Fergus and Zeke
by Kate Messner; Illustrated by Heather Ross
Candlewick Press (June 13, 2017)
Audience: Ages 6 to 8
Fiction * Friendship * Classroom Pets
IndieBound | WorldCat
Description from GoodReads:
Meet Fergus and Zeke a lovable classroom mouse and his streetwise buddy in a brand-new series perfect for early readers.
Fergus loves being the class pet in Miss Maxwell s classroom. He does everything the students do, until the teacher plans a field trip to the museum without Fergus! He doesn t want to miss the fun, so he stows away in a backpack and sets off for an adventure. When he arrives at the museum, Fergus finds it a little overwhelming huge and full of exciting things to see. Luckily, he meets a new friend, Zeke, who knows the ropes, and together they explore everything from moon rocks to butterflies to a giant dinosaur skeleton ("A playground!" says Zeke). But when the time comes for the bus to leave, Fergus is worried that he ll be left behind. Will he make it back to school to take his place as class pet once more?"
Quick thoughts on the book:
I was excited to hear that Kate Messner was writing an early reader. I have read and enjoyed many of her books and appreciate how she works to get the writing just right for the format.
In her latest book, Fergus & Zeke, Messner has created an engaging early reader for children who are ready for something a bit more challenging but may not have the stamina for a longer book with more chapters and a more complex plot line. Illustrations fully support the text and provide readers with visual cues to support understanding.
I enjoyed the characters and do hope there will be additional stories about Fergus and Zeke. Look for a copy of Fergus and Zeke at your local bookstore or public library.
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