Your Pal Fred

by Michael Rex

Overview

* Best Graphic Novel for Kids selection by the American Library Association*
*Texas Little Maverick Reading List selection*
*101 Great Books for Kids selection by the Evanston Public Library*

From Michael Rex, the bestselling author/illustrator of Fangbone! and Goodnight Goon, comes a zany and hilarious graphic novel that shines a light on the humanity inside all of us—even if you're a robot.

He's a super-nice kid in an ultra-mean world.
He believes even the worst people are good inside.
He'll always be there for you... even if you boot him out of your castle, pit him against a mechanical giant, put him on top of a pole in a lightning storm, and trap him in a booming dance party that lasts all night long.
He's Your Pal Fred.

In a brutal world far in the future where only the savage survive, a life-size toy suddenly activates. Fred was built to be a best buddy, and his relentless kindness never fades, even when everyone else is rude. Determined to make the world a better place, he has the bright idea to talk the two most powerful and battle-hungry warlords, Lord Bonkers and Papa Mayhem, into being friends. It's a mission doomed to fail, unless Fred can find a way to inspire everyone to play nice!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593206331
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	05/31/2022
Series:	Your Pal Fred , #1
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	152,269
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	GN260L (what's this?)
Age Range:	7 - 10 Years

About the Author

Michael Rex has written and/or illustrated over forty children's books, including Eat Pete,With Any Luck, I'll Drive a Truck (by David Friend), the #1 New York Times bestseller Goodnight Goon, The Runaway Mummy, Truck Duck, and the Fangbone series (which has also been turned into an animated TV series). He has a master's degree in visual arts education (K-12) and worked as a New York City art teacher for four years. He lives in Leonia, New Jersey, with his wife and their two sons.

Editorial Reviews

★ 04/18/2022

An AI with Ted Lasso spirit guilelessly approaches a dog-eat-dog world in Rex’s (Fangbone!) big-hearted comic. On the run in a postapocalyptic future, tan-skinned brothers Plug and Pug inadvertently activate an outdated toy, AI robot Your Pal Fred, who reads as white and is programmed to “spread kindness, friendship, and good vibes.” Fred, whose views are seen as outmoded by everyone he meets, quickly settles an argument between the siblings. But Plug and Pug are soon separated, abducted by roving caravans that conscript for two ruling warlords’ armies: that of Papa Mayhem and his Ultra-Unstoppable Cyclone of Chaos, and that of Lord Bonkers and his Mighty Arm of Superbad Destruction. With infectious optimism, Fred quests to reunite the brothers and make peace between Bonkers and Mayhem. Along the way, the bot assists many, using the tenets of his programming—and his handy sticker printer—to befriend them. In his signature art style, Rex renders a barren desert with thin line work and warm hues. While the war-torn landscape provides a backdrop of bombastic action, Fred’s gentleness proves healing for those traumatized by war in this humorous volume about the power of kindness. Back matter provides Fred’s six-step guide to making friends. Ages 7–10. Agent: Timothy Travaglini, Transatlantic Agency. (May)

Publishers Weekly

★ "In Rex's big-hearted comic ... Fred's gentleness proves healing in this humorous volume about the power of kindness." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Fred weathers scorn, slime, and worse to make friends, reunite long-separated siblings, and show even fierce rivals a way to peace and forgiveness. A winning exhortation, earnest in its underpinnings at least, to be the change."
—Kirkus Reviews

"In a world of chaos and carnage, this robot carries a secret weapon . . . reward stickers! Another genius idea from one of my favorite graphic novelists."
 —Tom Angleberger, bestselling author of Geronimo Stilton and Origami Yoda

"Michael Rex mixes Spielberg’s AI with George Miller’s Mad Max and translates it through the lens of a Sunday comic strip. Your Pal Fred is a fun spectacle that’s worth the journey. It’s impossible not to smile as we follow a naively sweet robot armed only with his relentless optimism."
 —Rich Moyer, creator of Ham Helsing: Vampire Hunter

"Action, adventure, a beautifully illustrated post-apocalyptic wasteland, and a cute little robot named Fred who just wants you to “be kind.” This story has EVERYTHING! Michael Rex has a knack for balancing heart-pounding danger with a deep sentimentality, and with Your Pal Fred he does it again!"
 —Michael Sweater, creator of The Wizerd

"Exciting, funny, and well-told . . . Your Pal Fred is just a joy to read."
 —Forces of Geek

"Rex combines a silly, adventurous romp with a message about love and kindness. The illustrations capture the story’s energy; the action-packed spreads and jagged panels make for quick transitions during action sequences, and the cartoonish visual style turns mean characters into harmless goofballs. Perfect for fans of Judd Winick's Hilo series."
 —Booklist

"A graphic novel with heart about meditation and good relations that will appeal to those who enjoy kooky characters." —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

08/26/2022

Gr 2–5—What does the world need most when resources are thin and tensions are high? Well, a pal! After awakening in a post-apocalyptic desert, Fred—a robot made for children—immediately sets out to fix fractured relationships using both empathy and logic. His mediation between brothers Plug and Pug proves super effective, but with two warlords who are causing widespread friction, the task isn't quite as simple. Good deeds go a long way, though, and by the end, help comes from all corners. Just like travel companion Wormy, older readers will likely see Fred's naive plan as overly optimistic or ridiculous, but those cynical thoughts do not deter the robot; they just make him thoughtful. Even with all the ragged clothes and rust-bucket architecture, the buoyant protagonist, goofy character designs, and slapstick comedy offset the seriousness behind the idea of the Wrecked World. This graphic novel may give an overly simplified version of conflict resolution, but it does demonstrate the techniques and mindset needed. Furthermore, it opens up a discussion about principles and friendship. The author even includes a guide to making friends in the back matter. VERDICT A graphic novel with heart about mediation and good relations that will appeal to those who enjoy kooky characters.—Rachel Forbes

School Library Journal

2022-03-02
A toy robot from the past wages peace in a dystopian future.

If ever an AI “programmed to spread kindness, friendship, and good vibes” faced a tough challenge it would be the Zones—a barren, Mad Max–style landscape dotted with rocks and ruins, where feuding overlords Lord Bonkers and Papa Mayhem are gearing up for war while scattered “dirt-folk” struggle for survival. But Fred turns out to be tougher than his generic child’s body and blandly cheery expression would suggest. In fact, from the moment he crawls out of the rubble of a former toy store, he begins working changes on everyone he encounters: “Wow! I really like your helmet! It’s super neat!” Teaching others how to do high-fives and rolling out upbeat stickers from a fingertip dispenser as he goes, Fred weathers scorn, slime, and worse to make friends, reunite long-separated siblings, and show even fierce rivals a way to peace and forgiveness (“Sorry I bonked you.” “Eh, it happens”) before, in the cartoon-style illustrations, literally striding off into the sunset in search of others who need to hear his message. For readers who do get it, Rex closes with a savvy six-step plan for making new friends. Beneath his dorky eyeglasses and tuft of blue hair, Fred’s moon face is light skinned; the heavily armored supporting cast sports a variety of hues from light brown to bluish gray.

A winning exhortation, earnest in its underpinnings at least, to be the change. (Graphic science fiction. 7-10)

Kirkus Reviews