Frank & Teddy Make Friends

There are shades of Frankenstein and Leonardo da Vinci about Frank, a lonely, clever mouse who loves to collect, make and mend. His observations of the natural world outside his shed make him long for a companion so he fashions Teddy from feathers and felt. A very useful companion his new friend turns out to be. But one day, Teddy’s eagerness to emulate Frank results in nothing more than a mucked up messy muddle. Banished to the garden, Teddy is soon helping the birds and the bees and Frank realises just how much he misses his friend.

Louise Yates has fun illustrating her inventive story with more than one reference to the great Leonardo in Frank’s ideas and in the detailed sketches, diagrams and doodles in the background. Less sophisticated readers will revel in the improvised machines and flights of fancy in the narrative watercolours and the delightfully drawn ants and bees that abound.