Treasures from Fred Penner's Place

Jean Free, a library consultant, is a retired public-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

This is a collection of stories, songs, and poems from the CBC
children’s TV series “Fred Penner’s Place.” Included are nursery
and nonsense rhymes, fables, classic and new children’s songs,
twisters, and poetry. Throughout there are many colored pictures
depicting aspects of “Fred Penner’s Place,” supplemented with
black-and-white and colored illustrations. Themes of love, friendship,
sharing, multiculturalism, and emotions are used throughout.

This book would appeal to parents and children who watch “Fred
Penner’s Place,” either as a reference or follow-up to the programs.
Its photographs of such program characters as Renée Raccoon and Dilly
Duck are of interest to preschool children. The colored illustrations
are bright but uninspired. Stories and poems from the show by Pat
Paterson, Janis Nostbakker, and Peg McKelvey are mainly cute and
contrived. Probably the most useful part of this expensive book is the
music and songs made popular by Fred Penner. Recommended with
reservations.