Fast Freddy by Lee Ann Mancini & illustrated by Dan Sharp

About the book:  Fast Freddy is one of the sea kids that live in the “coralhood.” Fast Freddy overcomes the ridicule of being different (half shark, half octopus) from the other kids in his new school. Once they find out he can swim fast like a shark, they ask him to join the swim team. They realize he is a great kid and are happy that he helps them win the championship for the first time. He comes from behind overcoming Marcus who is a formidable threat on team Barracudas. His octopus arms wave in victory as he crosses the finish line! Freddy receives the MVP award, but says a prayer of thanks to Jesus for being different and having new friends. Lee Ann Mancini and Dan Sharp have created an underwater world that explodes with color, drawing the children into the captivating story.  

My thoughts: Illustrator, Dan Sharp, has created a brilliantly colored pallet of fish and other under-the-sea characters to tell author Lee Ann Mancini's story of accepting our differences. His cute cartoonish styled creatures inhabit the pages of Fast Freddy as all the sea creatures turn out for school and the event of the day, the race.

Freddy is different. He is kind of like a shark and kind of like an octopus. (Is there such a creature?) Anyway, their teacher tries to get the other fishes to like and accept Freddy and welcome him to their school.

The story plays on themes familiar to children: sports, racing, school, the classroom, acceptance, being shy, etc. Children will easily identify with the setting and draw mental conclusions set in their own real life environment.

This is a cute book that comes in soft cover or hard cover versions. The book is Christian orientated with praying to Jesus a vital element.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from BookCrash Book Review program on behalf of the author and publisher to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. I was not compensated for this review.