Young children learn in the most interesting, amazing ways. They are like sponges, absorbing everything that is new, unique and interesting. They are curious, they are hugely inquisitive — and they are marvellously responsive when there is something new to see or new to learn. And that’s where the delightfully whimsical children’s book Last Pick, Fuzzy enters the picture. Written by Dr. Chris Chard and lovingly illustrated by Amanda Patey, Last Pick, Fuzzy tells the tale of three friends — Chip, Sunny and Braddy — who create a backyard sports obstacle course.

Chip opens his sports-equipment hutch — and out pop the tools and the toys, all of which have very human characteristics: There’s Corky the baseball, Deke the hockey puck, Hoops the basketball, and Rallie the tennis racquet. And finally, out pops Fuzzy, the little tennis ball with the big inferiority complex. The “sports pals” then pick teams — the Blue Blasters and the Red Rockets — to run the obstacle course. Poor little Fuzzy was picked last because in the eyes of the other “pals,” she’s just too small and too slow.

Then comes the race itself — and look what happens: Fuzzy is the last of the Blue Blasters to run the obstacle course and her team is far behind the Red Rockets. But Fuzzy is so quick and so tricky that she makes up the difference and wins the day for her Blasters.

It turns out that her small size has made a very big difference, especially in the final stages of her race down the slide with Spike the football. Fuzzy actually had an advantage over her bigger “sports pals’’ — and, all of a sudden, she is a hero to all of those who once put her down.

“Playing with friends is where the fun begins,” Fuzzy tells her sports pals before bouncing into Chip’s arms. And then Chip offers Fuzzy the best compliment of all: “It looks like we saved the best for last.”
This is a charming book for a young child. The story is simply told and easily understood. Patey’s illustrations are expressive and thoroughly delightful. And the book’s message — a message that will not be lost on a young reader — is one that we all need to learn: Every one of us has something important to contribute — and we all deserve our day in the sun.

And, just as author Chard observes in the book’s dedication to his sons Carter and Lucas: “You make every day a great day to play!’’

Last Pick, Fuzzy Written
by Dr. Chris Chard
Illustrated by Amanda Patey