One can't hide in a blue funk for long if this talking feline friend is determined to cheer one up! I'd love a clever friend like that. I think.... ( )

I read Festus & Mercury Wishing to Go Fishing. Truly wonderful. I just love this author. I'm sorry that it is out of print. I wish I could find an affordable copy. ( )

Festus and Mercury: Wishing to Go Fishing, 1991 American translation of Stackars Pettson.

This third entry in Sven Nordqvist's series of picture-books about the doings of an irascible old farmer named Pettson, and his faithful (and rather demanding) feline companion Findus (Festus and Mercury in this translation), originally published in Swedish as Stackars Pettson, is as astute a portrait of the give and take, the ups and downs of friendship, as any I have seen in the world of children's literature. When Festus becomes lost in abstraction and gloom one rainy fall day, nothing Mercury does to try and snap him out of his bad mood - antics at the table, singing songs, playing a pretend game of fishing - seems to work. Finally, the determined cat hits upon the right strategy, using his human's concern for him (Mercury) to get him going...

I enjoyed this story immensely, not least because it had that sharpness of character, that essential goodheartedness, hidden under a crusty, rather than a sweet exterior, that I have come to associate with these books. Sometimes, in moments of sadness or anger, we lose our patience, even with those we love, and that comes through loud and clear in Festus' anger at Mercury's continued attempts to cheer him up. Mercury's persistence, in the face of Festus' shouting, and then collapse into depression, is really quite poignant, and his deceptive methods (to which he later confesses) are quite amusing. That combination of poignancy and fun is irresistible, especially when the outcome is so very happy! The underlying messages - that sometimes all we need, to start feeling better, is to get going, and that thinking of others, rather than ourselves, will help in that process - are worked so seamlessly into the story, that there is not the slightest whiff of didacticism. Throw in some of Nordqvist's incredibly detailed illustrations - I've just noticed that there is a cast of little creatures looking on, in most scenes! How did I miss that, before? - and this is just a superb picture-book experience! ( )

Pettson zit in de put en Findus de kat probeert op allerlei manieren om hem weer uit zijn depressie te krijgen. Een boek om vrolijk van te worden. Een aanrader voor mensen die in een depressie zitten en die van katten houden natuurlijk! ( )

Mit diesem Band gab es eine kleine Überraschung mein Sohnemann, 3 1/2 Jahre, konnte nach erstmaligen Lesen dieses Bandes nicht einschlafen, da Petterson über ein paar Seiten recht grimmig war. Er registrierte das Happy End überhaupt nicht. Ansonsten findet er die Bücher von Sven Nordqvist super und hohlt sie sich gerne immer wieder auch alleine hervor. Ich persönlich finde diese Bücher auch sehr gelungen. Die Zeichnungen bieten auch nach häufigen Vorlesen immer wieder Überraschungen im Detail.