A fantastic adventure from the authors of the bestselling Edge Chronicles.

FERGUS CRANE! YOU ARE IN GREAT DANGER! I AM SENDING HELP. Signed T. C., your long-lost Uncle Theo Fergus Crane has an almost ordinary life - having lessons taught by rather odd teachers on the school ship Betty Jeanne, helping his mother in the bakery. But then a mysterious flying box appears at the window of his waterfront home - and Fergus is plunged headlong into an exciting adventure! The box is followed by a winged mechanical horse that whisks him off to meet his long-lost uncle and his penguin helpers, Finn, Bill and Jackson. Fergus finds out that his teachers are not quite what they seem - they're actually pirates! Can Fergus and his winged horse save his schoolmates from the far-off Fire Island? And who else will he find there...?

From the creators of the bestselling EDGE CHRONICLES!

The Daring Exploits of Fergus Crane And His Amazing Journey to the Emerald Sea

THRILL to the Stupendous Adventure as young Fergus attempts to rescue his schoolfriens from a Dastardly Villain.

GASP as he faces Enormous Peril Deep Underground.

SOAR through the Skies and Rejoice at the Delights of the most Nutty Chocolatey Cakes ever made.

'Even better than The Cycling Fish'

Montmorency Gazette

'Young Crane is a Credit to our School'

Scowling Mermaid

Chris Riddell:
Chris Riddell is an accomplished graphic artist who has illustrated many acclaimed books for children and has won the Unesco Award for Something Else, as well as being shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Kurt Maschler Award. He is also the acclaimed political cartoonist for the Guardian and the Observer.

Paul Stewart:
Paul Stewart is the author of a number of previous titles for children including THE MIDNIGHT HAND and THE WAKENING (a Federation of Children?s Book Groups Pick of the Year) for the Yearling list

2008-04-11 Better than Potter ?

Fergus Crane was the first novel I read to my son, he was 5 years old and he loved it... I followed this with Hugo Pepper and Corby Flood (all of which were good).
After these 3 books I started reading him the Harry Potter books which I have found increasingly flabby and over-rated (cue negative feedback...).
In my opinion Fergus Crane is more imaginative than the Potter books and is certainly more interesting for adults to read to their children.
If your looking for the first novel to read to your son I recommend Fergus Crane.