Good Boy, Fergus!($10.69Value)

Description

Meet Fergus, the canine star of the upcoming book from Caldecott Honor artist David Shannon. Much like Shannon's beloved characters, David and Alice, the adorable Fergus is always getting in trouble! Follow Fergus as he experiences the perfect doggy day--well, except for his bath, of course! From chasing cats and motorcycles to being scratched on his favorite "tickle spot," David Shannon's newest sweet and silly character will inspire young readers to laugh out loud at his mischievous antics. Fans of Shannon's previous books will love reading all about this naughty but lovable dog! PreSchool-Grade 2–Reading this story is like having a romp with the funniest dog in town. As the book opens, two lines of text (Good morning, Fergus!/Want to go out?) frame the irrepressible face of a furry white terrier, black button eyes glistening with excitement. Subsequent pages feature the pups adventures chasing cats and motorbikes, scratching and being scratched, playing in the dirt, begging for meatballs, and riding in the car. No matter what the animal does, his masters refrain is…you guessed it. Readers see everything from a terrier-sized perspective, and they rarely see anyone but Fergus. When he is trampling his owner to request a walk, they catch just a glimpse of a human face. The motorcyclists face is so covered with gear as to be generic. The more intimate portraits here are of things of interest to Fergus–spaghetti and meatballs, for example, or the whipped cream that he likes on his kibble. Shannons artwork is like an overstuffed sofa: colorful, homey, and bouncy. A riotous book to unleash on all readers–even those who own cats. –Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. K-Gr. 2. Fergus is a West Highland terrier, sort of an antihero to Rosemary Well's doggie, McDuff. He goes wild when he sees a cat, won't come when he's called, eats the daisies, and puddles in the wrong places. Of course, he's not entirely to blame; his unseen master is the sort who tells him not to beg, then slips him a tidbit, and puts whipped cream in his food bowl after the original offering gets only a disdainful sniff. This book is all about the impressive, oversize visuals--pictures that show the adorable doggie in full canine-caper mode: leaping, chasing, digging, not rolling over on command. And the expressions on Fergus' face perfectly mirror those of many pets who have the innocent look down pat: "Who me?" However, the best audience for this will be children old enough (or experienced enough with dogs) to catch the humor. Fergus has made cameo appearances in other Shannon books. Come to think of it, maybe he's not so much a counterpoint to McDuff as he is Shannon's David in fur. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved "Paws down, Fergus is one memorable pooch." – Publishers Weekly (starred review)"An irrepressibly charming canine." – Kirkus Reviews Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the YearBulletin Blue RibbonsIRA Children's ChoicesCCBC ChoicesNew York Times Notable Children's BooksALA Notable Children's Books,3x3 Children's Book AwardGryphon AwardParents' Choice Award Good Boy, Fergus! Fergus likes to chase cats. He doesn't always come when he's called or eat what he should. And sometimes he makes a big mess...but he's always a good boy! Woof! David Shannon is the internationally acclaimed creator of more than 40 picture books, including No, David! , a Caldecott Honor Book, and his second New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and four more David picture books. Shannon's bestsellers include A Bad Case of Stripes , Duck on a Bike , and Too Many Toys . He lives in Southern California with his family and Roy, their West Highland white terrier.