Little Freddie Two Pants

October 21, 2024
Any kid who’s experienced a case of the sillies when it’s time to get dressed will find a kindred spirit in Freddie, a white dog with brown ears and a pink tongue that hangs waggishly from his mouth. An unseen narrator written by Daywalt (The Wrong Book) playfully admonishes Freddie for engaging in a host of clothing-related antics, including donning trousers in the first place and simultaneously wearing multiple pairs (“Freddie! Now you’re wearing THREE pants. Three pants is too many pants, too!”), then engaging in similar shenanigans with other garments. Freddie’s accomplice is an equally silly purple monkey, who at one point steps into the same trousers as Freddie (“No, you cannot share the pants with the monkey”) and also allows itself to be donned like a hat (“Your underwear is not a hat. Neither is the monkey”). Cummins (Dalmartian) distills her drawings down to the two characters and their props, while rendering backdrops in an array of bright solid colors, making this as much a stage performance as it is a private goof between pals. What’s to be done with this pair of pants-wearers? Laugh with them, of course. Ages 3–7. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Jr./Folio Literary.

December 1, 2024
How many pants are too many? And just how should a dog wear a pair of trousers? Freddie, a white-furred canine with brown spots and an independent streak, is admonished by an unseen narrator for wearing one too many pairs of pants. Freddie starts the book with two pairs--one for the hind legs, another for the front. Along the way, Freddie acquires other colorful items of clothing and sports them all in unconventional ways--a hat makes a terrific pair of trousers, while pants make a fabulous chapeau! Freddie's friend Monkey adds more sartorial chaos to the mix in an attempt to educate Freddie on proper clothing etiquette while also making some bold fashion choices. Eventually, both Freddie and Monkey wear their articles of clothing in the right way (sort of) while being comfortable with their own individual styles. Daywalt's inquisitive yet exasperated text combines with Cummins' expressive, child-friendly art for an enjoyable, giggle-worthy storytime offering. Certain phrases and words are presented in a different color, further emphasizing the read-aloud potential, while the art makes use of uncluttered backdrops, simple linework, and exuberant colors. Parents of young children will see themselves reflected in the exhausted narrator--the struggle to get kids dressed is real. An enjoyable romp about pushing boundaries while finding one's own unique self.(Picture book. 3-7)

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