A little girl stays part of each week at her mom’s and part at her dad’s. No matter where she is, her dog, Fred, stays, too. But Fred has issues. At her mom’s he barks at the neighbor’s dog . . a lot. At her dad’s he steals socks . . . all of them. He can be masterful at making messes, too. Now neither parent wants Fred to stay at their home. Nancy Coffelt takes a realistic look at a child who has learned to navigate the demands of her parents’ divorce with relative ease but relies on—and asserts her need for—the friend who is a constant in the midst of all the change. A little creative problem solving and behavior modification is the key in this spare, ultimately upbeat story. Tricia Tusa’s illustrations deftly blend a subdued palette with whimsical lines to create images that are neither somber nor too lighthearted. (Ages 4–7)

Told from the point of view of a young child whose parents are divorced, Fred Stays with Me follows a girl and her dog, Fred, from one parent's house to the other's, giving her a sense of continuity and stability. With a simple text and childlike language, the story expresses and addresses a child's concerns, highlights the friendship between child and pet, presents a common ground for the parents, and resolves conflict in a positive way. Tricia Tusa's charming and whimsical artwork adds a light, happy feel to this poignant--but not overly sentimental--story.