Book Review: Morgan Goes To Nowhere, by Richard Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones

Available at selected booksellers. 

This is based on a true story. In fact it’s the story of all our lost socks, missing building blocks, half used pencils and crayons. This is a common tale that everyone can relate to. It’s the tale of Morgan, who misplaces his favourite toy. He looks everywhere, no stone is unturned. Or as we put it in our house hold – he has a ‘boy look’. Of course he claims his search is more full-on. But is it really?

Morgan concludes that his bunny must have disappeared, having emigrated to a magical place (and I can hear my mother nagging now) called the land of ‘Nowhere’. Morgan must enter and investigate, if he is to retrieve his toy. But there is no trepidation. This is a magical place where every lost and forgotten object gets a second life. Discarded pencils become forest stands, old dice make a river, and mismatched socks become the rolling hills and meadows. It’s a surrealist’s dream, beautifully illustrated with subtle nods to Kiwiana like old Buzzy Bees hovering in the skies and Moreporks asleep in pyjamas lounge in the trees of Morgan’s garden.

Richard Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones don not take themselves seriously. Even their bio-blurbs are humorous cartoon sketches of themselves. For instance Fairgray revels in his newest challenge: learning Morse code. Meanwhile Black is pictured like Cruella, from 101 Dalmatians, accompanied by an obese rat and skull. Jones acknowledges himself to be a wordsmith of note and “a great tapper of keys’.

This is a delightful and original book, with a real down-to-earth connection for us all. Even if you don’t have kids you will enjoy this.

Reviewed by Tim Gruar

Morgan Goes to Nowhere
by Richard Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones
Published by Square Planet
ISBN 9780473269999