Freddy in Peril
by Dietlof Reiche

Book Two of The Golden Hamster Saga finds Freddy, the reading, writing, golden hamster, still living with Mr. John, his irreverent guinea pigs Enrico and Caruso, and his civilized tomcat Sir William. Until now, the presence of the other animals has been a cross for Freddy to bear – because of their smell alone, to say nothing of their lack of support for Freddy’s career as an author. But in this story, Freddy finds out why he’s lucky to have such friends.

It starts while Mr. John is out of town. A mad scientist has discovered that Freddy is intelligent, and wants to dissect the hamster’s living brain. Dr. Fleischkopf will stop at nothing, not even burglary or...gulp...threatening the safety of Sophie, the sweet little girl who used to own Freddy and who still brings him mealworms from time to time. In desperation, Freddy flees the apartment, together with the other pets. Joined by a tribe of sewer rats, the animals risk their fur to protect Freddy from the evil scientist. Finally it becomes a matter of whether a cat and two guinea-pigs – neither of whom can write – can communicate what is going on to Mr. John before it is too late!

Be sure to join Freddy and his friends for this second hilarious, fur-raising adventure. Decorated by Joe CepedaÂ’s charming line-drawings, translated from the German by John Brownjohn, and laid out in a large-print, easy-read format with a big, bold, graphic way of emphasizing certain things, it would be a fun book to read with children. And with its narrator who takes himself a tad too seriously for his own good, itÂ’s even worth a giggle or two without children!

Robbie Fischer
USA

Recommended Age: 8+

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