Penny's Reviews and Chat

Freddy, Hoppie, and the Eyeglasses

by Michelle Nott

Illustrated by Robert Lee Beers

Here's a story that many kids and adults can relate to: Freddy, Hoppie, and the Eyeglasses by Michelle Nott, illustrated by Robert Lee Beers. Freddy has trouble seeing—numbers and letters appear to be squiggly or smudged. He leans on his imaginary friend Hoppie the frog to help him see things more clearly.

Since Freddy can’t see the numbers on his watch, he’s often late to the school bus. He has trouble reading in Language Arts class and can’t see the numbers in his Math class. This is frustrating and embarrassing for Freddy. But, thanks to the illustrations by Robert Lee Beers, the story is upbeat. Beers gives readers clear scenes in the story of what Freddy and Hoppie are seeing, feeling, and experiencing.

Freddy finally tells him mom that Hoppie has a headache every day after school and needs to see the doctor. His wise mother agrees and takes Freddy to the eye doctor. After being fitted with new glasses, Freddy can now see clearly so we know his school and home life will improve. Since Freddy can now see well, he no longer needs the crutch of an imaginary froggy friend. So Hoppie stays with the eye doctor perhaps to help other children! The scenes at the eye doctor’s are my favorite ones in the story.

This story would be helpful to any child with a disability, such as faulty vision, that can be corrected and helped. It also points out that children may hide or make excuses for their problems; perhaps not wanting to admit to a disability due to embarrassment or perceived failure. Parents and teachers should also point out that the response of the other school children—snickering or giggling—isn’t a helpful or kind response to a classmate’s problem. Alternate helpful responses should be modeled for the class in similar situations. This story is recommended for classroom and school libraries and doctor offices, for ages 6 to 8.

*****

Michelle Nott is an author, poet, and freelance editor with articles and stories published in numerous online and print publications. She is a member of SCBWI, CBI, and Houston Writer's Guild. Her poem “Inis Meain” earned an Honorable Mention in the 80th Annual Writer's Digest Competition in the category of Non-rhyming Poetry. Before moving to Belgium with her family where they lived over a decade, she taught French at the elementary, secondary, and university levels. Besides reading and writing, she enjoys spending time with her family cooking, traveling, visiting art museums, taking long walks through the Belgian countryside, hiking along the Cornish coast and snow-shoeing in the French Alps. She currently resides in Texas and is represented by Storm Literary Agency. Information on author Michelle Nott is at www.authormichellenott.com.

Information on artist Robert Lee Beers is at http://kidspicturebook.com.

Reviewed by:

Penelope Anne Cole Multi-Award Winning Author of Magical Matthew, Magical Mea, 
Magical Mea Goes to School, and Magical Max and Magical Mickey

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for Pre-K and Kinder.

Tags:

Freddy, Hoppie, Eyeglasses, frogs, disability, children, classroom, family, help, Michelle Nott, Robert Lee Beers.