The Misadventures of Frederick; Two Hoots, 2020

The Sunday Times Children's Book of the Year. Children's Book of the Week in both the Times and Guardian.

The Misadventures of Frederick is a funny, joyful story about friendship and the delights of outdoor adventures (even for the accident-prone) - wonderfully written by the talented Ben Manley and beautifully illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark, creator of Plumdog and Blue Kangaroo.

In a mansion surrounded by lakes and forests, Frederick is bored. He leads a very sheltered life: and when Emily invites him to play outside he has no choice but to refuse - what if he hurts himself? Much better to stay safely indoors. But Emily is not one to take no for an answer . . .

A series of brilliantly funny and evocative letters between Frederick and Emily tell this unique story which weaves together the colourful, adventurous world of Emily with Frederick's drab life of boredom and safety.

Manley's words are perfectly pitched, spare and funny; Chichester Clark, one of our finest writers and illustrators for very young children, pumps colour into Frederick's life in her exquisite illustrations.

The Times

Outdoor scenes full of birds and squirrels, lit by autumnal sunshine, and indoor scenes of dim splendour, into which nature progressively intrudes, make this picture book a gorgeous object that deserves sustained attention.

Sunday Times

The Edward Goreyesque tone of Frederick's correspondence and the vibrancy of Chichester Clark's images weave together in a tale of sly wit and sunlit joy.

Guardian