Fergie Hogs the Lily Pad

Description

20 pages
$4.95
ISBN 2-89088-817-7
DDC jC813'.54

Author

Publisher

Year

1996

Contributor

Illustrations by Michael Léveillé
Reviewed by Steve Pitt

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Review

Fergie the Frog lives in a swamp with his mother, father, and older
brother. He is a typical little bug-whacker, always looking for
adventure and sometimes getting into trouble. At first glance, Fergie
seems to invite comparison with Franklin the Turtle; but reading these
books leaves no doubt that each story is really a launching pad for a
one-page Christian homily and short prayer. There is no secret agenda
here. Fergie the Frog is written for an audience that likes a Christian
message in its reading material. Author Nancy Cocks delivers that
message in an engaging and often humorous manner.

In Fearless Fergie, Fergie and his best friend Roger dare each other to
walk alone through an old haunted log. Each makes an attempt and is
nearly frightened to death. They resolve to try again, only this time
together. The homily message is about how God is with you always.

In Fergie Feels Left Out, the little frog is miffed to find out that
Roger is having fun without him. Fergie decides to hold a grudge, but
eventually he discovers that the person who is suffering the most from
his anger is him. The homily message is about forgiveness.

In Fergie Hogs the Lily Pad, Fergie decides he won’t share either his
lily pad or his bugs with his big brother Freddy; he does not see the
problem with this greedy behavior until someone treats him the same way.
The homily message is about sharing.

In Fergie Goes Moose Hunting, Fergie and Freddy go looking for a huge
moose who has moved into their swamp; but after a whole day searching,
they find only traces of the moose’s presence. The homily message is
about God’s unseen presence.

This series will be a boon to Sunday School teachers who find
themselves stymied for a creative lesson. All of the books are
recommended.

Citation

Cocks, Nancy., “Fergie Hogs the Lily Pad,” Canadian Book Review Annual Online, accessed October 3, 2024, https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/19621.