Fergus and Zeke for President

by Kate Messner, Heather Ross (Illustrator)

Overview

Can classroom mice Fergus and Zeke work together to finish their project on American presidents—even when Zeke gets bossy?

It’s Presidents’ Day, and all the students in Miss Maxwell’s classroom are choosing their special projects. Classroom pets Fergus and Zeke want to participate, too! Zeke appoints himself president of their cage. But the power goes a bit to his head, and his “leading” and “supervising” leave Fergus to do all the work. Will these two mice be able to agree on what makes a good president—and a good friend—in time to turn in their project with the rest of the class? Humorously illustrated and sprinkled with presidential trivia, this fifth title in the delightful series is a winning candidate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536218312
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	05/23/2023
Series:	Fergus and Zeke
Pages:	56
Sales rank:	1,089,039
Product dimensions:	6.38(w) x 9.31(h) x 0.42(d)
Lexile:	590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate Messner is passionately curious and writes books for kids who wonder, too. A former teacher, Kate Messner has written numerous picture books, chapter books, and novels for young readers. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family.

Heather Ross is an illustrator and fabric designer. She lives in New York City and the Catskill Mountains with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Editorial Reviews

2023-02-25
Classroom pet mice Fergus and Zeke work on a Presidents Day project.

As Miss Maxwell’s students discuss good qualities for presidents to have and ways in which eligibility requirements have evolved to allow women and people of color to run for office, Zeke dons a cotton ball wig as President “George Mousington.” At the library, as the students work on their projects, the mice struggle with their own division of labor, with President Zeke considering his “supervising” equal to Fergus’ research. With the project presentations rapidly approaching—and the mice no closer to deciding upon their subject—Fergus thinks of what he wants in a president, prompting him to stand up to Zeke: “All mice are created equal.” The kids—and the use of historical and presidential facts—are a backdrop to the engaging storyline of Zeke’s comedically flawed (and likably relatable) self-centeredness, but the value-driven thematic inspiration is an effective motivator for Fergus’ assertiveness. The resulting combination of silliness and broad-strokes idealism creates a rounded story structure without heavy tension. Finally, the human students show off their projects and discuss what they would do if they were president, briefly revealing concerns involving the environment, housing, gender equality, food insecurity—and eliminating homework. Miss Maxwell presents White, librarian Mr. Diaz is Latine, and the students are diverse.

A wholesome, solid story with fun characters. (Early reader. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews

The kids—and the use of historical and presidential facts—are a backdrop to the engaging storyline of Zeke’s comedically flawed (and likably relatable) self-centeredness, but the value-driven thematic inspiration is an effective motivator for Fergus’ assertiveness. The resulting combination of silliness and broad-strokes idealism creates a rounded story structure. . . A wholesome, solid story with fun characters.
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher