Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Oetinger Verlag (1991), 28 pages
Description
Festus and his cat Mercury come up with elaborate methods to protect their garden from chickens, pigs, and cows.
User reviews
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Festus & Mercury: Ruckus in the Garden, 1991 American translation of Kackel i grönsakslandet.
First published in Swedish as Kackel i grönsakslandet, this fifth picture-book chronicling the humorous adventures of farmer Pettson and his cat Findus (Festus and Mercury in this edition), has been
I have to say that, as has been the case with a number of other Pettson and Findus titles - Pancake Pie/The Birthday Cake, Festus and Mercury Go Camping/Pettson Goes Camping, and The Fox Hunt/The Fox Hunt - I greatly preferred the fuller translation available from Opal, as opposed to the more limited American version, after reading both, and comparing the two. It isn't just that the names of the main characters have been changed (for no reason that I can think of) from Pettson and Findus to Festus and Mercury, or that the text has been shortened, although those things are rather irksome; but that the specific bits left out of the American versions tend to be the more pointedly political, and humorous bits.
This wasn't quite as pronounced here, with Festus & Mercury: Ruckus in the Garden, as with some of the examples given above, but there were still some omissions, particularly as it concerned those troublesome hens, that were disappointing. The hens' accusation that Pettson has cheated them, after Findus tricks them into going back into their yard, for instance, is missing from the American version. There is this way, with these seemingly small changes, that the hens (and it seems most often to be the hens, as opposed to anything else) are flattened out, and made less interesting as characters. One wonders if gender, and differing constructions of gender, in Sweden and America, plays any role in this? Still, I don't want to overstate the case: this is any engaging story, and if it's the only version one can obtain, it's definitely worth reading. But there's simply no doubt that the Opal edition is (as always) to be preferred...
First published in Swedish as Kackel i grönsakslandet, this fifth picture-book chronicling the humorous adventures of farmer Pettson and his cat Findus (Festus and Mercury in this edition), has been
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translated into English twice: in this American version, Festus & Mercury: Ruckus in the Garden; and also in a 2005 edition, A Rumpus in the Garden, put out by the original publisher, Bokförlaget Opal. The story of a fine spring day, and Pettson's seemingly doomed attempt to get his potato and carrot garden started for the season - between Findus' desire to grow meatballs, the hens' mania for worms, and various neighbors' animals getting loose, could anything else possibly go wrong? - it is an engaging entry in an amusing, and much-loved series.I have to say that, as has been the case with a number of other Pettson and Findus titles - Pancake Pie/The Birthday Cake, Festus and Mercury Go Camping/Pettson Goes Camping, and The Fox Hunt/The Fox Hunt - I greatly preferred the fuller translation available from Opal, as opposed to the more limited American version, after reading both, and comparing the two. It isn't just that the names of the main characters have been changed (for no reason that I can think of) from Pettson and Findus to Festus and Mercury, or that the text has been shortened, although those things are rather irksome; but that the specific bits left out of the American versions tend to be the more pointedly political, and humorous bits.
This wasn't quite as pronounced here, with Festus & Mercury: Ruckus in the Garden, as with some of the examples given above, but there were still some omissions, particularly as it concerned those troublesome hens, that were disappointing. The hens' accusation that Pettson has cheated them, after Findus tricks them into going back into their yard, for instance, is missing from the American version. There is this way, with these seemingly small changes, that the hens (and it seems most often to be the hens, as opposed to anything else) are flattened out, and made less interesting as characters. One wonders if gender, and differing constructions of gender, in Sweden and America, plays any role in this? Still, I don't want to overstate the case: this is any engaging story, and if it's the only version one can obtain, it's definitely worth reading. But there's simply no doubt that the Opal edition is (as always) to be preferred...
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LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
A Rumpus in the Garden, 2005 Opal translation of Kackel i grönsakslandet.
In this fifth title devoted to the humorous antics of grouchy farmer Pettson, and his feisty feline companion, Findus, Swedish children's author Sven Nordqvist is at his zany best, setting up a series of madcap misadventures
Available in two different English translations - an American version, Festus & Mercury: Ruckus in the Garden, put out in 1991, one year after the original; and this edition, released by Bokförlaget Opal, the original Swedish publisher - this delightful story only confirms my feeling that Nordqvist is a comic genius, and a brilliant practitioner of picture-book art. With detailed illustrations that will draw the reader in, and an entertaining cast of quirky characters (I'm really starting to be fond of those crazy hens!), these books are just such fun to read! This Opal edition, A Rumpus in the Garden, is definitely the superior, of the two English versions available (see my review of the American edition, for a detailed comparison), as it presents a more complete translation, with many humorous details and dialogue omitted from the other.
In short: a wonderful addition to a marvelous series, A Rumpus in the Garden is a book I recommend to any reader who appreciates madcap humor, Swedish style, and especially to those readers who have read and enjoyed other Pettson and Findus titles.
In this fifth title devoted to the humorous antics of grouchy farmer Pettson, and his feisty feline companion, Findus, Swedish children's author Sven Nordqvist is at his zany best, setting up a series of madcap misadventures
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involving a newly planted vegetable garden. Nothing ever goes quite as planned at Pettson's place, of course, and as the long-suffering old man tries to plant his potatoes and carrots, Findus attempts to cultivate meatballs, the hens (always defiantly insistent on joining in on the fun, despite efforts to keep them locked up) get constantly underfoot, neighbor Gustavsson's runaway pig goes potato-hunting, and neighbor Andersson's herd of cows runs amuck in Pettson's yard. It is, in short: a total rumpus in the garden!Available in two different English translations - an American version, Festus & Mercury: Ruckus in the Garden, put out in 1991, one year after the original; and this edition, released by Bokförlaget Opal, the original Swedish publisher - this delightful story only confirms my feeling that Nordqvist is a comic genius, and a brilliant practitioner of picture-book art. With detailed illustrations that will draw the reader in, and an entertaining cast of quirky characters (I'm really starting to be fond of those crazy hens!), these books are just such fun to read! This Opal edition, A Rumpus in the Garden, is definitely the superior, of the two English versions available (see my review of the American edition, for a detailed comparison), as it presents a more complete translation, with many humorous details and dialogue omitted from the other.
In short: a wonderful addition to a marvelous series, A Rumpus in the Garden is a book I recommend to any reader who appreciates madcap humor, Swedish style, and especially to those readers who have read and enjoyed other Pettson and Findus titles.
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LibraryThing member Cheryl_in_CC_NV
Too funny! Pettson/Festus may be an old man, but his determination to have a garden, despite marauding neighbor livestock and other challenges, is inspirational. I got exhausted just reading about the adventures!
LibraryThing member NatalieSW
Very funny book which ends rather abruptly, as books written by illustrators sometimes do, but a lot of fun with hilarious illustrations. Adorable, with a very wacky cat.
LibraryThing member datrappert
Farmer and his talking cat have a difficult time keeping hens, cows, etc. (who also talk) out of a newly planted garden. This is part of a long series of books by Swedish author Nordqvist. If you like an old-fashioned story with old-fashioned illustrations, you should be entertained. I'm on the
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fence--an ironic place to be since this book is about the lack of effective ones! Show Less
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Pettson is planting a vegetable garden with the help of his cat Findus, who decides to plant a meatball in hopes of growing more. But their poor garden is constantly bombarded by other animals who make a mess of it.
This book had an interesting-looking cover and title; I thought it might make a good
On the plus side, the story is fine, although nothing that extraordinary. Findus the cat is very funny, and I enjoyed how active he was in the illustrations. Still, there was nothing in here that was compelling enough for me to want to pick up other titles in this series.
This book had an interesting-looking cover and title; I thought it might make a good
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storytime book as young children always seem to love farm stories. As soon as I opened it though, I realized otherwise. There is a LOT of text on each print. And it is all in a very small font. I honestly think this story would be much better as an early chapter book designed for first and second graders rather than as a picture book (which are typically for younger kids, although not exclusively). Furthermore, I did not care for how the book ended up a very vague, inconclusive note.On the plus side, the story is fine, although nothing that extraordinary. Findus the cat is very funny, and I enjoyed how active he was in the illustrations. Still, there was nothing in here that was compelling enough for me to want to pick up other titles in this series.
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