Fergus, The Soccor Playing Colt

Dan A. Peterson
Raven Publishing, Inc. (2005)
ISBN 0971416176
Reviewed by Nicholas Pettrone (age 8) for Reader Views (6/07)

Fergus is a colt, but he isn't just an ordinary colt. He has a special talent that makes him a star! One day Fergus and his two friends, Bobby .and Ramon, were playing in the pasture. His two boys were playing soccer and somehow the ball got near Fergus. He kicked it back! The boys were surprised and decided to see if Fergus would do it again. He did! All afternoon the boys and Fergus played soccer and had a blast.  

One day someone found out about Fergus and wanted him to go on a "road show" so people all over the country could see him play soccer. Bobby's Mom and Dad said he and his friend, Ramon could go along with Fergus and enjoy Fergus' success.   At first it all seemed to be going great. Fergus was entertaining lots of people with this soccer playing talent.  Then two bad guys decided to kidnap Fergus and keep him, hoping they would make lots of money. But luckily for Fergus, his friends were smarter than the men. They figured out a way to get Fergus back from the men (of course they weren't very smart, so it was pretty easy) and Fergus was back with his friends and on the way to Simpson farms again and the people who loved him in no time.

I liked “Fergus: The Soccer Playing Colt” when I read it and I think it would be a great book for 2nd and 3rd grade readers. It was pretty easy to read and super easy to understand and although there were a few harder words, I think it would be a great book for kids to read. I also think it would be a neat book to read out loud in the classroom so kids could talk about Fergus and his talents and why the people Fergus knew acted the way they did.

Reviewed by Kim Peterson (not related to author) for Reader Views (1/06)

Fergus, a palomino colt at Simpson Farms, displays unusual talents. Besides twirling in the air and executing daring back flips, Fergus loves to play soccer. Bobby Simpson and his friend, Ramon, set up a goal in the pasture and let Fergus guard it while they practice penalty kicks and heading the ball. The agile colt blocks all their shots. He flicks the ball off his nose or whirls around and kicks it with his back feet.

Soon the local news, then CNN and other networks feature the golden goalkeeper. People flock to the farm to watch Fergus play with the boys. All the publicity boosts the popularity of soccer in the United States, drawing the attention of Ian Connor from the International Soccer Federation. He asks to “borrow” Fergus and the boys for a fourteen-city tour promoting the colt and the sport of soccer. The boys’ parents agree and the tour launches successfully with Fergus enjoying the matches and playing flawlessly. All goes well until the colt is horse-napped partway through the tour by three bad guys who scheme to turn him into a bucking rodeo champ. The rest of the story relates Fergus’s struggles and his return to Simpson Farms.

Peterson’s book should entice young (8- to 12-year-old) boys to read. He offers adventure, sports, and humor. His bad guys provide comic relief and still have a conscience. In an era when few books cater to the young male reader, Fergus is a welcome addition. Young girls can enjoy the story of this endearing colt, too.

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