My Friend Fred

Gr 1–2—Can a pet dog belong to one person in a family? Grace believes so, but Sarah disagrees. "No, Grace, he is not yours. He is ours. Our family dog." Grace thinks that Fred is her best friend, though, because he finds her lost belongings, and he keeps her safe from monsters. He seems to be happiest with her, but that changes when she prevents him from playing ball with Sarah and her friends. After hearing him whine and whimper behind her closed bedroom door, Grace realizes, "friends don't keep their friends all to themselves all of the time." Although she and the pup go outside to join a game of ball with a group of children, Grace lets readers know that her feelings haven't changed all that much and "that dog will always mostly be my friend Fred." The child's narration, which contains repetition, can be read with emotion. Layout is varied, with the colorful illustrations appearing on full pages, spreads, or with several smaller pictures per page. Reeve adds humorous breaks to this poignant story by showing the endearing white pooch standing on his head, tucked into a sandwich, and sitting in a plant. A good choice as a read-alone, a read-aloud, and for family discussion.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada