Book Review of When Fred the Snake and Friends Learn the Chinese Zodiac and the Great Race
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The Children’s Book Review
When Fred the Snake and Friends Learn the Chinese Zodiac and the Great Race
Written by Peter B. Cotton
Illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire
Ages: 4-6 | 44 Pages
Publisher: Bublish Inc. (2025) | ISBN: 979-8899890635
What to Expect: Friendship, problem-solving, positive thinking.
Tenth in the beloved Fred the Snake series, this picture book celebrates Chinese culture as it explains why 2025 is Fred’s special year.
Fred the Snake and his human friends are back home from exploring the USA—and now they have two new Chinese friends to learn from. Their new friends tell them something they didn’t know before—in Chinese culture, each year is represented by an animal! But how did the animals come to be associated with those years? Well, they raced, of course! Summoned by the emperor, the dog, the pig, the rat, the Snake, the horse, the tiger, and six other eager animals all raced to be the first across the river, with many slip-ups and entanglements along the way… The result? The Chinese Zodiac as we know it today!
Although the story contains the usual cast of familiar characters, it’s the zodiac animals themselves who really shine as main characters in the story. Some are clumsy, some are clever, and some are keen—but all of the animals have distinctive personalities that invite readers to root for their favorites.
Because each animal’s placement in the calendar is woven into the race story, the narrative makes the Zodiac order easy to learn and remember; overall, the parable offers a fun and accessible way for young readers to understand this slice of Chinese culture. The rhyming text offers an enjoyable read-aloud experience that’s both child-friendly and inviting, while the whimsical and playful illustrations capture the riotous action of the race and the expressive characters of the animals perfectly.
For families celebrating the Lunar New Year, for readers whose own birthday falls in the Year of the Snake, or for any child wanting to know more about Chinese traditions, this story is a satisfying and enriching read.
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About the Author
Peter Cotton is a retired physician living on Dewees Island in South Carolina, writing books for young children about Fred the snake and his friends. Peter grew up in England where the first story was conceived long ago as a bedtime tale for his then young children about how (not) to cross the road. When they had their kids, they asked what happened to “Fred-Fred”. Peter teamed up with an awesome illustrator (Canadian Bonnie Lemaire) and published the first book When Fred the Snake got Squished and Mended.
Together they now have a series of ten popular award-winning books, having fun in rhyme with Jungle Jim, Perdy and Jack and several animal friends. They go to school, welcome Jungle Jim, try camping, visit the beach, tour Charleston, explore the sights of USA (3 books), and learn about the Chinese Zodiac calendar (2025 was the year of the snake).
Peter’s books have gained many awards including 6 Mom’s choice golds, International Impact and Goodreads Story Telling Excellence. Reviewers have compared his work to Lewis Carroll, Dr Suess, Hilaire Belloc and Roald Dahl. Peter and Fred have been featured in many podcasts about children’s books. Here is one link.
Peter enjoys presenting at schools and libraries. When not busy with Fred’s adventures, he travels widely to lecture and to enjoy his family. He reflects on life, and on his career as a Professor of Gastroenterology, in his blogs, and in his published memoirs The Tunnel at the End of the Light.
For more information, visit petercottontales.com.
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