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Pettson och Findus #5
A Rumpus in the Garden
В одно чудесное весеннее утро Петсон и Финдус решили посадить морковку, картошку и тефтельку. Но не тут-то было: сначала куры разворошили все грядки в поисках червяков. Затем кто-то выкопал и погрыз картошку. А потом в огород пришли коровы и все затоптали! Но Петсон и Финдус не сдаются и побеждают.
Свен Нурдквист — шведский художник и писатель, получивший мировую известность благодаря своим книгам для детей. По мотивам серии о Петсоне и Финдусе сняты мультфильмы, сделаны компьютерные игры и созданы театральные постановки. На книгах Нурдквиста выросло не одно поколение детей во всем мире.
Свен Нурдквист — шведский художник и писатель, получивший мировую известность благодаря своим книгам для детей. По мотивам серии о Петсоне и Финдусе сняты мультфильмы, сделаны компьютерные игры и созданы театральные постановки. На книгах Нурдквиста выросло не одно поколение детей во всем мире.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Sven Nordqvist
173 books284 followersSven Nordqvist (born 30 April 1946) is a Swedish writer and illustrator of children's books. He is best known for his series Pettson and Findus, about an old farmer, Pettson, and his talented cat, Findus.
Nordqvist was born in Helsingborg and grew up in Halmstad, Sweden. He originally wanted to be an illustrator but was rejected by several art schools. Instead he studied architecture at Lund Institute of Technology, and worked for a time there as a lecturer in architecture. At the same time he continued to look for work as an illustrator working on advertisements, posters and picture books. In 1983 he won first prize in a children's book competition and since then has worked exclusively as an author and illustrator of children's books.
He is married and has two grown sons.
During his career, he has been given awards in both Sweden and Germany. His Pettson and Findus books are especially popular in Germany, where the characters are known as Pettersson and Findus. In Danish they are called Peddersen and Findus. In Finnish they are called Pesonen and Viiru. And in English, Festus and Mercury, though English translations of the books exist with the original names kept.
In 2007 he won the literary award Augustpriset in the children's books category, for his book Var är min syster? ("Where is my sister?"). In 1992 he won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
Nordqvist was born in Helsingborg and grew up in Halmstad, Sweden. He originally wanted to be an illustrator but was rejected by several art schools. Instead he studied architecture at Lund Institute of Technology, and worked for a time there as a lecturer in architecture. At the same time he continued to look for work as an illustrator working on advertisements, posters and picture books. In 1983 he won first prize in a children's book competition and since then has worked exclusively as an author and illustrator of children's books.
He is married and has two grown sons.
During his career, he has been given awards in both Sweden and Germany. His Pettson and Findus books are especially popular in Germany, where the characters are known as Pettersson and Findus. In Danish they are called Peddersen and Findus. In Finnish they are called Pesonen and Viiru. And in English, Festus and Mercury, though English translations of the books exist with the original names kept.
In 2007 he won the literary award Augustpriset in the children's books category, for his book Var är min syster? ("Where is my sister?"). In 1992 he won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 2, 2024
Pettersson möchte Kartoffeln pflanzen, Findus möchte viel lieber ein Fleischbällchen einpflanzen. Pech haben sie beide, denn das neue Gemüsebeet wird zerstört. Einmal sind die Schweine schuld, dann die ausgebüxten Kühe.
Eine lustige, fröhliche Geschichte mit Pettersson und seinem frechen Kater. Eine schöne Vorlesegeschichte, die Jung und Alt gefällt.
Eine lustige, fröhliche Geschichte mit Pettersson und seinem frechen Kater. Eine schöne Vorlesegeschichte, die Jung und Alt gefällt.
March 1, 2017
Sweden and its border problems!
I apologise for my sudden focus on small children's books. I am sure there are reasons for it. I am NOT sure I want to know them. BUT!
"Findus plants meatballs" strikes me as a perfect political analysis of "what happened in Sweden last night", and a great story explaining the extent of Swedish border problems. Pettson, the VERY Swedish, introvert, nice, grumpy, rural, old man, and his agile cat Findus, are the main characters in the case study American media specialists need to read in order to get the facts right for once. Nothing is as genuinely Swedish as this picture book.
It all starts when spring is FINALLY here (that in itself is something people from more sun-favoured cultures might not celebrate as much as we do!), and Pettson wants to indulge in the Swedish love for homemade food. He wants to PLANT. Potatoes and carrots, mostly - which Findus doesn't like all that much. Findus would rather plant meatballs. Pettson then, very Swedish, first tells him it won't be successful, but then lets Findus sow a meatball anyway. No harm can be done, so then why bother discussing it?
And now the trouble starts!
Findus and Pettson are INVADED! Their land is taken OVER. Who would believe it? There is vandalism, theft, occupation. They have problems they would not have thought possible! Night after night, mayhem on the farm, all because of loopholes in the border security.
First, the hens come.
Then the pigs.
Then the cows.
What a disaster. All work for nothing. So sad.
Border controls do not help, by the way. Those neighbour farms are to blame of course - their fake fences! So dishonest. And Findus, the police cat, sleeps on the job.
But you know what? Pettson is calm about it, really! He does not get into fights with his neighbours, he finds creative solutions, and he goes on trying to get it right, day after day. And he is rather happy. Swedish style happy, that is. As for planting meatballs - well, we're still working on it.
I apologise for my sudden focus on small children's books. I am sure there are reasons for it. I am NOT sure I want to know them. BUT!
"Findus plants meatballs" strikes me as a perfect political analysis of "what happened in Sweden last night", and a great story explaining the extent of Swedish border problems. Pettson, the VERY Swedish, introvert, nice, grumpy, rural, old man, and his agile cat Findus, are the main characters in the case study American media specialists need to read in order to get the facts right for once. Nothing is as genuinely Swedish as this picture book.
It all starts when spring is FINALLY here (that in itself is something people from more sun-favoured cultures might not celebrate as much as we do!), and Pettson wants to indulge in the Swedish love for homemade food. He wants to PLANT. Potatoes and carrots, mostly - which Findus doesn't like all that much. Findus would rather plant meatballs. Pettson then, very Swedish, first tells him it won't be successful, but then lets Findus sow a meatball anyway. No harm can be done, so then why bother discussing it?
And now the trouble starts!
Findus and Pettson are INVADED! Their land is taken OVER. Who would believe it? There is vandalism, theft, occupation. They have problems they would not have thought possible! Night after night, mayhem on the farm, all because of loopholes in the border security.
First, the hens come.
Then the pigs.
Then the cows.
What a disaster. All work for nothing. So sad.
Border controls do not help, by the way. Those neighbour farms are to blame of course - their fake fences! So dishonest. And Findus, the police cat, sleeps on the job.
But you know what? Pettson is calm about it, really! He does not get into fights with his neighbours, he finds creative solutions, and he goes on trying to get it right, day after day. And he is rather happy. Swedish style happy, that is. As for planting meatballs - well, we're still working on it.
January 25, 2025
O alta poveste amuzanta a lui Pettson si Findus dar de data asta parca nu me-a placut sfarsitul. Oricum este o adevarata distractie cu ilustratiile, copiilor le place la nebunie.
Inca o serie care a trecut testul si va fi cumparata :)
Inca o serie care a trecut testul si va fi cumparata :)
July 6, 2023
Ak, Findusas užsimanė pasodinti mėsos kukulį, o pasirodo tiek daug bėdų ištiko juos su Petsonu tą dieną... ech, darbo bus daug! Linksma istorija 😍😍😍
November 21, 2020
Eines der besten Kinderbücher, die ich jemals meinen Kindern vorgelesen habe
January 25, 2019
How much work does it take to plant a garden? Or to protect Findus’s beloved meatball “seed” from being trampled? Well, on the farm and in the countryside, the answer is a lot more then you can imagine.
I can relate a lot with this hilarious episode of keeping the animals out of the garden, wishing that more than just vegetable seeds could be planted and grown, and the lengths that it takes to fool animals into doing what you want them to.
Findus in this book is so comical and little kid-like in the way he interacts throughout the story, and I love famer Pettson’s confrontation with the chickens and the humorous illustrations that add so much to the story—the chickens sitting around in the coop drinking tea with curlers in their “hair.” (Also, I love how eager the chickens are so eager to exonerate themselves from being the ones guilty of ruining the garden!)
I am so in love with this droll and dear picture book series, and they just keep getting better and better.
I can relate a lot with this hilarious episode of keeping the animals out of the garden, wishing that more than just vegetable seeds could be planted and grown, and the lengths that it takes to fool animals into doing what you want them to.
Findus in this book is so comical and little kid-like in the way he interacts throughout the story, and I love famer Pettson’s confrontation with the chickens and the humorous illustrations that add so much to the story—the chickens sitting around in the coop drinking tea with curlers in their “hair.” (Also, I love how eager the chickens are so eager to exonerate themselves from being the ones guilty of ruining the garden!)
I am so in love with this droll and dear picture book series, and they just keep getting better and better.
September 5, 2023
4,5 Sterne
Pettersson pflanzt Kartoffeln und Karotten an. Findus möchte lieber Frikadellen im Gemüsebeet wachsen lassen, aber ob das klappt? Zunächst müssen sowieso erst einmal die Hühner in den Stall, damit sie nicht das neu angelegte Gemüsebeet zerstören. Das gefällt ihnen aber gar nicht...
💜💜
Es ist wieder einiges los bei Pettersson und seinem Kater Findus. Eine wirklich schöne, lustige und herzerwärmende Geschichte, die mir richtig gut gefallen hat! Pettersson und Findus machen einfach gute Laune!
Pettersson pflanzt Kartoffeln und Karotten an. Findus möchte lieber Frikadellen im Gemüsebeet wachsen lassen, aber ob das klappt? Zunächst müssen sowieso erst einmal die Hühner in den Stall, damit sie nicht das neu angelegte Gemüsebeet zerstören. Das gefällt ihnen aber gar nicht...
💜💜
Es ist wieder einiges los bei Pettersson und seinem Kater Findus. Eine wirklich schöne, lustige und herzerwärmende Geschichte, die mir richtig gut gefallen hat! Pettersson und Findus machen einfach gute Laune!
February 3, 2022
Прочитала днями вголос "Петсон, Фіндус і переполох на городі" Свена Нордквіста і дуже реготала при цьому, особливо, коли Фіндус замість іншої городини вирішив посадити котлетку😹 Це весняна книжка, в якій йдеться про садіння городини, але з цим виникають різні проблеми: то кури набіжать, то свині, то корови🥳 І все доводиться садити ще раз😂
November 23, 2023
It's so good🤙
December 4, 2018
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 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...
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 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...
December 4, 2018
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 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.
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 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.
February 18, 2018
'A Ruckus in the Garden' follows the high jinks of Pettson ad his mischievous cat, Findus. Pettson wants to plant some seeds in the garden, for potatoes, but Findus has other ideas and wants to plant a meatball. Not only that, but plenty of animals get in the way of Pettson's gardening, and mayhem ensues. The illustrations are lovely and very artfully done, and the story itself is fun and full of mischief. This book would be ideal for young readers who are reading independently.
February 23, 2018
The delightful illustrations with lots of fun features make this a lovely book for children. I enjoyed all the quirky humorous bits, like the staring flowers with one eye and the man tying the rope to his toe. The text was perhaps unnecessarily long and the ending was a bit flat but my children enjoyed me reading it to them.
Many thanks to Netgalley for making this available. My review is given gladly.
Many thanks to Netgalley for making this available. My review is given gladly.
November 16, 2025
3.25/5
This was my second Peddersen og Findus book in Danish, and it was definitely more suited for language learners than the story pandekagekage. The story itself was entertaining, and I joined that the chickens played a bigger part in it. As always, great illustrations!
This was my second Peddersen og Findus book in Danish, and it was definitely more suited for language learners than the story pandekagekage. The story itself was entertaining, and I joined that the chickens played a bigger part in it. As always, great illustrations!
January 20, 2018
Silly little tale Kindergarten to grade schoolers will enjoy! Illustrations were fun!
Netgalley gave me an advance Kndle copy in exchange for a fair review.
Netgalley gave me an advance Kndle copy in exchange for a fair review.
September 3, 2019
Festus books always make us laugh. Imagine planting meatballs?! The animals in this story were a hoot. This is a lot like animals anyway. They all have such personalities.
April 8, 2021
Ensin perunankylvöä häiritsivät kanat, sitten possu, sitten lehmälauma... Ja Viiru halusi välttämättä kylvää maahan lihapullan. Hassu pieni tarina.
January 22, 2022
kind beim vorlesen eingeschlafen; pflicht wurde erfüllt ✔️
November 17, 2024
Elän ehkä mun Pettson höstiä ja somen algoritmit jostain syystä on pelkkää Viirua ja Pesosta joten luin tän kirjan itelleni iltasaduksi. Luen ehkä pian lisääki!
October 15, 2021
Küll see võib ikka pahaseks tegev olla küll, kui sa mitu korda pead oma peenramaad tegema. Pettson pigem kergelt pahandab ja teeb uuesti küll kanade, küll sea, küll lehmade tõttu.
October 1, 2025
Eine eher lustigr Geschichte. Zur wilden Gartenlandschaft passt der Illustrationsstil wie ich finde besonders gut. Mein Lieblingsmotiv ist die Doppeldeckerlibelle direkt am Anfang.
December 23, 2018
Muhteşem resimler ve muhteşem bir hikaye daha :-)
August 3, 2020
PLEASE NOTE: This review is for the Carolrhoda Books, Inc. edition, which was first published in the US in 1991. There is a 2018 US edition by NorthSouth Books which has awfully clunky text and is missing all the charm of this series.
Once upon a time, we decided it would be fun to have a garden. We could grow our own tomatoes, and strawberries, and other things. It all started out well enough. The plants grew well, we were having a good time, and we learned that the ubiquitous roly-polies that were decimating the young shoots could be drowned in shallow dishes filled with beer. We built a chickenwire enclosure to keep the ground squirrels out. The butterflies and bees were enjoying our garden, and we were enjoying them.
The tomatoes grew and grew and grew. We ate tomato salad, tomato sauce, tomato sandwiches. We ate tomatoes until tomatoes started coming out our ears. We gave away tomatoes to anyone who would take them. (It's surprisingly hard to give away delicious tomatoes.) I developed tomato heartburn and thought I might never eat another tomato in my life. One day we arrived to find the tomato plants ravaged. Broken plants and smashed tomatoes everywhere. Some large-ish critter must have gotten in and wreaked havoc. We were secretly grateful that SOMETHING was still enjoying the tomatoes, but we would have preferred to not lose all our other plants to it. We put a chickenwire roof on the chickenwire enclosure to keep the critter out.
Over the next months, our efforts were eaten by snails, grasshoppers, ants, caterpillars, and I don't even remember what else. We started joking that what we were doing was not gardening, but zookeeping. We dealt with each invasion as it came along. From our five strawberry plants, we got about two strawberries, and the critters got the rest. Plant after plant was munched on. But we still had the peppers! Glorious spicy peppers ripening in beautiful shades of orange and red. Nothing eats peppers, right? Wrong. The morning we were going to pluck them off their plants, we found that they, too, had been eaten. We were done gardening for good.
Ruckus in the Garden is a majorly adorable depiction of how gardening can turn into zookeeping. As with all Pettson & Findus (English: Findus & Mercury) books, the illustrations are quirky and darling. Lots to see and laugh about, lots to point out to each other and talk about while reading together. The translation of this book is particularly well done as well. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
Once upon a time, we decided it would be fun to have a garden. We could grow our own tomatoes, and strawberries, and other things. It all started out well enough. The plants grew well, we were having a good time, and we learned that the ubiquitous roly-polies that were decimating the young shoots could be drowned in shallow dishes filled with beer. We built a chickenwire enclosure to keep the ground squirrels out. The butterflies and bees were enjoying our garden, and we were enjoying them.
The tomatoes grew and grew and grew. We ate tomato salad, tomato sauce, tomato sandwiches. We ate tomatoes until tomatoes started coming out our ears. We gave away tomatoes to anyone who would take them. (It's surprisingly hard to give away delicious tomatoes.) I developed tomato heartburn and thought I might never eat another tomato in my life. One day we arrived to find the tomato plants ravaged. Broken plants and smashed tomatoes everywhere. Some large-ish critter must have gotten in and wreaked havoc. We were secretly grateful that SOMETHING was still enjoying the tomatoes, but we would have preferred to not lose all our other plants to it. We put a chickenwire roof on the chickenwire enclosure to keep the critter out.
Over the next months, our efforts were eaten by snails, grasshoppers, ants, caterpillars, and I don't even remember what else. We started joking that what we were doing was not gardening, but zookeeping. We dealt with each invasion as it came along. From our five strawberry plants, we got about two strawberries, and the critters got the rest. Plant after plant was munched on. But we still had the peppers! Glorious spicy peppers ripening in beautiful shades of orange and red. Nothing eats peppers, right? Wrong. The morning we were going to pluck them off their plants, we found that they, too, had been eaten. We were done gardening for good.
Ruckus in the Garden is a majorly adorable depiction of how gardening can turn into zookeeping. As with all Pettson & Findus (English: Findus & Mercury) books, the illustrations are quirky and darling. Lots to see and laugh about, lots to point out to each other and talk about while reading together. The translation of this book is particularly well done as well. LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
February 22, 2018
I simply adore Sven Nordquist's books. The quirky stories and amazing, humorous, and detailed illustrations are just the best in my opinion.
Pettson and Findus star again in a classic tale that will have kids laughing. This time they decide to plant a lovely spring garden. Pettson plants seed potatoes so his crop will yield five to ten new potatoes each come harvest time, carrots, onions, peas and beans. All lovely vegetables for sure, but his cat Findus is determined to plant a meatball, which he eagerly does. He runs over ever few minutes to see if it is growing... oh my, he discovers that meatballs take forever to sprout.
Then a series of disasters strike the precious newly planted garden! At first hens descend upon the garden patch and totally devaste it. Oh noooooo!! Time to replant. Next Pettson finds out that a herd of pigs have escaped from his neighbour Gustavsson's farm, and they trample and eat everything in sight too. Oh dear... well he gives it one last try.
He sets brave Fendus up in his treehouse as a midnight watchman. His cat will be able to keep a watchful eye out and protect their garden domain. Low and behold disaster strikes once again. Can this be the last straw for these poor victimized gardeners? Has all this mayhem and devastation been too much and will they finally give up their dream?
The illustrations are truly amazing. Full of action, detail, and emotion they take the text to a whole new level. They almost come across as animated pulling the reader into the action on each page.
This fantastic quirky tale will delight kids of all ages (adults too)! I highly, highly recommend this book and the complete series!
Pettson and Findus star again in a classic tale that will have kids laughing. This time they decide to plant a lovely spring garden. Pettson plants seed potatoes so his crop will yield five to ten new potatoes each come harvest time, carrots, onions, peas and beans. All lovely vegetables for sure, but his cat Findus is determined to plant a meatball, which he eagerly does. He runs over ever few minutes to see if it is growing... oh my, he discovers that meatballs take forever to sprout.
Then a series of disasters strike the precious newly planted garden! At first hens descend upon the garden patch and totally devaste it. Oh noooooo!! Time to replant. Next Pettson finds out that a herd of pigs have escaped from his neighbour Gustavsson's farm, and they trample and eat everything in sight too. Oh dear... well he gives it one last try.
He sets brave Fendus up in his treehouse as a midnight watchman. His cat will be able to keep a watchful eye out and protect their garden domain. Low and behold disaster strikes once again. Can this be the last straw for these poor victimized gardeners? Has all this mayhem and devastation been too much and will they finally give up their dream?
The illustrations are truly amazing. Full of action, detail, and emotion they take the text to a whole new level. They almost come across as animated pulling the reader into the action on each page.
This fantastic quirky tale will delight kids of all ages (adults too)! I highly, highly recommend this book and the complete series!
August 14, 2024
Nordqvist's illustrations are playful cartoons. I love how he fills the illustrations with little details, and bunches of little critters who have nothing to do with the story; such as the two tiny dogs up in the tree outside their own little treehouse.
May 2, 2018
I like gardens. And I like children's books. So what is there not to like about Sven Nordqvist's A Ruckus in the Garden? It's a charming picture book with a fun story and another thing I really like: a cat.
Farmer Pettson is trying to plant his garden. He plants seeds for carrots and onions, peas and beans, and he plants seed potatoes. Findus the cat isn't very interested in any of that, so he tries to plant a meatball instead, to see if it will grow him more meatballs. But then the chickens come and dig up the garden, trying to find worms.
Pettson and Findus decide to replant. But again, the garden gets dug up. This time it's the neighbor's pig who does the damage.
So Pettson and Findus build a fence around the garden and replant. But before they go to bed, Pettson asks the cat if he'd like to stand guard over the garden. Findus isn't very excited about that idea, but the farmer comes up with a plan where Findus can watch from the tree house. They set up an alarm so that Findus can wake the farmer if there is any trouble. and the cat is set to keep watch over the garden all night long. But the night is dark, and cats get sleepy.
And then the neighbor's cows can get in. It takes a clever cat to get the cows back to their own field, so that Pettson and Findus can fix the garden once again.
A Ruckus in the Garden is an adorable and fun read for kids. With themes of perseverance in the face of challenges and using clever ideas to solve problems, it teaches kids not to give up, but instead to come up with new ways of looking at their problems to make solutions easier. And there's a cat. What more could you ask for?
Galleys for A Ruckus in the Garden were provided by North South Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
Farmer Pettson is trying to plant his garden. He plants seeds for carrots and onions, peas and beans, and he plants seed potatoes. Findus the cat isn't very interested in any of that, so he tries to plant a meatball instead, to see if it will grow him more meatballs. But then the chickens come and dig up the garden, trying to find worms.
Pettson and Findus decide to replant. But again, the garden gets dug up. This time it's the neighbor's pig who does the damage.
So Pettson and Findus build a fence around the garden and replant. But before they go to bed, Pettson asks the cat if he'd like to stand guard over the garden. Findus isn't very excited about that idea, but the farmer comes up with a plan where Findus can watch from the tree house. They set up an alarm so that Findus can wake the farmer if there is any trouble. and the cat is set to keep watch over the garden all night long. But the night is dark, and cats get sleepy.
And then the neighbor's cows can get in. It takes a clever cat to get the cows back to their own field, so that Pettson and Findus can fix the garden once again.
A Ruckus in the Garden is an adorable and fun read for kids. With themes of perseverance in the face of challenges and using clever ideas to solve problems, it teaches kids not to give up, but instead to come up with new ways of looking at their problems to make solutions easier. And there's a cat. What more could you ask for?
Galleys for A Ruckus in the Garden were provided by North South Books through NetGalley, with many thanks.
January 1, 2019
NorthSouth Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of A Ruckus in the Garden: The Adventures of Pettson and Findus. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.
Old Man Pettson was looking at his vegetable patch one day and decided it was time to plant seed potatoes and other vegetables. Findus, his cat, had a different idea. He planted a meatball and was determined to get it to grow. Too bad the chickens had another plan! Once the ruckus in the garden started, it was hard to get it to stop.
A Ruckus in the Garden: The Adventures of Pettson and Findus is a very charming book, filled with great illustrations and a wonderful story. I really like the message regarding perseverance, in that it is sometimes very difficult to do your best when someone else comes along and messes it up. Older readers will enjoy reading the story for themselves, while younger children will marvel in the story about a cat wanting to plant a meatball in the garden and all of the ruckus that ensues. Although the book ended a little too abruptly, I would definitely recommend A Ruckus in the Garden to children from the very young to school age.
Old Man Pettson was looking at his vegetable patch one day and decided it was time to plant seed potatoes and other vegetables. Findus, his cat, had a different idea. He planted a meatball and was determined to get it to grow. Too bad the chickens had another plan! Once the ruckus in the garden started, it was hard to get it to stop.
A Ruckus in the Garden: The Adventures of Pettson and Findus is a very charming book, filled with great illustrations and a wonderful story. I really like the message regarding perseverance, in that it is sometimes very difficult to do your best when someone else comes along and messes it up. Older readers will enjoy reading the story for themselves, while younger children will marvel in the story about a cat wanting to plant a meatball in the garden and all of the ruckus that ensues. Although the book ended a little too abruptly, I would definitely recommend A Ruckus in the Garden to children from the very young to school age.
January 3, 2020
ALL of the Findus and Pettson books by Sven Nordqvist are marvelous!! Nordqvist is a Swedish children's book author and he also meticulously illustrates his books. The books are about an old man, Pettson, and his green-striped shorts wearing cat, Findus. The stories are lively and charming and the illustrations beautiful and whimisical. They are aimed at the 3-6 yo age range but will equally enchant adults. Unless very precocious the kids won't be able to read the books themselves, but these are wonderful books to read to the child and let them search the pictures for Nordqvist's wonderful images; plenty of weird little creatures living their own lives in the margins, chicken's having tea parties and plenty of cow portraits on the walls!
I LOVE these books! Just make sure you are buying the English versions
1
I LOVE these books! Just make sure you are buying the English versions
1
January 23, 2024
Петсон- це дідуньо, в якого є кіт Фіндус, що вміє розмовляти.
На весні Петсон посадив городину. А Фіндус в свою чергу посадив котлетку. Не встигли вони досадити город, як зрозуміли, що кури Петсона незамкнені. Кури з галасом побігли на грядку викопувати червяків. Коли курей вдалося зачинити в курнику, то дідуні Петсону довелося садити все спочатку. А Фіндус в свою чергу посадив другу котлетку. Наступного дня Петсон і Фіндус побачили, що грядка знову зіпсована. Петсон спочатку подумав на сусіда. Потім вирішив, що це кури, але виявилось що то була сусідська свиня. Як вибачення, Петсон дозволив курам вигрібати червяків на грядці. Наступного дня Фіндус повідомив Петсону, що на городі топчаться корови. Згродом Петсон знову пересадив свою грядку, а Фіндус вирішив, що його котлетці не потрібно бути серед рослин.
Мені сподобалась метушня Петсона і Фіндуса. Це було весело.
На весні Петсон посадив городину. А Фіндус в свою чергу посадив котлетку. Не встигли вони досадити город, як зрозуміли, що кури Петсона незамкнені. Кури з галасом побігли на грядку викопувати червяків. Коли курей вдалося зачинити в курнику, то дідуні Петсону довелося садити все спочатку. А Фіндус в свою чергу посадив другу котлетку. Наступного дня Петсон і Фіндус побачили, що грядка знову зіпсована. Петсон спочатку подумав на сусіда. Потім вирішив, що це кури, але виявилось що то була сусідська свиня. Як вибачення, Петсон дозволив курам вигрібати червяків на грядці. Наступного дня Фіндус повідомив Петсону, що на городі топчаться корови. Згродом Петсон знову пересадив свою грядку, а Фіндус вирішив, що його котлетці не потрібно бути серед рослин.
Мені сподобалась метушня Петсона і Фіндуса. Це було весело.
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August 29, 2025تصاویر کتاب خیلی شلوغپلوغ و پر از حرکت هستند و انگار این قصه است که وسط این تصاویر آمده. این شلوغپلوغی را دوست دارم و یک عالمه چیزمیز برای کشف کردن وجود دارد و حس میکنی واقعاً داری یک کلبۀ روستایی را با تمام جزییاتش میبینی. فیندوس و پتسون واقعاً زوج باحالی هستند و انگار واقعاً یک گربه و همراه حقیقی هستند. قصه خیلی باحال شروع میشود. فیندوس دوست دارد کوفتهقلقلی بکارد و شاید در نگاه اول این طوری به نظر برسد که آخر داستان قرار است یاد بگیریم کوفتهقلقلی درنمیآید اما اصلاً از این خبرها نیست. هر بار که فیندوس و پتسون چیزی میکارند یک بلایی سر باغچهشان میآید و یکی از بانمکترین اتفاقات یک داستان میافتد. میروند با مرغها وارد گفتوگو میشوند که خرابکاری کار آنها بوده یا نه؟ و این حرف زدن با موجودات مختلف خیلی برای من بانمک بود. این بلاها هر بار بانمکتر و سختتر هستند و واقعاً یک جاهایی خندهدار میشدند و آدمیزاد مگر از یک قصه دیگر چی میخواهد؟
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