THE BOOK
The Story
Fergus and Delilah follows a little girl through her first day at a new park. She slides, climbs, swings and dances, making friends with a variety of different children from the unique to the kid who doesn’t speak. However, despite her best efforts, one boy keeps shooing her away. Will Delilah be able to overcome their differences and make friends with the boy who always plays alone?
Fergus and Delilah shows children that everyone is ‘wired’ a little bit differently and no one should have to play alone at the park.
How Our Book Got Started
Misa: When my son, who is on the Autism Spectrum, started preschool I made a flyer for the other children’s parents so they could better understand Hugo; why he does not talk or why he might flap his arms. Parents loved the flyer and told me they read it together with their kids. Lots of them left it on their fridges. I had created a platform of understanding and inclusion where Hugo’s peers could act with compassion towards him.
But my flier was only helping one child. A picture book that captures the hearts of mainstream children with a humorous story, whimsical illustrations and a lesson of compassion and understanding will help the lives of children with disabilities wherever it is read.
Meet the Characters
Fergus
Fergus loves spinning in the park and giving people ‘knuckles’. He likes to chase his dog around but most of all he likes to try and feed his two chickens rocks. Fergus has some particular tastes when it comes to food. He would much prefer eating cabbage and carrots than cake and croissants. Fergus’ wires are a little bit different to most people but maybe that is why he seems to know an interesting fact for almost everything!
Delilah
Delilah is a smiley, inquisitive girl who loves having tea parties with her dolls, eating pink cupcakes and mushy cream cheese sandwiches. She considers herself an expert at flying kites and she is not too bad on the monkey bars either.
TESTIMONIALS
Teachers
“This book helped us learn more about people who have autism or friends with different needs. Our favourite part was when they became friends in the book. We also enjoyed thinking more about how we are wired differently, that was pretty cool!”
Crystal Creek Public School, NSW
“Fergus and Delilah was used earlier in the year and the kids loved it!!
Thank you so much for giving our school a copy of the book and for the teaching ideas to go with it. As I have a little autistic girl in my class, the kids could really relate to the characters and it was great to use in my lessons.”
Broadwater Public School
Parents
“Wren made us read it back to back 3 times when we showed it to her. It is a hit, what a great book and an important topic 🙂 ”
Vancouver, Canada
“We received the lovely Fergus and Delilah in the mail. The kids loved it (especially Clara) and, in fact, she requested it the next three nights in a row as well. It is a really nice opportunity on how to talk about and approach difference from a kids perspective.”
Ontario, Canada
Kids
“Read it again!”
Kids everywhere.
“But why can’t he talk?… But can he hear us?”
Sarah
“Why is he in that chair?”
Lincoln
Ainsley: “So if he (referring to the boy in the wheelchair) came to our house he could walk inside the house?”
Parent: “No, he would stay in his wheelchair.”
Ainsley: “So can he play?”
Parent: “Yes, we may just need to play a bit differently.”
