Time for Bed, Fred!

Somehow, one look at Ismail’s (Inside, Outside, Upside Down) shaggy dog, Fred, is enough to make readers grin. Is it his chaotic fur, scribbled haphazardly in watercolor? Is it his dainty claws, or his ears, which have a life of their own? Maybe it’s his giant smile or the torrent of water that trails him when he takes off running after his bath (“Wait, Fred, wait! You’re not dry yet!”), then dashes outdoors so he can shake all that water off—onto the clothesline, of course. In this gentle and effective turn on a typical go-to-bed story, Fred is a pet, not an animal child, and the voiceover-style narration is clearly that of his young owner. Yet Fred has a bed and a bedtime routine, complete with a read-aloud session (Woof! by “R. Hound”), and he’s no less reluctant to settle down than his human counterparts. He means well—it’s just that the temptations of mud puddles, tall trees, and watering cans inevitably distract him. Fred’s eager-to-please look and the constant trouble he gets into give this the makings of a bedtime favorite. Ages 4–8. (Feb.)