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Thursday, January 21, 2021

Find Fergus, written and illustrated by Mike Boldt. Doubleday Books, Penguin Random House. 2020. $23.99 ages 3 and up

 


"Fergus, that's much better! 
Wait, you're not done yet?
Okay, we'll find you. 

ONE. 

     LAST.

            TIME."

If you have ever played hide-and-seek with a two-year-old, you will know that all one has to do is to cover the face to be impossible to find. As that child gets a little older, the finding remains easy as the concept is a hard one to understand. Stand behind a lamp, and catching sight of that child is quickly accomplished.

That is about the age Fergus finds himself to be in this engaging and humorous book about a big brown bear learning the nuances of concealment. The speaker suggests that seeing Fergus in plain sight on the first page offers little opportunity for searching. Can Fergus find another place where he might be less conspicuous? A big bear behind a tree? We can see you!

What about a crowd, Fergus? Wait! What is a crowd? Well, more than three ... especially when the others are a fox and a duck. Not much of a challenge, is it? Another crowd - this one filled with rabbits, squirrels, and a fox? Nope. A big crowd of elephants? Nope ... too easy to spot a brown bear against their grey bodies. 

And so it goes. The speaker offers welcome hints. Fergus totally misinterprets the clues. Kids will love listening. I can hear the snickers and the advice they are willing to offer at every turn. The artwork is as much fun as the story. The gatefold, fuelled by counting down from ten to one offers Fergus his final chance to truly hide himself. Can he do it? Take some time to have a very close look. 

Finally, Fergus offers his list of things to go back and find on that fold-out page. What a hoot! 

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