Hopefully a few of my kind readers will know that I have been writing stories for young children about Fred the Snake. The first was a bedtime story for my then small kids about how (not) to cross the road, “When Fred the Snake got Squished and mended”. The rough text laid idle in a drawer until Andy and Nicky had their kids and asked “what happened to Fred-Fred”? They called him that because of the aforementioned squishing, which resulted in a temporary division.
That story ends with
As he fell asleep, I heard Fred say “It’s been a very trying day; tommorrow when I cross the road, I won’t forget my crossing code. And, nor will you, that’s my advice, lest you spell your name like Fred-Fred twice”
Anyway, fast forward to about 2012 when I hung up my scopes (endo- and stetho-) and was looking for something to do when rain prevented golfing. I lucked on a fabulous illustrator named Bonnie Lemaire (www.bonniella.com) and we are now about to publish our 8th book. Sneakpeak at the cover
![](https://drpetercotton.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Fred-8-cover-788x1024.jpg)
This is an overly long intro to the initial question that I posed and which many have asked. Why a snake and why Fred?
It was a very long time ago, but I think I chose a snake because they looked somewhat similar to my medical instruments (flexible endoscopes), a useful prop when telling the kids what I did all day.
Choosing a snake for my hero may have been an error since not all kids are fond of snakes. A koala bear would have got more traction.
And what about the name “Fred”, which is also not very cuddly? I think that may have been because of a popular fun song at that time. Bernard Cribbins sang about Fred and his friends who were trying to get a large piece of furniture upstairs
“Right, ” said Fred, “Both of us together, One each end and steady as we go.”
Tried to shift it, couldn’t even lift it, We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea and
“Right, ” said Fred, “Give a shout for Charlie.” Up comes Charlie from the floor below
After strainin’, heavin’ and complainin’, We was getting nowhere
And so we had a cuppa tea
And Charlie had a think, and he thought we ought to take off all the handles
And the things wot held the candles, But it did no good, well I never thought it would
“All right, ” said Fred, “Have to take the feet off, To get them feet off wouldn’t take a mo”
Took its feet off, even took the seat off, Should have got us somewhere but no!
So Fred said, “Let’s have another cuppa tea”, And we said, “right-o.” etc etc.
Enjoy it on youtube
Check out all the Fred books at www.petercottontales.com
The grandkids seem to like them
![](https://drpetercotton.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/IMG_5882-1024x729.jpg)
Oh, and, signed copies are available right here at www.drpetercotton.com/books
All part of life’s rich tapestry