A Book Review of Freddy's Day at the Races

St. John’s Regatta is Setting for Susan Chalker Browne Picture Book

Nov 12, 2008

Freddy, dressed as a pirate, goes with his mom to the Royal St. John's Regatta. After arriving at Quidi Vidi Lake, he runs away. The chase is on to see where he is going.

Freddy’s Day at the Races by Susan Chalker Browne is a delightful picture story book. This entertaining story takes place at the Royal St. John’s Regatta, held annually at Quidi Vidi Lake, in the historic city of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The atmosphere of the races comes alive in the detail-rich illustrations by Kathy (HildaRose) Kaulbach.

Susan Chalker Browne

According to the Writers’ Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador, Susan Chalker Browne, who is a journalist and teacher, lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She has received writing awards from the Arts and Letters Competition in Newfoundland, the Atlantic Writing Competition in Nova Scotia, and CBC Radio.

Her book Gulliver Mulligan (2003) was a Canadian Book Centre Our Choice Selection, and was recommended by the Canadian Toy Testing Council. It was named one of the best picture books of 2003 by Resource Links Magazine, and it was nominated for the American "Living the Dream" award.

Browne is also writing a children’s history series featuring the National Historic Sites in Newfoundland and Labrador. One of the books, Thomas Doucet - Hero of Plaisance (2004), was a Canadian Book Centre Our Choice Selection for 2006.

For Freddy’s Day at the Races, Browne has chosen a local setting with great historical significance. It makes the story both entertaining and educational.

Royal St. John’s Regatta

In Freddy’s Day at the Races, Freddy and his mom go to the annual Royal St. John’s Regatta, which is billed as the oldest continuing sporting event in North America.

Although it is likely that there were rowing and sailing races between ships’ crews in St. John’s harbour before 1816, that is the earliest known record. The first recorded reference to an official organizing committee is in 1826, and so that is the recognized beginning of the races.

The races, which now include both men’s and women’s events, are held at Quidi Vidi Lake on the first Wednesday of August, or the next day with suitable weather conditions. Each year, thousands of visitors come to enjoy the races, as well as the many concessions that line the shore.

In Freddy’s Day at the Races, Susan Chalker Browne tells an amusing tale that includes many of the sights, sounds, and experiences of a day at the Royal St. John’s Regatta.

The crowds of people moving around the concessions at Quidi Vidi Lake provide a perfect setting for Freddy to lead his mother on a wild chase. Freddy is not sidetracked by any of the temptations presented to him as he speeds on his way. The reader is carried along with his mother in her pursuit, wondering where Freddy could possibly be headed with such determination.

The ending is a perfect surprise that suits the entire tone of the story, and it makes sense when Freddy ends up where he does.

The colorful and amusing illustrations by HildaRose provide an entertaining look at the scenes surrounding the races.

Besides the entertaining story of Freddy and his mom, the book also contains an educational feature. On each two-page spread there is an image of a ticket stub, resembling those used for the concessions. Each stub has information and trivia facts about the Royal St. John’s Regatta printed on it, providing background information for the reader.

This book is a wonderful addition to the body of children’s literature that promotes the cultural background of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Publisher: Tuckamore Books (a Creative Publishers imprint), 32 pages, $12.95 CAD

The copyright of the article A Book Review of Freddy's Day at the Races in Picture Books is owned by Stella Walsh. Permission to republish A Book Review of Freddy's Day at the Races in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.