When five-year-old Freddie Solum took walks with his family around their Minneapolis neighborhood, he had a favorite pastime: stopping at every Little Free Library book-sharing box they saw. Freddie loved the surprise of opening those little doors—but too often, the boxes were filled with books for adults, leaving him to move on to the next library in the hopes of discovering books for kids.
It’s a common issue among Little Free Libraries. Stewards frequently tell us that children’s books are the first to fly off the shelves—an encouraging sign that kids are reading, but also a reminder that young readers can be left disappointed when a library isn’t stocked for them.
Freddie’s family wanted to change that.
After Freddie was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, and the Solum family began working with Margaret Monson of Children’s Minnesota, they came up with an idea to create something special: a Little Free Library just for kids, filled with children’s books and “trinkets”—small toys that Freddie loved to collect and share.
This July, one year after Freddie’s passing, the Solum family introduced “Freddie’s Fun House” to their neighborhood.
“We’re so excited to have Freddie’s Fun House be a part of the Little Free Library community!” Freddie’s mom Lauren said. “Freddie’s Fun House is catered to children, filled with children’s books and little trinkets.”
Visitors might discover one of Freddie’s favorite books from the Bruce the Bear series, or perhaps a tiny stuffed animal, figurine, or ball tucked away in the “attic” of the whimsical library. Here at Little Free Library, we were honored to contribute a care package of children’s books and Cubles (buildable paper models) to help celebrate the library’s opening. You can find Freddie’s Fun House, charter #211342, using Little Free Library’s mobile app or world map.
“Our son, Freddie was full of joy—a joy we want to continue to spread to all children and their families,” Lauren said. “We hope that Freddie’s Fun House becomes a permanent stop in many families’ walks around their neighborhood.”
Thanks to Freddie’s legacy, children in the neighborhood now have a magical spot made just for them—a place to explore, read, play, and share. His love of reading and generosity lives on in every child who opens the door to Freddie’s Fun House.
Watch the KARE 11 piece covering Freddie’s story below, then learn more about the Freddie Solum Foundation or starting a Little Free Library of your own!