This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Fred Olds has crafted dozens of stories over the years and has been involved with various writing and critique groups. He is a devoted husband and proud father and grandfather living in Central Illinois. After retirement from the Postal Service as an electronic technician, he finally has time to concentrate on writing. A true storyteller at heart, his first love is writing children's books with an occasional murder mystery thrown in for a change of pace. Check out his books for children, Read-Aloud Stories with Fred Vol. 1 and 2, plus the humorous, rhyming picture book, The Dog and the Flea: A Tale of Two Opposites on Amazon.com. He is also the author of The Hobo Who Wasn't, an exciting detective story for adults.
.
Reviewed by Marie-Hélène Fasquel for Readers' Favorite
Read-Aloud Stories with Fred, Vols. 1 and 2 Collection by Fred Olds and Margo L. Dill (first story), is a collection of seven children's tales that can be read to young children or can be read by kids on their own. I did not know this collection and was delighted to give it a try. The foreword by Margo L. Dill, also a children's and young adult writer, tells us how she met the author in a lovely way in a critique group and how they have been an inspiration for each other.
This is a great collection of stories, with fine illustrations and adorable stories that will allow kids to grow as human beings. I am thinking of the story "Looking Inside," tackling the infamous and unfortunately current issue of racism through the eyes of youth. Indeed, as in real life, young children do not like other kids because of the color of their skin. They do not even notice it and they are our greatest hope for a better future for this very reason. They do not have any prejudices. To top it all, reading and learning about Martin Luther King are essential for children, learning about the people who changed the world.
I also loved all six of Fred's stories! I particularly enjoyed "Ben and the terrible red card". The question the author asks his readers at the very beginning of the story is perfect to set the mood, to engage them and show them that a story should relate to them and show them that they are not alone in feeling bad sometimes or, as in this story, misunderstood. This story is set at school and is funny, often exhilarating and lively, thanks to the fourth-grade protagonist, Benjamin, who is perfect in the role of the "not so bad" student who keeps being punished and even is humiliated in class. Then of course he is teased and feels awkward. All the stories prove how talented Fred Olds is and make us hope there will be more stories to come. These tales are bound to entertain young children and I whole-heartedly recommend them!
