FICTION

Freddy & Frito and the Clubhouse Rules

by Alison FRIEND
illus. by Alison Friend. 40p. HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Bks. May 2015. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062285805. LC 2014005871.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Freddy the fox and Frito the mouse play together every day, but rules always seem to get in the way of their fun. Hoping to find their own place that isn't too crowded, small, noisy, or dark, the youngsters decide to build a tree house with no rules. While constructing it, they learn about the give-and-take of friendship (not to mention one smelly way to deal with rambunctious guests at their clubhouse-warming party). Friend's digitally colored pencil drawings have painterly detail, and the expressive animals have plenty of child appeal. The artwork varies between full spreads and smaller thumbnail vignettes throughout. Changing layouts (including a vertical page) lend a frenetic quality to the story. Full paragraphs of text make for a lengthy read.
VERDICT This is an enjoyable choice for prompting discussions of cooperation and friendship.
Reviewed by Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library
Tired of their families' rules for playing at home, fox Freddy and mouse Frito build a rule-free clubhouse. However, after their "clubhouse-warming party" gets out of control, they decide on a single regulation: "Freddy + Frito Rule!" Exuberant illustrations, including a two-page vertical view of the clubhouse, enhance this lighthearted take on the ups and downs of sharing space with others.
 , Mar 01, 2015

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