Fred the (Very Demanding) Deer
Pépé Smit
Scallywag Press

As the title says, Fred the deer is extremely demanding, especially where his author/illustrator is involved.

Having lived in the forest at the beginning of his life, he suddenly decides to take a leap and off he heads to the city. As he strolls down a street, Fred is surprised to find that everybody looks at him in a strange way s he decides to walk on his hind legs. However this doesn’t stop the staring. Fred concludes that his lack of shoes is the issue. His creator kindly takes him to a shoe shop and Fred selects a pair of trendy trainers.

So enamoured is he with his new footwear that he fails to take notice of where he’s going. The result is an accident involving a motor cyclist. Fred, fortunately for him, ends up somersaulting onto a small area of grass and landing upside down. Unsurprisingly people stare at him even more but now that stop and throw money at him too, praising his ‘amazing performance’.

Suddenly Fred hears a rumbling sound – it’s his tummy telling him it needs for. Good thing he landed on the grass surely? But Fred doesn’t want to sate his appetite on grass. No way! Fred wants to eat chips. His creator suggests that sans hands this can’t happen. You can guess what Fred demands then.
A bit of a tiff ensues, but after a while Fred’s long-suffering creator gives in and off goes Fred, hands outstretched towards Charlie’s Chips. The chips certainly hit the mark but the sated dear lies down for his afternoon nap in the manner he would have in the forest. Before long his favourite tree comes into his mind and Fred says that he wants to return from whence he came. Out comes an eraser and away go Fred’s hooves. But what about his hands? Well, those are going to stay put.
back in the forest, Fred is happy and also famous.

Can you guess why? …

Deliciously droll: this corvine creature seems to have his author/illustrator wrapped around his hooves, or should that be fingers?