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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
A standalone picture book revolving around friendship.
My Take
Aw, it's that third person point-of-view from Fred's perspective that makes this so sad. An imaginary friend who floats through the sky, waiting, hoping for a forever friend. And it has quite the unexpected twist that ends so happily.
The graphics are all line drawings with a few bits of color thrown in. Except for Fred. Fred is a collection of blue dots, big and clustered for his head and legs, small and scattered for his torso, and a combination for his arms. Frieda is a sort of solid yellow with her hair the more solid part of her. Both incorporate few scribbles of line detail for their hair and face...and sometimes their arms or hands.
It's a sweet tale of friendship that crosses all lines.
The Story
Did you know that sometimes, with a little electricity, or luck, or even magic, an imaginary friend might appear when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred.
Fred floated like a feather in the wind until Sam, a lonely little boy, wished for him and, together, they found a friendship like no other.
The Characters
Fred is an imaginary person who floats through the clouds until a wish brings him to a friend.
Sam is a lonely boy who loves reading, music, exploring, creating comics,
Sammi is a new friend who also loves to read and create comics. Frieda is Sammi's imaginary friend.
The Quarreling Quartet play music together. The Dramatic Duo is the Fred and Sam writing team.
The Cover and Title
The cover is classy with its pale blue and the intricate gold scrollwork surrounding a white cloud that forms the background for the deep blue title in two fonts in the top half of the cover. Below it are two boys, one a blue-dotted imagination with a line drawing of Sam, his arm around his friend, Fred. At the bottom is the author's and illustrator's names in gold using the same two fonts as in the title.
The title is of the primary character, Imaginary Fred.
My Take
Aw, it's that third person point-of-view from Fred's perspective that makes this so sad. An imaginary friend who floats through the sky, waiting, hoping for a forever friend. And it has quite the unexpected twist that ends so happily.
The graphics are all line drawings with a few bits of color thrown in. Except for Fred. Fred is a collection of blue dots, big and clustered for his head and legs, small and scattered for his torso, and a combination for his arms. Frieda is a sort of solid yellow with her hair the more solid part of her. Both incorporate few scribbles of line detail for their hair and face...and sometimes their arms or hands.
It's a sweet tale of friendship that crosses all lines.
The Story
Did you know that sometimes, with a little electricity, or luck, or even magic, an imaginary friend might appear when you need one? An imaginary friend like Fred.
Fred floated like a feather in the wind until Sam, a lonely little boy, wished for him and, together, they found a friendship like no other.
The Characters
Fred is an imaginary person who floats through the clouds until a wish brings him to a friend.
Sam is a lonely boy who loves reading, music, exploring, creating comics,
Sammi is a new friend who also loves to read and create comics. Frieda is Sammi's imaginary friend.
The Quarreling Quartet play music together. The Dramatic Duo is the Fred and Sam writing team.
The Cover and Title
The cover is classy with its pale blue and the intricate gold scrollwork surrounding a white cloud that forms the background for the deep blue title in two fonts in the top half of the cover. Below it are two boys, one a blue-dotted imagination with a line drawing of Sam, his arm around his friend, Fred. At the bottom is the author's and illustrator's names in gold using the same two fonts as in the title.
The title is of the primary character, Imaginary Fred.
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
5+ stars. This was an amazing imaginary friend tale, one I would highly recommend!
I am just going for a basic review, while I could put stuff under spoiler tags (which I always do if I really want to discuss stuff that is spoilerish), I won't do that here, and just speak of the book in general and not go deeper into it. This because there is so much to spoil in this book, and I don't want that, I want the readers to feel the same emotions and be surprised when moments of surprise pop up. I started the book with interest and intrigue, but that changed to happiness and amazement at this amazing book.
Sam, our friendless guy, is a great character. I felt sorry for him, that he was friendless, and so I was really happy when he found Fred. They fit together like 2 peas in a pod, though I can just imagine how confused the parents were when they saw their son and then something (since I am sure they saw the horse) floating next to it. :)
I was worried that Sam would do the same as all the other kids, and I won't tell you if my worries came true or not, but let me just tell you that I am delighted with what happened.
Fred, he was just awesome. The best imaginary friend anyone can wish for (though the wishing process seems painful, that poor postman), but I also felt sad for him, that he had so many friends who just left him when they found a real friend. I was delighted when he met Sam, a friend who just matched him so well in so many things. Reading: check! Interest in various things in life: Check! Drama: Check!
There are also two other things I would love to discuss, but can't due to spoilers. So I will keep it general. I just loved that twist when that thing happened, I was so worried it would end up a certain way.
The ending to the book? Fantastic! Beautiful! Sweet!
The illustrations just fit perfectly with the book. Most of the book is in one colour (blue), but there are also random bursts of other colours, and I have to say it was very effective. At the right moments you would have a sudden burst of colour, I just loved that they did it this way.
All in all, this is one picture book I would really highly recommend. Kids, but also adults, will love this book.
I hope that this duo (Eoin Colfer/Oliver Jeffers) will be making more book for children together, both already made great books for children on their own, but this collaboration? They should do it again!
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am just going for a basic review, while I could put stuff under spoiler tags (which I always do if I really want to discuss stuff that is spoilerish), I won't do that here, and just speak of the book in general and not go deeper into it. This because there is so much to spoil in this book, and I don't want that, I want the readers to feel the same emotions and be surprised when moments of surprise pop up. I started the book with interest and intrigue, but that changed to happiness and amazement at this amazing book.
Sam, our friendless guy, is a great character. I felt sorry for him, that he was friendless, and so I was really happy when he found Fred. They fit together like 2 peas in a pod, though I can just imagine how confused the parents were when they saw their son and then something (since I am sure they saw the horse) floating next to it. :)
I was worried that Sam would do the same as all the other kids, and I won't tell you if my worries came true or not, but let me just tell you that I am delighted with what happened.
Fred, he was just awesome. The best imaginary friend anyone can wish for (though the wishing process seems painful, that poor postman), but I also felt sad for him, that he had so many friends who just left him when they found a real friend. I was delighted when he met Sam, a friend who just matched him so well in so many things. Reading: check! Interest in various things in life: Check! Drama: Check!
There are also two other things I would love to discuss, but can't due to spoilers. So I will keep it general. I just loved that twist when that thing happened, I was so worried it would end up a certain way.
The ending to the book? Fantastic! Beautiful! Sweet!
The illustrations just fit perfectly with the book. Most of the book is in one colour (blue), but there are also random bursts of other colours, and I have to say it was very effective. At the right moments you would have a sudden burst of colour, I just loved that they did it this way.
All in all, this is one picture book I would really highly recommend. Kids, but also adults, will love this book.
I hope that this duo (Eoin Colfer/Oliver Jeffers) will be making more book for children together, both already made great books for children on their own, but this collaboration? They should do it again!
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
3.0
Cute, but not my favorite Colfer or Jeffers book.
readers_attic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
5c_sami's review against another edition
5.0
This book is adorable. Just as witty as you expect Mr. Colfer to be, and Jeffers' illustrations fit the style and elevate the story to the next level. I'm in my 20s and this book instantly and easily shot onto my favorites list.
forever_day's review against another edition
3.5
Cute children’s book. The music in the background of the audiobook was a fun addition.
bibliovolubile's review against another edition
5.0
Pour lire le billet que j'ai écrit sur lililesmerveilles.com, au sujet de ce livre, c'est par ici!
http://www.lililesmerveilles.com/2015/09/imaginary-fred.html
[To read my lililesmerveilles.com's blog post about this book, follow the above link - post is in french]
http://www.lililesmerveilles.com/2015/09/imaginary-fred.html
[To read my lililesmerveilles.com's blog post about this book, follow the above link - post is in french]