FERGUS AND ZEKE FOR PRESIDENT

Classroom pet mice Fergus and Zeke work on a Presidents Day project.

As Miss Maxwell’s students discuss good qualities for presidents to have and ways in which eligibility requirements have evolved to allow women and people of color to run for office, Zeke dons a cotton ball wig as President “George Mousington.” At the library, as the students work on their projects, the mice struggle with their own division of labor, with President Zeke considering his “supervising” equal to Fergus’ research. With the project presentations rapidly approaching—and the mice no closer to deciding upon their subject—Fergus thinks of what he wants in a president, prompting him to stand up to Zeke: “All mice are created equal.” The kids—and the use of historical and presidential facts—are a backdrop to the engaging storyline of Zeke’s comedically flawed (and likably relatable) self-centeredness, but the value-driven thematic inspiration is an effective motivator for Fergus’ assertiveness. The resulting combination of silliness and broad-strokes idealism creates a rounded story structure without heavy tension. Finally, the human students show off their projects and discuss what they would do if they were president, briefly revealing concerns involving the environment, housing, gender equality, food insecurity—and eliminating homework. Miss Maxwell presents White, librarian Mr. Diaz is Latine, and the students are diverse.

A wholesome, solid story with fun characters.