Described as Metamorphosis for young readers, this story by Ted Hughes is indeed filled with a sense of transformation, visceral and almost terrifying in its vitality. There's nothing out of the ordinary about Fred, except that he seems to have a particularly acute relationship with the universe, super-aware of himself as a living being. While his ability to think himself into other heads helps at school, a tiger prowls through his dreams which become ever more real and frightening. Inventive, spare, tough and beautifully told, this demands to be read aloud. Striking illustrations by Joe McLaren add to its special appeal. ~Andrea Reece
A very ordinary boy. Nobody noticed him, he was just like everyone else. But Fred knew he was different. He just didn't know quite how different. And when he did...Well, what then?
Ted Hughes is widely considered one of the greatest poets of his generation and indeed one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. He was born in Yorkshire in 1930, and was Poet Laureate from 1984 until his death in 1998. In 1974 Hughes was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. In 1977 he was awarded an OBE for services to Literature, and was awarded the Order of Merit in 1998. His most widely read classic children’s story The Iron Man, has been adapted for both stage and screen, and is regarded as one of the greatest children’s books of all time.
