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Freddy the Pig #13
Freddy the Pied Piper
Freddy's friends knew that they could always rely on him to help them out of a jam, and when Mr. Boomschmidt and his traveling circus run into trouble, Jerry the rhinoceros turns to upstanding Freddy for some practical advice. In an instant the ever resourceful Freddy swings into action, and quick as you know, plans are made, funds raised, and scattered circus animals found. Freddy does it again, in one of his most memorable and enjoyable adventures.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1946
About the author
Walter Rollin Brooks
62 books68 followersWalter Rollin Brooks (January 9, 1886 – August 17, 1958) was an American writer best remembered for his short stories and children's books, particularly those about Freddy the Pig and other anthropomorphic animal inhabitants of the "Bean farm" in upstate New York.
Born in Rome, New York, Brooks attended college at the University of Rochester and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester, where he married his first wife, Anne Shepard, in 1909. Brooks found employment with an advertising agency in Utica, and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent: in 1917, he went to work for the American Red Cross and later did editorial work for several magazines, including The New Yorker.
In 1940, Brooks turned to his own writing for his full-time occupation. Walter married his second wife, Dorothy Collins, following the death of Anne in 1952.
The first works Brooks published were poems and short stories. His short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" about a talking horse was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series Mister Ed (credit for creating the characters is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks"). His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends.
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Born in Rome, New York, Brooks attended college at the University of Rochester and subsequently studied homeopathic medicine in New York City. He dropped out after two years, however, and returned to Rochester, where he married his first wife, Anne Shepard, in 1909. Brooks found employment with an advertising agency in Utica, and then "retired" in 1911, evidently because he came into a considerable inheritance. His retirement was not permanent: in 1917, he went to work for the American Red Cross and later did editorial work for several magazines, including The New Yorker.
In 1940, Brooks turned to his own writing for his full-time occupation. Walter married his second wife, Dorothy Collins, following the death of Anne in 1952.
The first works Brooks published were poems and short stories. His short story "Ed Takes the Pledge" about a talking horse was the basis for the 1960s television comedy series Mister Ed (credit for creating the characters is given in each episode to "Walter Brooks"). His most enduring works, however, are the 26 books he wrote about Freddy the Pig and his friends.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 18, 2013
Brooks, Walter R.
Children's Fiction
Freddy the pig lives in a pigpen and is a homely sort of animal, but that doesn't mean he isn't something special! Time and again, Freddy proves his worth in the many adventures he has. From running the Bean Farm bank to publishing its weekly newspaper to solving crimes around the farm, Freddy's done it all! So it's no wonder that people come to him when they find themselves in difficulties.
Deep in the heart of one of the coldest winters the Bean animals can remember, Freddy receives an unexpected visitor: a rhinoceros! Jerry, one of the animals from the Boomschmidt circus, has made his way up from the deep South to ask Freddy to apply his brains to solving a big problem. WIth the ongoing war and the country's dire financial straits, Mr. Boomschmidt has been forced to disband the circus and ask the animals to go their separate ways and fend for themselves. Unwilling to give up on the man who has cared for them so long, Jerry and Leo the lion, determined to get Freddy's assistance. Somewhere along the way, Leo disappeared, but Jerry finally made it through the deep fallen snow to the Bean farm. Freddy's fond memories of the circus and the kindness of its owner are enough to motivate him to help Jerry find Leo and then give Mr. Boomschmidt as much help as he possibly can. But first, he must come up with a solution to a problem that's closer to home. The residents of Centerboro are being driven out of their homes by unruly mice. Unwilling to stand by when the townspeople so desperately need him, Freddy applies his smarts to curing the town of its troublesome inhabitants. Will Freddy and the other Bean farm animals succeed as usual in this new adventure? Or is Mr. Boomschmidt's circus closed for the last time?
For a pig, Freddy certainly is something special, and for children's literature, Walter R. Brooks' series is something extraordinary. Whimsical and fun, each book is an absolute treasure and it's so sad that they are not more popular today. Full of clean humor, homespun wisdom and delightful characters, the books are everything that a good children's book should be. What's even better, however, is that they are entertaining for adult readers, too! I love reading them and can't recommend them highly enough. Please introduce the children in your life to this remarkable pig and his friends!! And take the time to meet him yourself, too!
Children's Fiction
Freddy the pig lives in a pigpen and is a homely sort of animal, but that doesn't mean he isn't something special! Time and again, Freddy proves his worth in the many adventures he has. From running the Bean Farm bank to publishing its weekly newspaper to solving crimes around the farm, Freddy's done it all! So it's no wonder that people come to him when they find themselves in difficulties.
Deep in the heart of one of the coldest winters the Bean animals can remember, Freddy receives an unexpected visitor: a rhinoceros! Jerry, one of the animals from the Boomschmidt circus, has made his way up from the deep South to ask Freddy to apply his brains to solving a big problem. WIth the ongoing war and the country's dire financial straits, Mr. Boomschmidt has been forced to disband the circus and ask the animals to go their separate ways and fend for themselves. Unwilling to give up on the man who has cared for them so long, Jerry and Leo the lion, determined to get Freddy's assistance. Somewhere along the way, Leo disappeared, but Jerry finally made it through the deep fallen snow to the Bean farm. Freddy's fond memories of the circus and the kindness of its owner are enough to motivate him to help Jerry find Leo and then give Mr. Boomschmidt as much help as he possibly can. But first, he must come up with a solution to a problem that's closer to home. The residents of Centerboro are being driven out of their homes by unruly mice. Unwilling to stand by when the townspeople so desperately need him, Freddy applies his smarts to curing the town of its troublesome inhabitants. Will Freddy and the other Bean farm animals succeed as usual in this new adventure? Or is Mr. Boomschmidt's circus closed for the last time?
For a pig, Freddy certainly is something special, and for children's literature, Walter R. Brooks' series is something extraordinary. Whimsical and fun, each book is an absolute treasure and it's so sad that they are not more popular today. Full of clean humor, homespun wisdom and delightful characters, the books are everything that a good children's book should be. What's even better, however, is that they are entertaining for adult readers, too! I love reading them and can't recommend them highly enough. Please introduce the children in your life to this remarkable pig and his friends!! And take the time to meet him yourself, too!
August 14, 2018
A Dispersed Circus and a Concentration of Mice? Call a Pig!
It's deep in a long cold snowy winter on the Bean farm in NY State when Jerry the rhinoceros of Mr. Boomschmidt's Colossal and Unparalleled Circus appears there, having traveled from Virginia to seek the advice of Freddy: poet, editor, banker, detective, and pig of many disguises and interests. The problem is that the harsh wartime economy drove Mr. Boomschmidt to retreat his circus to Virginia to wait out the hard times, but he ran out of money for animal food, so he had to disperse the animals and workers across America to join zoos or to live off the land. Freddy really wants to help Mr. Boomschmidt because the circus has often helped the pig in the past. At the same time, the nearby town of Centerboro is experiencing mouse trouble, with houses and even the bank being infested. Will Freddy be able to solve both problems? The title of the book, Freddy the Pied Piper (1946), hints at his plan . . .
But how will the four mouse cousins who live with him on the Bean farm (Eek, Quik, Eeny, and Cousin Augustus) take it when he recruits a gang of abandoned cats and starts charging $5.00 per house to drive the Centerboro mice (including the aunt of the four farm mice) out into the snow? And will Mr. Boomschmidt, who has his pride, accept Freddy's nearly $2,000 of resulting mouse money to put the circus back in business? And even if he does, how will all the scattered circus animals be found?
The novel answers those questions in author Walter R. Brooks' usual entertaining and unpredictable ways. In addition to Jerry, Freddy is helped in his plans and adventures by Jinx the cat, Old Whibley the owl, Leo the lion, Willy the boa constrictor, Phil the vulture, Mrs. Church (a wealthy and eccentric and generous woman), and Mr. Weezer (the money-loving but reasonable Centerboro bank president). He is hindered by some unpleasant people, including Gwetholinda Guffin, an exploitive pet shop owner who sells fake canaries, and Mr. Bleech, a greedy man who rides a lean and fast cow.
Brooks imagines a world in which all animals (including birds, insects, and reptiles) can speak with each other and with humans (though the creatures tend to avoid startling humans with speech). He also creates a moral system whereby anyone who abuses animals or looks down on them is in store for some narrative punishment, while anyone who likes animals and tries to help them or communicate with them is in store for some reward, even if it's only having their lives enriched by widening their vision and circle of friends. (The uncaged animals of Mr. Boomschmidt's circus help run the show.)
There is much humor in the book: Jinx trying to paint himself while he's sleeping; Freddy posing like a lion so Jinx can paint one to show migrating birds; Freddy's four mice friends giving him the "silent" treatment after his mousing business does too well; a feckless duck courting duck sisters Emma and Alice at the expense of their pompous Uncle Wesley; a camel, cow, goat, and rhino running a $200 race; Madame Delphine telling dodgy fortunes with coffee-grounds; a cookie-loving buzzard receiving a special circus job; and more.
In the novel Brooks really enjoys animal behavior and human foibles (sometimes at the same time) and provides fresh perspectives on them with a good-natured wisdom underpinning everything. Here are four examples:
--"What I don't understand," Freddy said, "is why we're always superstitious about things that bring bad luck. Why can't we be superstitious about good luck? I mean, instead of thinking it's bad luck when you spill the salt, why not think it's good luck when you spill the pepper?"
--"I don't know why people always have to bring pigs into it when they want to say something mean about somebody."
--"Jinx had decided to come along. He had got so interested in painting that he hated to leave his studio, but as he said, he had the rest of his life to paint in, while a chance to have all sorts of adventures in good company didn't come very often."
--"'Well, Leo, don't just stand there! Tell me what money is!'
'It's the root of all evil, chief,' said the lion. 'And boy, how you dig for it!'"
The black and white illustrations by Kurt Wiese are, as usual, just right: realistic, funny, beautiful, and blessedly un-cute.
From 1927 till 1958, Brooks wrote 26 stand-alone books featuring the pig. They may be read in any order, though the first few books depict animals who can talk with each other but not to people, whereas the later ones show animals and people talking together, and the early books introduce characters who recur in later ones. Apart from some repetition, as when Brooks has Freddy comically disguise himself as a little old lady in multiple books, throughout the Freddy books he is remarkably good at writing different plots, themes, and wise and witty lines about animals, people, and life. As I continue reading or re-reading them 45 years after I originally enjoyed some of them in the 1960s, their humor and wisdom continue to impress me. And the whole series has been brought back into print by Overlook Press and are being made into audiobooks perfectly read by John McDonough.
It's deep in a long cold snowy winter on the Bean farm in NY State when Jerry the rhinoceros of Mr. Boomschmidt's Colossal and Unparalleled Circus appears there, having traveled from Virginia to seek the advice of Freddy: poet, editor, banker, detective, and pig of many disguises and interests. The problem is that the harsh wartime economy drove Mr. Boomschmidt to retreat his circus to Virginia to wait out the hard times, but he ran out of money for animal food, so he had to disperse the animals and workers across America to join zoos or to live off the land. Freddy really wants to help Mr. Boomschmidt because the circus has often helped the pig in the past. At the same time, the nearby town of Centerboro is experiencing mouse trouble, with houses and even the bank being infested. Will Freddy be able to solve both problems? The title of the book, Freddy the Pied Piper (1946), hints at his plan . . .
But how will the four mouse cousins who live with him on the Bean farm (Eek, Quik, Eeny, and Cousin Augustus) take it when he recruits a gang of abandoned cats and starts charging $5.00 per house to drive the Centerboro mice (including the aunt of the four farm mice) out into the snow? And will Mr. Boomschmidt, who has his pride, accept Freddy's nearly $2,000 of resulting mouse money to put the circus back in business? And even if he does, how will all the scattered circus animals be found?
The novel answers those questions in author Walter R. Brooks' usual entertaining and unpredictable ways. In addition to Jerry, Freddy is helped in his plans and adventures by Jinx the cat, Old Whibley the owl, Leo the lion, Willy the boa constrictor, Phil the vulture, Mrs. Church (a wealthy and eccentric and generous woman), and Mr. Weezer (the money-loving but reasonable Centerboro bank president). He is hindered by some unpleasant people, including Gwetholinda Guffin, an exploitive pet shop owner who sells fake canaries, and Mr. Bleech, a greedy man who rides a lean and fast cow.
Brooks imagines a world in which all animals (including birds, insects, and reptiles) can speak with each other and with humans (though the creatures tend to avoid startling humans with speech). He also creates a moral system whereby anyone who abuses animals or looks down on them is in store for some narrative punishment, while anyone who likes animals and tries to help them or communicate with them is in store for some reward, even if it's only having their lives enriched by widening their vision and circle of friends. (The uncaged animals of Mr. Boomschmidt's circus help run the show.)
There is much humor in the book: Jinx trying to paint himself while he's sleeping; Freddy posing like a lion so Jinx can paint one to show migrating birds; Freddy's four mice friends giving him the "silent" treatment after his mousing business does too well; a feckless duck courting duck sisters Emma and Alice at the expense of their pompous Uncle Wesley; a camel, cow, goat, and rhino running a $200 race; Madame Delphine telling dodgy fortunes with coffee-grounds; a cookie-loving buzzard receiving a special circus job; and more.
In the novel Brooks really enjoys animal behavior and human foibles (sometimes at the same time) and provides fresh perspectives on them with a good-natured wisdom underpinning everything. Here are four examples:
--"What I don't understand," Freddy said, "is why we're always superstitious about things that bring bad luck. Why can't we be superstitious about good luck? I mean, instead of thinking it's bad luck when you spill the salt, why not think it's good luck when you spill the pepper?"
--"I don't know why people always have to bring pigs into it when they want to say something mean about somebody."
--"Jinx had decided to come along. He had got so interested in painting that he hated to leave his studio, but as he said, he had the rest of his life to paint in, while a chance to have all sorts of adventures in good company didn't come very often."
--"'Well, Leo, don't just stand there! Tell me what money is!'
'It's the root of all evil, chief,' said the lion. 'And boy, how you dig for it!'"
The black and white illustrations by Kurt Wiese are, as usual, just right: realistic, funny, beautiful, and blessedly un-cute.
From 1927 till 1958, Brooks wrote 26 stand-alone books featuring the pig. They may be read in any order, though the first few books depict animals who can talk with each other but not to people, whereas the later ones show animals and people talking together, and the early books introduce characters who recur in later ones. Apart from some repetition, as when Brooks has Freddy comically disguise himself as a little old lady in multiple books, throughout the Freddy books he is remarkably good at writing different plots, themes, and wise and witty lines about animals, people, and life. As I continue reading or re-reading them 45 years after I originally enjoyed some of them in the 1960s, their humor and wisdom continue to impress me. And the whole series has been brought back into print by Overlook Press and are being made into audiobooks perfectly read by John McDonough.
October 9, 2019
I liked it. It's about Freddy trying to put the circus back into the road.
June 20, 2021
I am reluctantly giving "Freddy the Pied Piper" four-stars because it was the first chapter book that I read on my own. I became an fervent fan of the talking pig of Oneida County, New York. Over the next two years I read all the Freddy books available in the town library and pestered my parents into buying additional titles for me from book stores.
Brooks was a comic writer of great talent who taught his young readers how to view adult foibles with charity. More importantly he reminded children that they could not simply rely on their parents to solve their problems. Freddy his protagonist eagerly accepted all challenges and tackled them with all the resources available to him as a member of a four-legged species.
In this novel, Freddy comes to the rescue of Mr. Boomschmidt, circus owner who has had to disband his troop of circus animals because the meat rationing of World War II has made it impossible for him to buy food for them. After raising funds to allow Mr. Boomschmidt to resurrect his bankrupt enterprise, Freddy sets off to gather up the former performers who are either living in the wild or being held in captivity in zoos and pet shops. Like Frodo the hobbit, Freddy embarks on his quest with an entourage. The group with Freddy, however resembles and acts like the musicians of Bremen more than the Fellowship of the Ring.
"Freddy the Pied Piper" is witty and well structured. It is however very much a product of rural, Anglo-Saxon America and it has not been able to connect with young riders for over 50 years.
Brooks was a comic writer of great talent who taught his young readers how to view adult foibles with charity. More importantly he reminded children that they could not simply rely on their parents to solve their problems. Freddy his protagonist eagerly accepted all challenges and tackled them with all the resources available to him as a member of a four-legged species.
In this novel, Freddy comes to the rescue of Mr. Boomschmidt, circus owner who has had to disband his troop of circus animals because the meat rationing of World War II has made it impossible for him to buy food for them. After raising funds to allow Mr. Boomschmidt to resurrect his bankrupt enterprise, Freddy sets off to gather up the former performers who are either living in the wild or being held in captivity in zoos and pet shops. Like Frodo the hobbit, Freddy embarks on his quest with an entourage. The group with Freddy, however resembles and acts like the musicians of Bremen more than the Fellowship of the Ring.
"Freddy the Pied Piper" is witty and well structured. It is however very much a product of rural, Anglo-Saxon America and it has not been able to connect with young riders for over 50 years.
March 3, 2021
My mother bought this for me in the early 70 s and I declined to read it because it looked old and corny.Flash forward 35 years and I brought the book ona family trip to read to the kids in the car- not expecting much.I was blown away at how good it was and noticed on the sleeve that there were others.i got home and did research and found out serendipitously that my newfound obsession coincided with the Overlook press reintroducing the series.Theonly bookstore in town to carry them would call me up about thrice a year to announce a new pressing and I would drop everything to buy it immediately(even riding my bike in a snowstorm).I have every one of the books and have easily read each one to my kids at least 5 times.I also have tried to spread the gospel buy giving them out as gifts ; but ,I don’t think I’ve had any success in the proselytizing dept.still I persevere.I maintain that Freddy is the finest series ever written and I don’t get why they aren’t more widely read let alone made into a film.
May 29, 2022
Glosses over the problems with some circuses; we met this owner and the animals in previous books and we know they are really a happy family.
Love how Jinx the cat is friendly with mice and helps to figure out a way to keep them out of people's homes (and Mr. Weezer's bank) when Freddy's first and second suggestions proved ineffective. (And love that Freddy was "pig-headed" enough to keep working for a better fix.)
In this one Alice & Emma have a suitor, and a rhinoceros runs a race, and they make friends with Phil the buzzard... and, again, Freddy's disguises work unbelievably well.
Worth reading if you're already a fan, but probably skippable if you're only reading a few.
" you know, if we knew everything beforehand, things wouldn't be much fun, would they?"
Love how Jinx the cat is friendly with mice and helps to figure out a way to keep them out of people's homes (and Mr. Weezer's bank) when Freddy's first and second suggestions proved ineffective. (And love that Freddy was "pig-headed" enough to keep working for a better fix.)
In this one Alice & Emma have a suitor, and a rhinoceros runs a race, and they make friends with Phil the buzzard... and, again, Freddy's disguises work unbelievably well.
Worth reading if you're already a fan, but probably skippable if you're only reading a few.
" you know, if we knew everything beforehand, things wouldn't be much fun, would they?"
January 15, 2021
One of the best Freddy adventures, IMHO. Full of intrigues, flim-flams, noble causes and Freddy's incisive problem-solving skills. All this, plus sage observations about humans and other creatures, e.g.:
"Prisoners and schoolkids are a lot alike: there ain't anything that makes 'em madder than to think you're trying to teach 'em something." -- the Sheriff, Freddy the Pied Piper, page 44.
"Prisoners and schoolkids are a lot alike: there ain't anything that makes 'em madder than to think you're trying to teach 'em something." -- the Sheriff, Freddy the Pied Piper, page 44.
November 20, 2025
Everything I've come to love & expect from the Freddy Series-
Friendship & Cross-dressing!
I got all choked up when Jinx the cat says to Freddy
"We've always tackled things together, haven't we?
I'm with you from whiskers to tail."
Friendship & Cross-dressing!
I got all choked up when Jinx the cat says to Freddy
"We've always tackled things together, haven't we?
I'm with you from whiskers to tail."
November 9, 2022
The plot here is kind of ungainly in an atypical way for the series, but it's still a lot of fun.
July 2, 2022
I loved this book. All the animals are included, even those from Mr Broomschmidt circus. Also the inclusion of hot lemonade made my day. I know where this family cure originated.
June 2, 2008
The whole Freddy the Pig series of stories were much requested for my sisters and I's bedtime read as very young children. We enjoyed hearing about the adventures Freddy found himself and the stories were well told and didn't read as "baby" or "little kid" stories. Freddy the Pig definitely deserves to be in every child's library of books.
March 15, 2019
I liked it. They have the trouble of mice in Centerboro. So Freddy rents out a barn for them while he's demousing Centerboro and he earns lots of money and the point of earning is to get Mr. Boomschmidts circus back on the road and he does it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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