In a mansion surrounded by lakes and forests, Frederick is very bored. He leads the most sheltered life imaginable: and when Emily invites him to play outside he has no choice but to refuse – what if he hurts himself? Much better to stay safely indoors. But Emily is not one to take no for an answer.

A Sunday Times Children's Book of the Year

A series of brilliantly funny and evocative letters between Frederick and Emily form the frame of this unique story which weaves together the colourful, adventurous world of Emily with Frederick's drab life of boredom and safety.

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Reviews

• a gorgeous object that deserves sustained attention.
  Nicolette Jones, The Sunday Times

• glorious... perfectly pitched, spare and funny
  Alex O'Connell, The Times

• a tale of sly wit and sunlit joy
  Imogen Russell Williams, The Guardian

• I can relate to Frederick, and so will children of five and up, who will enjoy Frederick’s mishaps, real and imagined.
  Philip Womack, The Literary Review

• There’s a lot to be said for a book that starts out with instructions on how to make a paper plane.
  Melanie McDonagh, Evening Standard

• Beautiful, amusing and thought-provoking.
  Booktrust

• Unusual and very enjoyable
  Ferelith Hordon, Books for Keeps