A Fairy Called Fred - Robert Tregoning - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR: Robert Tregoning
ILLUSTRATOR: Stef Murphy
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
PUBLICATION DATE: June 6, 2024
RATING: 4.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A sweet little picture book about being yourself and doing your best to shine. Interesting characters, great rhymes, rainbow illustrations. Recommended!


Plot Preview:
Fred the fairy works in the Department of Dresses at a Wish Granting Plant in Far Far Away, but he’s never been given a wish to handle. When he finally gets his first wish, it is from a boy named Joshua, who has been invited to a princess party and wants a dress. Will Fred be able to conjure up the perfect outfit for Joshua and make sure that he is the best-dressed princess at the party?


This picture book might seem like a retelling of Cinderella, but in essence, it is much more. I love how sweetly it highlights Fred’s need to prove himself as well as Joshua’s need to be a great princess.

There’s no judgement at all in the book. A boy receives an invitation to a ‘princess’ party, and he wants to go to it as a princess, and no one has a problem with this. No one questions Fred’s choice to be a designer of princess gowns, nor does a single human wonder if Joshua is allowed to wear a dress. Every person/fairy just accepts everyone else without any criticism or apprehension. This is, of course, not a true depiction of the real world, but it is a wholesome story, depicting how a world without unwarranted negative opinions could be. Acceptance goes such a long way in ensuring positive mental health, right?

The story is written in rhythmic prose, which I am often not a fan of, but works wonderfully in this book. Even Joshua’s letter to the fairy world is written in perfect rhyme. Not a single verse in the entire book appears forced. The meter is also on beat, making this book a great read-aloud option.

The rainbow-hued illustrations are the icing on the cake. They suit the tone of the writing as well as the theme of the story. The extra-bright colours further add to the magical effect.

The only reason I am not rating this higher is that the plot is a bit too overreaching for a book this size. Though the title focusses on Fred, the book details both Fred and Joshua’s journey towards accomplishment and happiness, while also incorporating many extraneous details in the text. It might have worked better in case of a beginner-level chapter book, but in a picture book that is meant for littlies aged 2-5 years, it feels somewhat cluttered.

All in all, this is still a lovely story about embracing who you are and being the best version of yourself. I love how it breaks gender stereotypes without being overt about it.

Definitely recommended. The vocabulary is a bit on the advanced side for the age group, but it would still work well when read with an adult.

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Fairy Called Fred”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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