Freddy the Pilot [Paperback]

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

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Freddy the Pig, famous detective of Bean Farm, has his hands full. The comic book tycoon (and evil mastermind) Watson P. Condiment is trying to kidnap Mademoiselle Rose, the prize performer from Mr. Boomschmidt's circus. Freddy goes to great heights in his brand-new airplane to foil Condiment's flying henchmen and save Mr. Boomschmidt from financial ruin. But will he be able to come to the rescue without crashing into the north fence?

The Freddy books are "the American version of the great English classics, such as the Pooh books or The Wind in the Willows." (The New York Times Book Review)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Move over Wilbur and Poppleton. Make room for another plucky and remarkable pig called Freddy. In this high-flying adventure, Freddy must save the lovely Mademoiselle Rose, a bareback rider in Mr. Boomschmidt's Stupendous and Unexcelled Circus, from a ghastly fate: marriage to the wealthy but sour-faced Mr. Watson P. Condiment. When Mlle. Rose politely sends Mr. Condiment packing, he threatens to shut down the circus if she does not accept his proposal. Narrated by veteran actor John McDonough, the understated humor in this 1952 classic by Walter R. Brooks soars to new heights as Freddy and his friends at the Bean farm hatch an ingenious plan to spare Mademoiselle Rose and save Mr. Boomschmidt's circus. In a droll fashion, McDonough's rich, deep voice provides just the right touch for each animal. Listeners of all ages will delight in the lively escapades of Freddy and his peers: Sniffy the skunk, Uncle Wesley the duck, Jinx the cat, and Mrs. Wiggins the cow. An enchanting fantasy sure to please everyone.
Celeste Steward, Contra Costa County Library, Danville, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

[Editor's note: The following is a combined review with FREDDY AND THE FLYING SAUCER and FREDDY AND THE BASEBALL TEAM.] -- These are but three of the twenty-six works Brooks wrote between 1926 and 1955 about the "Renaissance" pig Freddy. Hailing from the Bean farm near Centerboro, New York, Freddy spends most of his time being an amateur sleuth around the neighborhood. These are works our parents and grandparents may have read, and although such things as Postal Zones and the War Department have changed, the author's imaginative plots, settings, and characters are delightful. In these three works we find such things as: Martians (who are about only three feet tall), learning to play baseball and becoming a pitcher's worst nightmare, rabbits and skunks parachuting from a plane (piloted by Freddy) using umbrellas, skunks fighting with quarterstaffs, and Freddy fending off foreign agents trying to steal flying saucer plans. McDonough's reading is sublime. Poised and confident, he reads these works at an even pace, bringing all the characters to life with his versatile and capable voice. Refreshingly fun and imaginative, these works are made especially so by McDonough's narrative skill. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142300446
• ISBN-13: 978-0142300442
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #787,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This pig has wings!, June 30, 1999

By 

John Chastain (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Freddy the Pilot (Hardcover)

This is just one of the 26 Freddy the Pig books written by Walter R. Brooks between 1927 and 1958. Through his many adventures, Freddy, the "Renaissance Pig" of the Bean Farm in Centerboro, New York, is beset by hilarious villains and assisted by a whole barnyard of unforgettable animal friends. In "Pilot" he takes to the air to save a local circus from a more sinister aerial apparition. The Freddy books were written for children, but they're substantial enough for us grown-ups, too. I first read about Freddy 40 years ago, and I'm not tired of him yet. Easily the Peer of Pooh.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More ideas per page than you can imagine, May 30, 2000

By 

Kevin W. Parker (Greenbelt, MD) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Freddy the Pilot (Hardcover)

This is not one of my favorites among the Freddy books (which is only a tiny insult because I like them all so much), but it has more imaginative ideas in it than any other two books in the series. Here you'll find:

- rabbits jumping out of airplanes using umbrellas

- a bombsight that helps you find money

- a comic book publisher terrified when he thinks his characters are coming to life

- skunks fighting with quarterstaffs

and that's just the tip of the iceberg in this densely plotted, multifaceted book. In addition, you have the usual Freddy features of delightfully entertaining and sympathetic characters, gentle satire, and a sense of fun. Highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up In The Sky! It's a Pig!, November 11, 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 the Pilot (Hardcover)

It is only inevitable that the indefagatible Frederic Bean, bank manager, newspaper owner, detective, and overall pig extraordinaire should also become an ace barnstormer. How this comes to be is the subject of "Freddy the Pilot" a 1952 effort by Freddy's creator Walter R. Brooks. It all starts when Boomschmidt's Stupendous and Unexcelled Circus returns to Centerboro a bit early so that Mr. Boomschmidt can enlist Freddy's help in solving a dilemma the circus is in.

The star of the circus is the beautiful Mademoiselle Rosa, a bareback rider whose grace and ability are part of the Circus's special magic. Unfortunately, Watson P. Condiment, a very rich, but not particularly nice, comic book publisher has fallen in love with Rosa. Despite her refusal to encourage him, Condiment is fixated on his goal. So intent is he that he is more than willing to destroy the Circus entirely in order to propel Mademoiselle Rose into his arms.

The nefarious Mr. Condiment has tried many rotten tricks to close the Circus down, but the worst is having a plane dive bomb the Circus, blasting the audience with flour bag bombs. Mr. Boomschmidt keeps having to return the crowd's ticket money and is in great danger of going broke. Freddy summons his courage and decides to beard the mystery pilot in his den. Our pig shows up at the local air field and takes flying lessons. Soon he has his own plane and is preparing for his counter attack.

Freddy, assisted by his partner Mrs. Wiggins, a troop of Robin Hood-like skunks and the Horrible gang of scurrilous rabbits mount the effort designed to save the Circus and rescue Mademoiselle Rosa. The reader can count on a great deal of fun and excitement as one villain after another is rousted and sent on his way. The ingenious plot will even involve the U.S. Army and Uncle Ben's astonishing combination bomb sight and piggy bank.

Once again we are treated to a lovable adventure which teaches by example rather than lecture. The reader quickly finds out that courage, respect, and teamwork are the keys to success and happiness in Centerboro and the Bean Farm. Although late in the series, "Freddy the Pilot" can stand on its own without losing the reader. Kurt Wiese's original illustrations, always a treat, are exceptional in this volume, making it will worth its reasonable price.