Professor Fergus Fahrenheit and His Wonderful Weather Machine

In a humorous historical fantasy, an eccentric stranger offers the skeptical townsfolk of drought-ridden Dry Gulch, Texas, a demonstration of his rainmaking machine.

Grade 2-3?Failing to convince the skeptical mayor of aptly named Dry Gulch that he's on the up and up, rainmaker Fergus Fahrenheit creates a gentle shower, a thunderstorm, and, finally, a deluge. Desperately, the soggy townsfolk step in: "'No more convincing,'" they plead, "'you have our business.'" As the author explains in an afterword that is actually the best part of the book, several elements of this tale are drawn from the colorful exploits of "real" rainmakers?but no deception occurs here on either side, and none of the characters display any shrewdness, humor, or individuality. The text's rather flat imagery (the town "was as dry as last year's fallen leaves"; the Professor offers to create "a real ear-banger of a thunderstorm") contrasts oddly with Weller's fanciful illustrations, done in a curly, psychedelic style that harks back to the early work of Peter Max and Seymour Chwast. Sid Fleischman's McBroom the Rainmaker (Little, 1982; o.p.) leaves this superficial, undeveloped story in the dust.?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Semi-psychedelic art stamps this effort with a dated look. Although the subject of Groth-Fleming's debut-an Old West rainmaker-might entrance audiences, her tale is overlong for the picture book set; and, while Weller's (Cowboys Night Before Christmas) busy, rainbow-hued watercolors might appeal to "Yellow Submarine" fans, their studied gracefulness lacks soul. As the folks of Dry Gulch, Tex., are weathering a drought, a black-clad character calling himself Professor Fergus Fahrenheit blows into town and offers to produce a storm. The citizens' skepticism turns to wonder when a downpour occurs, and Fahrenheit makes his sale-in fact, his customers readily pay to make the rain stop. Literally and figuratively, this con-man "hero" soaks the parched populace. It's up to the author's afterword to lend some value to the narrative: Fahrenheit is based on actual 19th- and 20th-century rainmakers, Groth-Fleming writes, "even though we know that rainmaking is impossible." Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Dry Gulch is whistling for rain, but heaven isn't listening. A town meeting called to address the crisis is flummoxed until Fergus Fahrenheit walks through the door. Rain is his m‚tier, and, as an employee of the Wonder-Worker Weather Co., he is happy to take their order. Challenged by the skeptical mayor, Fergus demonstrates his gift, first with a gentle rain, then a thundershower, then a certified deluge. The town strikes a deal with the rainmaker then and there, signing on the bottom line. Weller's illustrations soup things up with their Ralph Steadman splatterings, faces modeled after Easter Island statuary, and exuberant color (sometimes too exuberant--the text depicts Fergus as black from head to toe, but Weller can't resist a cuff of turquoise). How this story squares with the rainmaking fakeries of the early 1900s--despite the many wonderful concurrences--is left to the author's note. But, as a quest for surcease from life's travails, this story is a sweet and easy ride. (Picture book. 4- 8) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Ages 6-9. Dry Gulch, Texas, is suffering from serious drought. The people are desperate. Then Professor Fahrenheit shows up with a rainmaking machine and demonstrates the efficacious nature of the contraption, by producing mist, a storm, and even a deluge. Many rainmaker legends have pied piper-like conclusions, but this one, which is based on an actual incident that took place in San Diego in 1917, ends happily, with Dry Gulch's drought problems solved. The lively text is reminiscent of the patter of a carnival barker, and the watercolor illustrations, which call to mind the work of Peter Max, suit the fantastic nature of the tale. A book that will appeal most to transitional readers who want substance in an accessible format. Janice Del Negro