When Freddy, in a sudden burst of irrepressible impishness manages to convince Emma and Alice, the Bean Farm ducks, to go for a balloon ride, he little expects that he too will have to take part in the adventure. But Mr. Golcher, the balloonist is every bit as sly as Freddy and, in no time at all Freddy has agreed not only to give a speech, but to ride with the ducks. What he also didn't realize until he was on the way up was that Mr. Golcher was staying behind, and that our pig, along with the duck sisters were on their own. When it turns out that the balloon has a faulty valve our not quite intrepid adventurers discover that they are in for an extended voyage.

All is not lost by any means. Freddy talks a friendly bald eagle into bringing them a food basket from the Bean kitchen, they weather a stormy night, and see some splendid scenery. Eventually, as all things do, the balloon descends enough for Freddy to get it down. Freddy leaves the ducks with the balloon and, after borrowing a tuxedo from a scarecrow, heads off to investigate. He soon discovers that the worst has happened. Mr. Golcher, infuriated at the loss of his balloon has accused Freddy of stealing it and the police of several counties are trying to capture the pig and bring him to justice. It will take all of Freddy's vast imagination and the help of both the Bean animals and the entire Boomschmidt Circus to get him out of trouble.

The reader will find many familiar characters here. In addition to the denizens of the Bean Farm and the Circus, Emma and Alice's Uncle Wesley manages to return. In addition, there are parachuting mice, somersaulting ducks and an ostrich ticket taker. Nor can one leave out the noble eagle, Breckenridge, who inspires a whole burst of poetry from Freddy. By the time the book reaches its climax the reader will be completely entranced as animals display character and style that we lowly humans can only imitate.

One of the nicest things about Walter Brooks' world is that the inevitable moral lessons are demonstrated rather than taught. And demonstrated in a delightful, ingenious way. In 1942 Brooks uses two timid lady ducks to demonstrate that adventuring is not just for male chauvinists and that having the courage to stand up for your rights keeps bullies at bay. Freddy's honesty saves the day at the end, and, as always, the importance of friends gets a good plug. Best of all is that the right things to do are also fun to do. Freddy is the pig for all ages.

When introducing friends and family to the greatest detective alive (Freddy) you will not want to dabble around with just "Freddy the Detective" or you will have to turn around ad go back for "Freddy Goes to Florida" and Freddy Goes to the North Pole." This is not her order that were written in but it is better to see how Freddy thinks.
Freddy must use some of his best disguises in the investigation. As with Freddy stories there are many adult concepts that are brought up in the story and one must know where loyalty lies and be ware of deceit.
Again the best book to start with is "Freddy the Detective"; it explains how Freddy became a detective, which he uses, in subsequent adventures. After reading a book on Sherlock Holmes he decides he can be a pretty good detective and recruits friends in the process.
The stories are intriguing in them selves. However underlying the story are several real life concepts for one to work out as what's the matter with going to jail if you get fed and do not have to work? What do you do when the judge has already made up his mind before the trial? I especially like the way he browbeats the pore little rabbit during his interrogation. One forgets how intimidating it could be.
Well you will enjoy this story as Freddy must figure out what happened to a child's toy train and what diabolical plot it is used in.
Then you will want to follow up with the other two books. As with many anniversary collection books there are additions to the book its self such as color plats of the original jacket and 84 black and white drawings.

When I was young, I found this series at my local library. I read it many times. For children who love animals, humor and even a little mystery, this series doesn't disappoint. I can still remember passages in my head now. Though I haven't read any of the books in this series for about 10 years (and I'm remembering as I was at that age) I believe these stories are good for young readers. So, pick up a copy today.

Freddy the Cowboy is one of the funniest books I've read! Freddy's adventures with Cal Flint, the picklefaced cowboy, and attempted riding will keep you in stitches. The farm animals each have their own personalities, some may remind you of a neighbor or brother. The rhymes are great, and you will love the Horrible Ten! Must read!

This is a great picture book about easter eggs, rabbits and colorful chickens. Children will love it! I know I did :)

When Waino and Ivar find a moose in their father's stable, the critter looked so sad they couldn't bear to shoot him. The final solution to this unique situation is as heartwarming as it is entertaining. This is a delightful tale based on a true story from Biwabik, Minnesota, and replete with historical information about life for Finnish immigrant children in Minnesota. When it was originally published, Honk: The Moose won distinction as a Newbery Honors Book in 1936. It went on to win the Lewis Carol Shelf Award in 1970, and was listed in Cattermole's 100 Best Children's Books of the 20th Century. Now in a new edition from Trellis Publishing, Phil Strong's Honk: The Moose (wonderfully illustrated by Kurt Wiese) is once again introduced to a whole new generation of appreciative children.

PING! The magic duck!

Using deft allegory, the authors have provided an insightful and intuitive explanation of one of Unix's most venerable networking utilities. Even more stunning is that they were clearly working with a very early beta of the program, as their book first appeared in 1933, years (decades!) before the operating system and network infrastructure were finalized.

The book describes networking in terms even a child could understand, choosing to anthropomorphize the underlying packet structure. The ping packet is described as a duck, who, with other packets (more ducks), spends a certain period of time on the host machine (the wise-eyed boat). At the same time each day (I suspect this is scheduled under cron), the little packets (ducks) exit the host (boat) by way of a bridge (a bridge). From the bridge, the packets travel onto the internet (here embodied by the Yangtze River).

The title character -- er, packet, is called Ping. Ping meanders around the river before being received by another host (another boat). He spends a brief time on the other boat, but eventually returns to his original host machine (the wise-eyed boat) somewhat the worse for wear.

If you need a good, high-level overview of the ping utility, this is the book. I can't recommend it for most managers, as the technical aspects may be too overwhelming and the basic concepts too daunting.

Problems With This Book

As good as it is, The Story About Ping is not without its faults. There is no index, and though the ping(8) man pages cover the command line options well enough, some review of them seems to be in order. Likewise, in a book solely about Ping, I would have expected a more detailed overview of the ICMP packet structure.

But even with these problems, The Story About Ping has earned a place on my bookshelf, right between Stevens' Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment, and my dog-eared copy of Dante's seminal work on MS Windows, Inferno. Who can read that passage on the Windows API ("Obscure, profound it was, and nebulous, So that by fixing on its depths my sight -- Nothing whatever I discerned therein."), without shaking their head with deep understanding. But I digress.

The touching tale of a young, adventurous duck named Ping who waits too long for his master's call one afternoon, and rather than go back to his houseboat and accept the spank on the back for being the last duck to return, he goes off on a frolic and almost ends up as a duck dinner. It all works out with a happy ending, as the little boy who caught him ends up setting him free, defying his parents' wishes. My kids really loved this one, especially the illustrations, and while I had two concerns (the spank Ping gets at the end and the thought that the Chinese characters were perhaps portrayed a bit rascistly), I think they were probably overreactions.

Like many of the reviewers, this is a book I loved as a child and that I've returned to now that I'm a parent. While it has a moral--that many times, simply accepting an umpleasant consequence is better than trying to avoid it--it's not preachy about it. In fact, what's really nice about the storyis that it's not Ping's fault that he will be the last duck to board the boat (and thus get a whack upon his back). His head was below the water at the time, and he couldn't have heard the boat master's call. I think this is what gave me a thrill as a boy. I knew that the world wasn't fair and that sometimes punishments were unjust. This is what made me identify with Ping.

And the book really taps into a young child's fears. I remember being thrilled that Ping ran away instead of accepting his punishment--what small child hasn't fantasized about running away? And I remember thinking how terrifying to wake up and find that you were totally lost in the wide world--what child's greatest fear isn't that sort of separation?

I think that's the greatest thing about this story. It's not a tidy, pat treatment of issues like children's anxieties or the value of accepting the consequences of your actions. Rather, it's a tale that provokes imagination--that taps into those fears and ideas without simplifying them. And there are too few books that do this well.

Incidentally, in terms of age, I've just begun reading this book to my four year old, and I think that's been a good age for him to start appreciating it. But I can imagine a much older child enjoying it as well.

Funny, more tightly plotted than usual, maybe the all around best Freddy title.
When I was a kid, I started reading "Flying Saucer Plans," found it not particularly compelling, and forgot about Freddy for many years.
Recently, I was casting about for something to read to my six year old son, who doesn't like much of anything except Esther Averill's "Cat Club" books (and we'd read all of those we could find), and decided to try "Florida," and we've been reading Freddy non-stop ever since.
I'm growing very fond of Brooks' gentle, character driven, sometimes satirical humor. I do have a few problems with the books. Brooks' relentless use of "pretty" as an all-purpose intensifier drives me up a wall, and if some editor had only crossed out "pretty" on sight I'd probably enjoy the books about twice as much (I drop "pretty" when reading aloud). I also wouldn't mind if he used "were" instead of "was" for the subjunctive occasionally. And the less of Freddy's poetry we get, the better.
But "Florida," "Detective," "Wiggins for President" (his best title, too bad it had to be changed), and "Ignormus" are certainly classics, and all the ones we've read have had their moments. I'm happy they're back and that I'm finally reading them. Eventually I'll work my way back up to those 50s sci-fi Freddies and see if I like 'em any better...
Never trust a man who would steal from a rhinoceros,
Edward

This is another one of the Freddy books written after Walter R. Brooks began to hit his stride as a writer. Here, the Bean farm is being terrorized by the minions of a creature, called the Ignormus, who lives in the Big Woods. As usual, lots of fun and excitement, and several excellent lessons, none of which are preached at the reader.

I consider this the best book in my all-time favorite children's book series. It has humor, wonderful characters, a tight plot, and even a hint of symbolism worthy of another American classic, Moby Dick.

I love this book, and I am appalled by this book. I don't think it is racist at all or that it promotes racist stereotypes. However, I had completely forgotten that it was all about execution and methods thereof!

I remembered the 5 brothers, their unique gifts, and specific pictures from the book from when I was a child quite vividly (the picture of the one brother's cheeks swollen from the sea and the ocean floor scene are particularly vivid). But somehow I had forgotten about the boy's drowning and the fact that the brother would be put to death for it!

Here is the appalling part: I don't want my child exposed to capital punishment, particularly when it is so clearly unfair. I don't want him envisioning various ways a frustrated townspeople might resort to executing: beheading, drowning, fire, suffocation. This is not appropriate material for my little ones!

So I am completely torn: I fondly remember the story, the images, and the ingenuity of the brothers, but I am really uncomfortable with the underlying premise (execution) of the story!

This charming book has taken a lot of heat in recent years for not being politically correct enough to suit modern sensibilites. The author and artist have been accused of non-PC conduct, the most famous charge being the representation of all Chinese as looking alike through out the book.

I remember reading this book as a young child back in the 60s and being entranced by its clever story of five look-alike brothers with supernatural powers who save their own from an unjust punishment. I've thought of this book many times over my 45 years, remembering it with a fondness and awe unmatched by many other books--children's or no, that I have read. I have only recently revisited this fondly remembered favorite, all too mindful of the criticisms launched against it, paying close attention to the text and art.

The book, originally written in 1938, deserves to be judged not by our modern sensibilities, but for where the world was at the time it was written. Keeping that in mind, the book becomes less the poster child for racism than a respectful retelling of an old Chinese folktale. Careful study of the artwork will reveal that aside from the identical brothers (and their resemblance to each other IS an unassailable plot point from the original folk story)
there is as much effort placed into creating depictions of peripheral characters as there generally is in any children's book. The pen and watercolor wash drawings are simplified as one would expect for the age group that is the target audience, but each person rendered is an individual in facial expression, hair style and dress. Complaining of the sameness of all Chinese depicted becomes mystifying--as aside from similar dress and skin tone used the charge proves to be specious. (And I don't hear anyone complaining the the "Where's Waldo" series was racist and again there, the resemblance of all people depicted is a plot devise to provide the puzzle).

If the criteria of our modern world is not met by a nearly 70 year old book, we are wasting too much time clucking over the artifacts of the past and not doing enough to improve racial unity in the real world. Chances are this charming tale won over many a young heart in is 64 years and possibly even compelled some of those young readers to explore Chinese culture and myth more closely.

This is one of my absolute favorite children's stories. I would always make my mother get it from our public library. I know the story by heart, and I haven't heard it or read it in over 10 years!! The story is simple but so entertaining. I remember being amazed at the 'special powers' each brother had. I also thought it was nice how the brother would always ask for permission to say goodbye to his mother and brothers before each new execution attempt. This is a great folk tale that easily captivates the attention and imagination of young children. The illustrations are wonderful as well, and make this book great for story time....

Sometimes Mr. Brooks was able to come up with excellent titles for his novels; "Freddy and the Ignormus" will arouse anyone's curiousity, and "Wiggins for President" fairly jumps off the shelf. On the other hand, sometimes he wasn't; a neophyte reader discovering the title "Freddy and Mr. Camphor" on the library shelf might forgivably be tempted to shove it back in. Luckily, the book is stronger than the title.

"Freddy and Mr. Camphor" features two story lines; the primary involves Freddy becoming caretaker of a large estate and facing off against two sets of old enemies, the subsidiary involves insects pitching in to protect Victory gardens from themselves. The two stories are not tied together in any particular way, and do not represent Brooks at his best, but are certainly pleasant. Freddy fans will be pleased to see both Simon and The Winches, and Freddy's new friends, a pair of difficult hoptoads, are most amusing.

It is hard to imagine it happening to Freddy the Pig, but gradually his busy life as pig, poet, banker, detective, and newspaperman was wearing him out. Even his good friend Jinx the Cat could see that Freddy needed a change. But Freddy didn't see how he could leave all his responsibilities. Finally, his salvation came in the form of a help wanted advertisement for a caretaker at the estate of the wealthy Mr. Jimson Camphor.

The job seemed perfect. Freddy got to live on a houseboat while he guarded the grounds and mowed the expansive lawn. If it hadn't been for a chance meeting with Waldo and Elmo, a pair of dejected hoptoads, Freddy would have thought he was in heaven. But the toads reveal that all is not well. Simon the Rat and his clan have moved into the Camphor attic and, in a fit of random destructiveness, have chewed away the faces on the portraits that are stored there.

Nor is that the worst of it. Mrs. Winch, the housekeeper, turned out to be the estranged wife of Zebedee Winch and his son Horace, whom the reader may remember from Freddy's trip to Florida, where he gave the animals no end of problems. This time is no different. Freddy is locked up, a plot is hatched against him and Mr. Camphor returns to find Freddy accused of vandalism and theft. A dejected Freddy returns to the Bean Farm, determined to undo the damage.

Of course, things are not perfect on the farm either Webb the Spider is on a campaign to convince the insects that they should abstain from eating the Victory Gardens that are providing extra food for the war effort. He is opposed by Zero, the anarchist horsefly, and appeals to Freddy for help. Certainly, a pig's work is never done.

Somehow, of course, all is made right, but it takes all of Freddy's ingenuity, the cooperation of the farm animals, and even an array of militant fleas to bring all the culprits to justice. In the world of the Bean Farm, teamwork, friendship, and an honest determination to do the right thing are the tools that make the difference. As always, Brooks' lessons are painless fun. He displays a touch for gentle yet satirical caricature that cannot help but please both his younger audience and us doddering, older readers who remember the days before noir fiction and, like Freddy, occasionally need to take a break

Long after Walter Brooks has earned his eternal reward, he ismaking a paradise here on earth for fans of Freddy! Freddy andMr. Camphor is one of the best Freddy's out there. If you don't love Freddy, you'll love Mr. Camphor. If you don't love Mr. Camphor, there's always Bannister to adore. If not Bannister, well, there's Mrs. Wiggins, or Jinx, or the Webbs, or cousin Augustus and his relatives. One thing is certain, you won't leave this book without a new friend. Walter Brooks does for the animal kingdom what PG Wodehouse does for humankind by creating a happy fantasyland where nothing ever goes so wrong that it can't be undone, and it is always undone with wit and sagacity.

In 1944, Freddy went up against that violent young lout, Horace Winch, and taught him to be a weekend painter (in "Freddy and Mr. Camphor"). But that wasn't enough! In "Freddy and the Popinjay," published the next year, he's out to reform the rock-slinging thug, Jimmy Witherspoon, and his tight-fisted father. The title of this one could have been changed to "Freddy the Moralist."

If you get past the unusually overt uplift, "Freddy and the Popinjay" contains much pleasant humor at the Bean Farm and environs, as well as a family of dangerous wildcats (who may also be misunderstood).

Interestingly to students of the Bean mysteries, the animals spend some time in this one waxing nostalgic over the days when those fine lads Biram and Adoniram were with them, while giving no clue as to where they have gone.

When Ella and Everett disappeared from the series, they left not a wrack behind. Adoniram, however, left his bathing trunks.

I don't recall reading Popinjay when I first discovered Freddy back in 1960 (or thereabouts), but I've just read the new Overlook Press 2001 reprint. This story features the familiar, lovable Freddy characters--and a few new ones--portraying a message that we all need to remember these days: Don't judge people by appearances.

This book was written just as Walter R. Brooks was hitting his stride as a writer, and is one of the better Freddy books. A robin friend of Freddy's needs glasses, and from there the story gets wilder. The book is great fun and, as in all the Freddy books, has some lessons to impart to the reader, one of them being that conceit is not only a vice, but a rather silly one. This lesson is taught, as always, without a preachy tone intruding on the story.