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My name is Peter Cotton (not named after a rabbit). I wrote my first story about Fred, When Fred the Snake got Squished and Mended a very long time ago to teach my children to be careful crossing the road. There are now seven more books, all in rhyming verse and beautifully illustrated by Bonnie Lemaire. My grandkids like them and I hope you do, too.

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Welcome to the adventures of Fred the Snake. You’ll travel the world with Fred and his family, Jungle Jim, and a whole animal menagerie as they have fun, make new friends, and enjoy a variety of mishaps.

Latest From the Blog

Physician/Doctor or Surgeon? A fun journey

By Peter Cotton | March 2, 2025

I have been fortunate to have lived through a period of revolution in medicine. Indeed, had I been born 50 years earlier I would likely not be bothering you now. There have been huge changes, but I will focus on an area in which I have participated, the interface between medical doctors (let’s call them […]

Fred learns about the Barber’s pole…..

By Peter Cotton | February 22, 2025

Friends of Fred the adventurous snake will recall that he had an accident in the first book when he first ventured out onto the street. “He thought the stripey barber pole was another snake, but, oh my soul, he dashed across with never a glance, into the path of an ambulance”. Whilst recovering from his […]

Perdy and Jack join Fred’s adventures

By Peter Cotton | January 27, 2025

Fred started as a bedtime story for my then young children, Andy and Nicky, a very long time ago. When Nicky had her children, she asked “What happened to Fred-Fred”. I found the 1969 text and a wonderful illustrator, Bonnie Lemaire. We published the first book “When Fred the Snake got Squished and Mended” Perdy […]

2025 is the year of the snake! Go Fred!

By Peter Cotton | January 22, 2025

Did you know that  January 29, 2025, marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake? Fred is rather pleased. Wikipedia says “The lunar calendar consists of a cycle of the twelve animals, in sequence: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each year, an animal is paired with […]

Famous Authors of children’s books, and me!

By Peter Cotton | January 10, 2025

While contemplating writing another of my books about Fred the lovable snake, I have been remembering the authors which captured my imagination as a child, and perhaps awakened my own muse. There were four authors, all British, like me… Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) is of course famous for “Through the looking glass” and “Alice in Wonderland”. […]

Holiday greetings

By Peter Cotton | December 7, 2024

In previous years we have sent our annual end of year holiday letter by snail mail. To save trees (and some funds/energy) I have attempted to send it mainly by email. Recognizing that some of the addresses are probably outdated, I am attaching it also here. Apologies if duplicated, mis-fired or irrelevant. Ignore at leisure. […]

Why Snake, and why Fred?

By Peter Cotton | October 26, 2024

You may know that I write books for young children about Fred the snake. I am often asked, and you may wonder, why choose a snake? Snakes are not most children’s favorite pets or cuddlies. Surely a koala bear or a cute dog would have been a better subject, and gotten more traction in the […]

Celebrating Claude and Laszlo, endoscopic giants

By Peter Cotton | July 21, 2024

Ten years ago the Cook company invited me to interview the pioneers of the revolutionary ERCP procedure, 40 years after the first description of sphincterotomy. There were two publications, covering 15 pioneers from 9 countries. Many of the pioneers have since passed. I have written earlier at length about Meinhard Classen and Kees Huibregste. Two […]

Our Endoscopy book over 5 decades

By Peter Cotton | July 9, 2024

In 1980, Christopher Williams and I published the first textbook for GI endoscopy We were working at The Middlesex and St Marks Hospitals in London. My photo of The Middlesex was taken after it closed (it lives on as part of UCL). My Unit was on the second floor, here shown boarded up. St Marks […]

The Middlesex Hospital lives on ……in Connecticut

By Peter Cotton | February 23, 2024

Three years ago I wrote about my time on the staff of the Middlesex hospital in London, and explained it’s unusual name https://petercottontales.com/2020/10/the-middlesex-hospital-what-sort-of-a-name-is-that/ Unfortunately the illustrations of that piece seem to have disappeared The Middlesex closed in 2005 and it’s functions and staff joined the University College Hospital, now in a fancy new building on […]

“When Fred the Snake got Squished and Mended is a perfect selection for story time and will give caregivers an opportunity to discuss traffic safety as they read...most highly recommended.”

Samantha Dewitt (Rivera)
Readers Favorite

“A story with plenty of lessons….The characters are cute….And fun, bright colors and creative illustrations make this tale appealing and interesting.”

Samantha Dewitt (Rivera)
Readers Favorite

“Filled with beautifully flowing rhymes, colorful, eye-catching drawings, and engaging characters, this book is bound to be a child’s favorite story….A heartwarming and humorous tale that must be shared. I recommend this book to children of all ages.”

Alyssa Elmore
Readers Favorite

“Filled with beautifully flowing rhymes, colorful, eye-catching drawings, and engaging characters, this book is bound to be a child’s favorite story….A heartwarming and humorous tale that must be shared. I recommend this book to children of all ages.”

Alyssa Elmore
Readers Favorite

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