Fred Wants To Play is a picturebook written by Janna de Lathouder and illustrated by Anne Schneider. It is currently scheduled for release on June 11 2018. It's quiet time and Fred knows he is supposed to keep still, but keeping still isn't easy for Fred. A bouncy feeling makes him want to play. Fred feels all alone until he meets Scott. Fred and Scott know how hard it is to keep the colorful feelings inside. Can these two friends help the other fish join in the fun?

Fred Wants To Play is a colorful and thoughtful picturebook about friendship. Fred is an octopus that sometimes has trouble controlling his energy, sometimes he just has to move and play. The others do not want to play with him because he sometimes gets too bouncy. Feeling alone and different he finally encounters someone that is very different from him, but that shares the same bouncy feeling that gets him in so much trouble. Together they plan a way to play together, and play with everyone else. I love that they channel their energy rather than ignoring or burying it, embracing those differences rather than trying to make them go away. So often teachers and parents feel like children need to conform rather than find away to make it work with the people around them and their environment. I really liked the artwork. The pastel colors popped and captured the emotion and movement of the characters. I loved that it took a character trait that often is seen as negative, and shows characters finding a way to turn it into a positive experience.

fred wants to play by Janna we lathouder and Anne Schneider.
It's quiet time and Fred knows he is supposed to keep still, but keeping still isn't easy for Fred. A bouncy feeling makes him want to play. Fred feels all alone until he meets Scott. Fred and Scott know how hard it is to keep the colorful feelings inside. Can these two friends help the other fish join in the fun? An positive book about friendship and children who are just a little bit more energetic than others.
a lovely little read for your little ones. but not before bedtime as they will want to play. 5*.

This is a sweet title with adorable illustrations. Do you have a child in your life who is a little more exuberant than average? They will find friends here in Fred and Scott, who are both just a little "more" than their other friends under the sea.

Fred Wants to Play is beautifully illustrated with a combination of muted and bright colors that mimic the sea perfectly. A lot of kids will relate to Fred and his inability to stay still. When Fred finally meets an understanding friend they figure out a way to use their wiggly energy in a constructive way that everyone can enjoy. Fred Wants to Play is short and sweet and can help foster empathy and patience for kids who can’t stop moving.

Fred’s fellow fishy friends don’t want to play with him when he’s really hyper, which he describes as having something bouncing around inside him. He tries to be cool, but can’t hold it in; must be hard to paint a frightened face on a tiny fish. He gets sent away and is sad. . . till he finds a new friend, of course, and they start a band.
Fred is an octopus—albeit an albino—so there’s plenty of underwater visuals. Some of the better ones are background events that have nothing to do with the story. I do wonder who made the sawfish the final authority, and what the sharks had to say about it.
On the down side, the text is tiny!
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

This a lovely book, full of beautiful illustrations and an intriguing plot. It follows Fred, who tries to stay still but finds it difficult to do so. Others judge him and don't seem to like his energetic ways, until the end when Fred finds someone similar to him. It's a heartwarming story that shows that it's okay to be yourself, and that you can meet like minded people. This would be a good book for young people with attention difficulties, as it would help to reassure them that everyone is perfect just the way they are, even if they do seem different to their peers.

Fred has a lot of energy. He wants to fling, flang, flong and plung, plang, plong. It was a fun book with nice illustrations. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley.

Two hyperactive marine animals find each other and throw a party after feeling all alone. It’s a fun story, but one that has been seen before. I waver between liking the illustrations and not liking the illustrations. I depends on the page. The Fred the octopus, kind of reminds me of Casper the Ghost.

Fred is a hyperactive little octopus, and he's too playful so everyone is grumpy at him. Then he meets Scott, who is also hyperactive, and then they go play with everyone and it turns out they missed Fred and think it was too quiet when he was gone. The pictures are cute, but the story leaves something to be desired.

Gorgeously illustrated book for young readers. This story is all about a silly octopus named Fred. Fred just doesn't seem to fit in with his ocean friends because he has too much energy. But, one day Fred finds a friend, Scott, that has the same problem. Fred Wants to Play is a creative story that offers encouragement for little ones that just can't seem to stop wiggling. Recommended for pre-school and early readers.

Colorfully (and delightfully) illustrated, this is a story about a little octopus named Fred who finds it difficult to sit still. Bouncy feelings pervade, which cause his fish friends to shun him. Ultimately, he finds a shell friend who knows about those bouncy feelings from personal experience. A story for little ones that have ants in their pants--and their friends.

I loved the illustrations in this book, there is so much to look at and do I think it would be a good storytime book. Plus when the octopus get's going he makes some fun noises. A cute book about an octopus who just can't sit still sometimes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

A cute under-the-sea story about friendship and playing nicely.

I  recieved a free digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.
Poor Fred. All the wants is a friend to play with.
The illustrations and story are both absolutely adorable! I can't wait till this book hits shelves so I can buy for someone! 😄

This book will be very useful in my school counseling office. I would use it for small group and individual sessions. With its cute illustrations, it demonstrates the social impact of impulsivity and poor self-control. With the help of a new friend, Fred devises a plan. Although I would prefer additional clearer aspects to Fred's plan, I think this book is a winner.

This was such a cute read. I love the vibrant illustrations and the overall message. I think this would be a great book to teach children the importance of acceptance and getting along with others and how differences should be appreciated by one another. I also liked how they showed how to use that "extra energy" in a positive way. Overall, I highly recommend this to young kids.



I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An overall sweet story about friendship and emotional control, with a set of repeated and slightly silly sounds that would fit well into a read aloud situation in library storytime or a classroom. Nicely colored, slightly cartoonish artwork. A somewhat more upbeat, energetic update to The Rainbow Fish.

This was a cute book about a little octopus that has too much energy. Luckily he meets a little friend that understands and brings happiness and dancing to the sea. I enjoyed the illustrations and colors of the book and the ending.

It's peaceful and quiet under the sea now and everyone is calm ... everyone except Fred. He feels something bubbling and bouncing around inside of him and that can only mean one thing... FRED WANTS TO PLAY!!!

The other fish don't want to engage in play with him because they are looking forward to some lovely serene time. They begin to get annoyed with energetic Fred. Doesn't he ever stop fidgeting?

Fred tries to calm himself, he really does. He sits on his tentacles and ties himself in knots to stop but alas the bouncy feeling won't give it up and keeps on building up. He attempts with all his might to contain the feelings inside of him but they get completely out of his control. Oh my!

The crusty swordfish squad reprimand him severely and decide to send him away which makes Fred feel so sad and empty inside and the worst feeling of all... all alone.

Suddenly he discovers a big shell on the ocean floor. He knocks and knocks on it which causes a very pleasant sound. Oh oh... that tapping awakes that bouncy feeling inside once again. The huge shell opens up and what a surprise awaits Fred. Inside, much to his surprise, he meet Scott. After introducing themselves they share their feelings of the colours that blossom inside of both of them and how no one wants to play with them. They both feel alone and friendless in the large vast ocean. Scott is a kindred spirit. How comforting to know he is not the only one who feels like he doesn't belong.

Together they create a plan that just might show the other fish how fun life can be. They invite the others to party along with them. Will the others take the bait and join in?

This book is about developing friendships with others who love to live life energetically. It teaches about accepting others and celebrating who you are created to be. The delightful illustrations enrich this heartwarming tale.