| Fergus, a palomino colt at Simpson Farms, | | | | and the tour launches successfully with Fergus |
| displays unusual talents. Besides twirling in the air | | | | enjoying the matches and playing flawlessly. All |
| and executing daring back flips, Fergus loves to | | | | goes well until the colt is horse-napped partway |
| play soccer. Bobby Simpson and his friend, | | | | through the tour by three bad guys who scheme |
| Ramon, set up a goal in the pasture and let | | | | to turn him into a bucking rodeo champ. The rest |
| Fergus guard it while they practice penalty kicks | | | | of the story relates Fergus's struggles and his |
| and heading the ball. The agile colt blocks all their | | | | return to Simpson Farms. |
| shots. He flicks the ball off his nose or whirls | | | | Peterson's book should entice young (8- to |
| around and kicks it with his back feet. | | | | 12-year-old) boys to read. He offers adventure, |
| Soon the local news, then CNN and other | | | | sports, and humor. His bad guys provide comic |
| networks feature the golden goalkeeper. People | | | | relief and still have a conscience. In an era when |
| flock to the farm to watch Fergus play with the | | | | few books cater to the young male reader, |
| boys. All the publicity boosts the popularity of | | | | Fergus is a welcome addition. Young girls can |
| soccer in the United States, drawing the attention | | | | enjoy the story of this endearing colt, too. |
| of Ian Connor from the International Soccer | | | | Fergus, The Soccer-Playing Colt |
| Federation. He asks to "borrow" Fergus and the | | | | By Dan A. Peterson |
| boys for a fourteen-city tour promoting the colt | | | | Raven Publishing, Inc. |
| and the sport of soccer. The boys' parents agree | | | | |