Mack & Fred, Side by Side

By Erin Larivee

A laugh-out-loud tale of friendship, feelings, and figuring out what truly matters.

Mack and Fred do everything together--always have. So when it comes time to build their dream homes, they pick the perfect hilltop and settle in side by side. Life is just right... until Mack notices Fred's new porch. Then a slide. Then a pool. Then--wait--is that a bowling alley?

What starts as a shared dream quickly turns into a side-by-side showdown Fueled by jealousy and outlandish upgrades, Mack and Fred race to outdo one another until they forget what made their friendship special in the first place.

Perfect for fans of The Bad Seed and Those Darn Squirrels, this humorous and heartwarming picture book for ages 4-8 explores themes of friendship, jealousy, comparison culture, emotional growth, and contentment--with a healthy dose of silliness and heart.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1956378480
• ISBN13: 9781956378481
• Release Date: August 2026
• Publisher: Little Press
• Length: 36 Pages
• Age Range: 5 to 7 years
• Grade Range: Kindergarten to Grade 2