mrs. Spider), Alice and Emma (the ducks), Jack (the dog), and Eek, Quik, Eeny, and Cousin Augustus (the mice), the traveling companions set off!

And then it is one adventure after another as this grass menagerie (plus a few others!) head South. Dishonest humans, tricky alligators, and even a "pot of gold" await this crew as the excitement mounts! And on their way, the stop by Washington, where they are greeted by the President of the United States, who had heard of their goal (after all, they are the first animals to migrate!). And, of course, the animals are able to find a pot of gold, too!

Published in the late 40s, Brooks' Freddie the Pig series has captured audiences far and wide. It is refreshing to see such a children's classic stand the test of time (I first read "Freddie the Detective" back in the 50s!) and while many are now out of print (check your local library--that's a good source!), the adventures of these farm animals always bring a smile! Such fun--no matter how old a child you are!

([e-mail])