Customer Reviews (10)

Generation after generation
This is such a cute funny book. My girls love it and love to say " you throw him out!!" My husband had this book when he was a little boy and now my girls have it and i know it will be passed down forever. Great book for years to come

Simply one of the most charming books I've ever read...
I've owned this book for twenty years. I was a small child when I first got it as a present, and forced my parents to read it to me again and again and again. Now that I am an acting and storytelling teacher for young children, I was looking through old books to use in my class. I came across this one, read through it again, and was won over all over again. Whether you are a young child, a parent of a young child or a teacher of young children (or perhaps just young at heart) you will no doubt have a wonderful time reading this book. (And, even if you're all alone, I suggest reading it out loud.)

On the Kumon North America required reading list...
This book is on the Kumon required reading list.Wonderful illustrations, amusing, and easy to read.You and your child will laugh.

What do you do with a Kangaroo?
What to do?Great introduction to problem solving and the silliness of animals.A joy to read using your best animal voice!

Great story!
This was the longest book my two-year-old would sit through... again and again and again.She loved acting the part of the little heroine and readily recited "you throw him out!" with much enthusiasm.The drawings are entertaining and the end is lovely. I would whole-heartedly recommend this darling story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Not Bad!!!
I think this book as ok it was all about this boy being in the middle and he hates it so he trys to fit in a play can you belive this.But it was not that bad.(funny too)

Touching title...Loving story
There are books to thrill you, and there are the books that warm you throughout your life. This is one of them.
Judy Blume has a broad stroke, writing for ages from elementary to Adult life. And with each book, she captures all the humiliation and comedy that those years offer. Though I was "too big" for this book when I read it, I don't regret doing so. Though I am not a middle child, I understand how it feels when, as a child, you feel that you don't matter, at that stage "not-old-enough-and-so-not-important-enough". Having read a wide scale of Blume throughout childhood, I know which books touched me, made me angry, and made me shout: "Hoooray!"
Judy Blume puts as much feeling into her books' titles as she does into her stories, and so even the most disaffected can only become interested because of her colorful titles. This is one of my favorite Judy Blume stories, and my favorite title by her. There are stories to challenge, books to think, fables that make you laugh out loud and novels to make you weep.
And there is "The One in the Middle is the Green Kangeroo". Even if you have not heard of Judy Blume or haven't read one of her titles, I won't hold it against you. It is a short life and we can't read them all, but doesn't the title sound curious enough for you to give this book a try?

JUDY BLUME DOES IT AGAIN
This is a GREAT book for the family.Our children loved this book.It is easy for them to read and undestand.It is full of laughter and fun.
I read Judy Blume as a child and am SOOO HAPPY that my children also get to experience her work.

Reviews from sever-year-olds
The following reviews were written by four 7-year-olds in a classroom book club I led.We studied reviews from Amazon.com before they wrote theirs to see how there can be many different opinions on one title:

Annie says:Iwould recommend this book to you because it is neat how Freddy Disselstarted out having nothing special and ended up doing something all of hisown.He gets to be the green kangaroo in a school play.

Ashleigh says: I think this book is funny because my 4-year-old brother is the middlechild and me and my sister boss him around like Freddy.I think everyoneshould have this book!

David says:This book is about a boy named Freddywho plays the green kangaroo in the school play.I think it is stupidbecause he hops all around saying, "I'm the Green Kangaroo."Iwould not recommend a friend read this book because it is stupid.

Rachelsays:I think this book is funny because when Freddy's teacher, Ms.Gumber, told him "break a leg" he thought he should really falloff the stage and break a leg.I would recommend this book to you becauseit is neat and I think it is neat because the illustrator really expressedwhat the words described.

The green kangroo is a good book.
I really enjoyed The one in the middle is the green kangroo. It had comedy, fussing, and problems. The main chacters is Freddy Dissel and his brother Michel and his sister Ellen. Freddy didn't like being small beacuse he didnot like being out of the fun. One day at school there was a poster in thehall that said MEETING FOR SCHOOL PLAY Fifth AND SIX GRADERS ONLY. He wentto class and told his teacher he wont's to be in the play but his teachertold him that it was only for the big kids.But she told him that shewould ask Ms. Matson about a special part for him. If you want to hear the ending of the storyread the book. ... Read more

Book Description
A heartwarming, comforting tale of sibling rivalry, loyalty, and lasting love.

Blue Kangaroo belongs to Lily, and Lily loves him. Every night he falls asleep in her arms. Then one day, Lily's aunt comes to visit, and she brings Lily a huggable, furry gift. Suddenly Blue Kangaroo finds himself sleeping next to Wild Brown Bear. And soon Lily receives other animals: a yellow cotton rabbit, a wiggly green crocodile, a long-eared owl. . . . The bed is getting awfully crowded, and Blue Kangaroo isn't sleeping well at all! With so many companions, would Lily even notice if Blue Kangaroo were gone? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Loveable and Fun Characters
The Blue Kangaroo series of books are a huge favorite with my two year old.The stories are emotionally relatable for her age.Toddlers can also sympathize with Lily and her favorite stuffed friend, Blue Kangaroo.The pictures give parents additional details to expand on the story.I highly recommend all of the Blue Kangaroo books, starting with this one.

Blue Kangaroo gets taken for granted
Lily loves Blue Kangaroo, and tells him so every night as she goes to bed.But over a period of time Lily receives more stuffed animals and Blue Kangaroo feels more and more neglected, until one night he gets bumped out of bed and decides to go sleep with Lily's little brother.Lily's response lets Blue Kangaroo know he is first in her heart.

Bright, colorful and humorous watercolor illustrations add to the enjoyment.

Adorable!!
This book is great.Adorable story, lovely illustrations.My daughter loves it and she's 4.Especially the part about the little brother who takes the favorite toy (her brother is 2)She comes up with a great solution to get it back.Just a good all-around preschool story book in every way.

Hands down favorite of my almost three year old for months
This charming and very true to life story of a displaced favorite toy has been my daughter's favorite for months now, and happily it's very fun to read out loud over and over again.My 7 year old son also enjoys reading it to his little sister.The illustrations are fetching and the tale is a sweet one.I'm about to click away to find more books by Emma Chichester Clark.

Lily, Don't You Love Me Anymore?
Good for 3-7 yrs. Very similar story to "Nugget & Darling" by Barbara M. Joosse, it's a 'Dont you love me anymore?' story. The story is interesting for children, it moves along quickly, and the illustrations are very good.

Blue Kangaroo is a stuffed animal who belongs to a little girl, Lily. However, Blue Kangaroo begins to feel very worried, and unloved, as friends and relatives begin to shower Lily with other stuffed animals. Soon, Lily's bedtime animals begin crowding Blue Kangaroo out of the bed. What will Blue Kangaroo do?It's a happy ending, I don't want to spoil it for you. ... Read more

Amazon.com
"Yes! A kangaroo has a mother. Just like me and you." Tremendously popular author/illustrator Eric Carle needs no introduction. Readers wait eagerly for every new picture book--and nobody will be disappointed with this one. In this Very Simple story, an unseen child asks variations on the same question: "Does a lion/monkey/dolphin have a mother, too?" The response is always the same: a big colorful "YES!" with the soothing reassurance that, "like me and you," everyone has a mother. Repetition is the name of the game, here, because nothing comforts like reiteration.

Those on the verge of reading will enjoy the question and answer format, which is clearly designed to be read aloud. A list of the names of animal babies, parents, and groups is included--did you know that a group of bears is called a "sloth"? Or that a group of foxes is a "skulk"? Carle's trademark collages are as colorful and luminous as those found in any of his other well-loved modern classics (including The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Very Quiet Cricket); as usual, the illustrations are so good they're worthy of framing. (Ages 2 to 7) --Emilie Coulter Book Description

Of course they do -- just like me and you! From baby kangaroos, called joeys, to baby elephants, called calfs, every kind of animal has a mother. Inside this playful and colorful book you will see all sorts of different babies with their mothers, all with one thing in common: Their mothers love them very, very much -- just like your mother loves you! Come right in and meet the family -- the animal family, that is -- in words and pictures by Eric Carle.

Customer Reviews (15)

Wonderful Book for Preschoolers
My preschoolers adore this book, and I love that the repetitive language allows them to memorize it and "read" it to themselves.

Yes!
I like this book beacuse it gives my 2 year-old son lots of practice saying, "yes" instead of his usual "no."AFter we read the book, we use the pattern established in the story to ask each other about other animals not featured in the book.For example, "does a cat have a mother too?" "Yes!"

My one year old loves it
This was the very first book I read to my son after he was born. I got it as a gift in the hospital.Ever since then he seeks this book out for me to read to him. Its the only book he will sit all the way through. He loves the pictures.Yes, its very repetive, but thats the whole point of the book.Its great right before bed or right after a nap, because its so soothing.

Sweet, dull, but gramatically CORRECT
I agree with recent reviewers who have recommended other animal-based Eric Carle books instead of this one.The verse is repetitive, which makes it easier for my son to learn early word recognition, and the theme is rather sweet, but other Eric Carle books ("Slowly, slowly, slowly said the Sloth" and "Mister Seahorse") are far superior.

I'd also like to respond to the reviewer who stated this book is gramatically incorrect.That's actually not true.The word "like" in "just LIKE you and me" is used as a preposition to convey relatedness of one thing to another.Since it's used as a preposition, the pronouns ("you" and "me" or "I") that follow must be objective (as in OBJECT of the preposition) case rather than subjective case."You" is both a subjective and objective case pronoun."I" is a subjective case pronoun, while "me" is an objective case pronoun.Therefore, "me" is the appropriate choice and "just like you and me" is gramatically correct.

Why the grammar lesson?One of the things I love about Eric Carle books is that the grammar is always correct.Any child who reads his books benefits from the colorful collage paintings, playful verse, AND exposure to correct grammar.All are essential for successful early reading.

we love this book!
Our daughter just turned 3 and she loves this book. We found a copy of this book at the library, brought it home and she loved it. This book encourages her to use her words. She even reads it to herself in her own little language. We are defenitely ordering this book today. It is also a great book for storytime (daycare setting). Other books that are winners in our home are "From Head to Toe", "Panda Bear, Panda Bear what do you see?","Polar Bear,Polar Bear what do you hear?", "Brown Bear, Brown Bear what do you see?", "Dream Snow", "The very busy spider". What we love about these books is the way the pictures are done, words, and all the animals in them. They are put together so well for children. ... Read more

Book Description
It's Kangaroo's birthday, but no one will play with him: not the emu, the platypuses, the koalas, or even the dingos. They all have too many things to do. What exactly are they doing? They're using multiplication to figure out just how many things they have to do to plan a big surprise for Kangaroo!

Best Children's Science Books 1997 (Science Books and Films) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Perfect for learning basic math
My kindergartner loves this book. We read it every night. She is learning basic addition without even realizing it. I also love that the animals are mostly from Australia including dingos, kangaroos and platypuses.

A great book to pass down or share with friends.

Wonderful illustrations
Charming story with wonderful illustrations.My son loves to count the "too many things to do" items on each page. We also learn about the fun animals of Australia and how they surprise their friend Kangaroo onhis birthday. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Wonderfully entertaining--great for phonemic awareness!
This book is fun and educational!The rhyming prose is delightful and has wonderful pictures accompanying each letter of the alphabet.There are lots of objects in each picture that begin with the letter (except X and Z, but really, can you think of many items that start with those letters?)

A very pleasant surprise
We stumbled across this at the library (literally, the baby had thrown it on the floor).It must have been destiny!

This book is just plain fun.The text is funny and flows easily.Each letter has a creative rhyme and then pictures to go with it.BUT they've included lots of other pictures which start with the same letter so you can spend hours (we have) hunting through each picture trying to find everything.It's very similar to Graeme Base's Animalia, only his is much more 'artistically' detailed and this is more cartoonish.(I strongly recommend you check out Animalia too.)

What I like best about this book is that it works on so many levels.It's a fun read-aloud.It's fun to look at.My beginning readers (7-years-old) can look at the pictures and find all the 'extras'.My 3-year-old can find the ones listed in the rhymes.A great find for a fun family time.Thanks baby!!!

Excellent!
I use this book as part of circle time in the special ed class I teach. The kids are still completely hypnotised by it and some have it memorized from cover to cover. I've used it for six months to the point that the book is wearing out, but my kids still want to hear it everyday. Great choice for all kids and a must have for classrooms!

Koala kisses cool Kangaroo
and big busy bumble bee below blossoming branch barely buzzes by beaver's blue balloon.

OK, OK. I am exaggerating. The balloon is red, not blue.

This book is another winning co-production by the gifted writer/illustrator team of "Giraffes Can't Dance." Cheerful, amusing, entertaining and educational in an unobtrusive way, it is a genuine pleasure for kids and parents.

Learning the letters of the alphabet has rarely been so much fun. Max's favorite is the letter "B" because he likes his dad to enact the slightly absurd drama of a bull in a boat who is rowing frantically to escape a grinning bumble bee about to pierce the balloon of a beaver who sits next to the bull. Add to that the third passenger in the boat, a phlegmatic bear munching on a banana, and you have the right stuff for a great bed-time story. Trust me.

Rivaling "B" in popularity is the letter "R" featuring a rabbit in a carrot-shaped racing machine, a raccoon riding a rocket-propelled scooter (any boy's dream!), a rolling robot, a running rhino and last not least a rat holding a rose. The rose is red. Just for the record.

For obvious reasons my favorite letters are K and L: "K is for kissing a cool kangaroo - L is for loving, like Daddy loves you."

Filled from cover to cover with humor
The collaborative effort of author Giles Andreae and illustrator Guy Parker-Rees, K Is For Kissing And A Cool Kangaroo is an ABC book that offers young readers ages 2 to 6 with a delightful and rhythmic text that covers all the letters of the alphabet. Filled from cover to cover with humor, cheerful illustrations, and vocabulary development, K Is For Kissing A Cool Kangaroo is a perfect addition to any family, preschool center, or kindergarten collection. ... Read more

Book Description
It looks like a bear, but isnt one.It climbs trees as easily as a monkey- but isnt a monkey, either.It has a belly pocket like a kangaroo, but whats a kangaroo doing up a tree?Meet the amazing Matschies tree kangaroo, who makes its home in the ancient trees of Papua New Guineas cloud forest.And meet the amazing scientists who track these elusive animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Quest for the Tree Kangaroo--Its not just for kids!
I received this book from a thoughtful, loving, and dear kindred spirit of a friend and while it is being marketed as a children's book, I found that it was just as wonderful as an animal lover's or even a conservationists' (organic-free trade-decaffeinated) coffee table book. Nic Bishop's up close and personal photography is beyond any Life Magazine or National Geo quality color photos. Sy Montgomery's writing takes the reader along on the expedition with all the science, language and even a bit of humor provided in part by the guides. Montgomery has created a fun book for kids and adults alike!A great gift for high school graduates to inspire them to follow their dreams and passions. For kid's, this would make a cake science report book!

beautiful book, fascinating creature!
the photos are great, i just wish there were more. i am not very interested in the human beings that performed the research, and wish there was more about the animals... ... Read more

Book Description
Lily and Blue Kangaroo share everything, even birthdays. And for her next one, Lily has decided that everything must be pink: pink invitations, pink party clothes, pink wrapping . . . Even Blue Kangaroo gets a pink ribbon to wear. He isn’t sure that he likes it, and once everyone starts to arrive, all dressed in pink and carrying pink presents, he thinks that Lily would prefer him if he were pink. He gets so miserable, that he creeps away. But Lily misses him, and comes to find him.

“I love blue, and I love you!” she says, and she changes into a completely blue outfit, to show him she means it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Blue Kangaroo it's the best children book.
Blue Kangaroo it's the best children book. My daughters love this story and it's inteligent and beautiful. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Blue Kangaroo doesn't have it easy. Sure, Lily's faithful stuffed 'roohas been found (Where Are You,Blue Kangaroo?) and loved (I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!),but now he's taking the fall for some of Lily's not-so-nice behavior.

In this third installment of Emma Chichester Clark's cute, clever series, Lilytries to convince her mother that it's Blue Kangaroo--not her!--who's to blamefor a series of mishaps, from an overflowing sink to her little brother's headhaving an unfortunate run-in with a bucket. Blue Kangaroo, of course, sees thewriting on the wall each time, and his worried little face (for which Clarkgives him momentary use of eyeballs) provides the book's most genius comedy. Inthe end, Lily's mother wisely decides to punish the wee 'roo ("'Well, if BlueKangaroo can't behave, he'll have to sit by himself downstairs,' ... And she puthim on top of the bookcase out of reach."), so then Blue Kangaroo himself has tolook out for Lily one last time and resolve the conflict.

Clark's droll and pleasantly repetitive text will be fun for kids to read (orhear), but her smartly drawn characters and simple, bright watercolors conveyenough story that they could nearly carry the book without a single word. (Ages2 to 6) --Paul HughesBook Description
BLUE KANGAROO BELONGS to Lily, and they do everything together. Almost everything, that is. Recently Lily has been doing some things—some not very nice things—by herself. And blaming Blue Kangaroo! Soon Blue Kangaroo is in big trouble with Lily’s mother and is taken away until he learns how to behave. How can Lily get her best friend back?

“An engaging cautionary tale about the importance of being truthful.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Clark’s bright, clear pictures . . . capture the slapstick, and preschoolers will love the scenes of chaotic disobedience.”—Booklist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Lily's little blue scapegoat
Lily has been very naughty lately -- leaving the water to overflow all over the floor, goading the cat into destroying the curtains, fighting with her previously perfectly happy little brother, throwing clothes out the bedroom window.Each time she blames her beloved pal.When Lily's mother eventually decides that Blue Kangaroo had better spend the night downstairs, he takes matters into his own hands and finds a way to bring peace to the household.What a clever blue kangaroo.

Bright, colorful and humorous watercolor illustrations add to the enjoyment.

It was YOU Blue Kangaroo!!
I love this book!It's a sweet tale about a little girl who gets keeps getting in trouble and keeps blaming it all on her stuffed friend, Blue Kangaroo.Her mother handles the situation perfectly and the little girl learns a valuable lesson in the end.It's really a sweet book - both my girls just love it! ... Read more

Book Description
Kangaroo is back! In this story he and his friends at camp divide into halves, thirds, and fourths to form teams at field day. Readers will cheer on this rowdy crew of Australian animals as they swim, canoe, play tug-of-war, and have a good, goofy time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fractions and "Real Life"
This is a wonderful book for use with first or second graders. It covers 1/2, 1/3 and 1/4 in an engaging way that demonstrates realistic everyday uses for fractions that young children can relate to. Animals devide intotwo groups for a tug of war, three groups for a swimming race and fourgroups for a canoe race. A great introduction to fractions! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Entertaining Scientific Memoir
Here is advice from an expert: "If you ever see a fresh kangaroo carcass lying beside the road it is well worth stopping to take a closer look."The expert is Tim Flannery, a professor, explorer, and paleontologist, and he dispenses his advice, and much other eccentric and informative matter, in _Chasing Kangaroos: A Continent, a Scientist, and a Search for the World's Most Extraordinary Creature_ (Grove Press).Flannery has written plenty of books of anecdotes of travel and exploration, and also academic works about the strange mammals of his region.His current book is a combination memoir, travelogue, and appreciation of the fauna (including the humans) of the land down under, and it is delightful in all departments.

Flannery takes his own advice more than once, like the time he was driving in the Northern Territory and a wallaby dashed in front of him before he could swerve.It was a "nailtail" because its whip-like tail has a sort of fingernail at the end, and no one knows why it has such a thing because no one has ever seen it put to use.Flannery took the deceased nailtail back to his camp to anatomize its leg and feet; it is not surprising that these regions give the most clues about kangaroos' evolutionary descent.He also took steaks from the haunches, and reports that the resultant stew produced a meat that tasted like steak and mushrooms and was far superior to the meat of the red kangaroo (that's the kangaroo we non-Australians think of as "the" kangaroo, although there are plenty of others in different sizes, shapes, and colors).Unfortunately, the carcass was also tasty enough for some birds of prey to steal from him overnight, so his museum never got the specimen.Flannery does not deal in just recent kills, but some that have been extinct for millions of years, like _Propleopus oscillans_, the killer kangaroo.Don't worry; the huge carnivorous beast is long extinct, but it has been the subject of some of Flannery's own research, and he goes into some detail about how he did research and came to understand its environmental role, its teeth giving clues about it's carnivorous nature.Flannery describes his scientific jubilation: "Then there were a delicious couple of days when, as I worked on my theory without telling anyone else, I was the only person on Earth who knew that great, carnivorous kangaroos once stalked Australia."Subsequent finds of skulls confirm the theory, but beyond that there is a mystery, for a single arm bone is the only other fossil remnant of the creature ever found.

Another extraordinary thing about these creatures is that although they evolved in isolated islands with no hope of swimming to other lands, humans have arranged for them to populate new worlds, and kangaroos have flourished in unusual places.It is perhaps not too surprising to learn that brush-tailed rock-wallabies have done well on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.They are descendants of two who escaped from a menagerie in 1916.It is surprising, however, that there is a colony of grey kangaroos living happily in the forests west of Paris, France.Thirty years ago, a bungled theft of animals resulted in freedom for the greys who have prospered, much to the delight of the locals.And another extraordinary thing is that the male kangaroo has a scrotum hanging in front of his penis.And another extraordinary thing is that the female has two vaginas, and gives birth through neither of them (a special canal forms around birth time).And another extraordinary thing... Well, Flannery's book is full of them, and his enthusiasm in presenting them to the reader is a delight throughout.

G'day mate!Time to learn about the land down unda and learn about its roos!!
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"Australia was once dominated by people who loved the mother country--a land of lush greens and as alien to my [present-day] country as any could be.Today, Australians are more likely to proclaim a love of things native, yet because they often lack a true understanding of their environment, theirs is a love that can kill.Such well-meaning but uncomprehending enthusiasm is one reason why many Aboriginal communities continue to struggle under insupportable burdens, why native species [like species of kangaroos] keep vanishing, and why our future is being cut short by an insatiable addiction to fossil fuels.It is why I wrote this book.We have now embarked on a new phase of our national existence, and just where it will lead I do not know.But I have a sinking feeling that unless every Australian searches profoundly for ways to help our land survive, things are likely to end badly for ourselves and this great island continent."

The above is the last paragraph of this fascinating book by Australian paleontologist (and concerned environmentalist) Tim Flannery, who received his PhD from the Department of Earth Sciences, University of New South Whales.

Generally, this book is a blend of three things:

(1) His early years as a paleontologist and his continuing exciting work as a "fossil hunter"
(2) A natural history of the unique Australian landscape
(3) A study of the evolution of the equally unique kangaroo.This early evolution of kangaroos was virtually unknown until Flannery came along.(The search for this evolutionary past is what drives this book's main narrative.)

Many people might think that these are three reasons not to read it.Well, not for me!What this book did was made me understand why Flannery was named 2007 "Australian of the Year" and why he a scientist, explorer, and conservationist of"international acclaim" and "interdisciplinary brilliance."

What I found apparent as I read this book is that Flannery knows his science and presents it well when doing actual fieldwork (some of it hazardous) and research to trace the evolution of kangaroos.But there is much more to this book than just scientific precision.

Flannery embellishes his main narrative with humor and gives us his impressions.He fills each chapter with actual Australian characters he meets along the way.However, for me, it was his enthusiasm for his subject that made this book such a joy to read.The result is that this book is like a "love letter" to Flannery's native Australia and its most strikingly remarkable inhabitant: the kangaroo.

My favorite chapters have the following titles:

(1)Captain Cook's kangaroo
(2)Kangaroo essence
(3)The mystery of hopping
(4)The oldest kangaroo
(5)Where the great roos came from
(6)The age of kangaroos
(7)Grass for the kangaroos
(8)A dingo-driven revolution

Throughout are black and white illustrations (drawings, maps, pictures, etc.) that highlight aspects of the main narrative.As well, there are a dozen color pictures near the middle of the book.(By the way, the book's cover {displayed above by Amazon} shows a picture of a red kangaroo--the symbol of Australia.)

Finally, just before the introduction to the book is a black and white map of Australia.On it, Flannery has placed the locations of key places that he visits and explores in his main narrative.I recommend photocopying this map and using it to follow his travels.

In conclusion, this is a captivating book that's a blend of memoir, travel, natural history, and evolutionary science.After I finished reading it, I realized that Dr. Tim Flannery should have a nickname similar to his fictional Australian counterpart "Crocodile Dundee."How about:

"Kangaroo Flannery."

(first published 2007;map;introduction;26 chapters;postscript;main narrative 250 pages;kangaroo family tree;acknowledgements;bibliography;index)

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A breezy and fun read
Tim Flannery's "Chasing Kangaroos" is a terrific, informative read regarding what surely is one of the oddest animals in all of nature. To say the author is obsessed with his subject may not quite be true but his love for kangaroos in unabashed. Flannery's book teems with knowledge as one would guess, as he is one of the leading experts on these fascinating creatures.

Anyone who has ever seen a kangaroo "hop"...and I do mean they HOP....will marvel at their overall structure and Flannery, rightly so, gives a detailed account about how they get around, beginning with the physical diversity of the feet of the many different kangaroos. Not all of the dispensed information is cute and cuddly....a description of their digestive systems is downright unappealing...but Flannery covers it all in a narrative style that is mostly well-paced.

His opening recounting of a trip around Australia when he was in his teens can be a bit of a drudge and by that measure it takes a while to get into things. However, I highly recommend "Chasing Kangaroos"...it's simply a fun and educational book.

kangaroos
Great reading.A wonderful man.I would love to know him but enjoyed spending the time with the book.

Well Worth Reading
This book is a must read for anyone interested in the unique fauna that greeted Europeans when they first arrived on Australian shores over two centuries ago.Flannery's enthusiasm is infectious. My only criticism is the odd diversion he makes into side stories, although the can choose to skip these. ... Read more

Book Description
This warm and whimsical picture book opens with a little boy eagerly anticipating a trip to the zoo as his mother straps him into his car seat. Like most toddlers, he would rather run free than wear a seat belt, ride in a stroller, hold Mommy's hand, or climb into her backpack. As they pass various animal exhibits, the little boy asks teasing questions, such as "If I were a monkey, would I have to wear a helmet?" Mommy's light-hearted responses reveal, in a bouncy cadence, how animal and human moms alike keep their rambunctious young ones close and safe. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Zoo Fun
Cute tale of a mother and son's trip to the zoo. The questions the little inquisitive boy asks lead to learning and discovery about many of the animals at the zoo. The patience the mother shows for the child and the educational lessons provided, makes the book a gem. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Amazing Illustrations!!
I love Clare Beaton's illustrations!This one follows a little dog asking all sorts of baby animals what a baby kangaroo is called.My kids are always entertained by this book, and I could look at her amazing fabric art for hours!!This is actually not my most favorite book to read aloud, a lot of repetition, but it doesn't deter the kids and they start to say it with me.Try, How Big is a Pig or There's a Billy Goat in the Garden.Those are my favorites!! ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
A lavish photo history and intimate look at the career of Bob Keeshan, TV's Captain Kangaroo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A very poignant, well-written autobiography
Has anybody out there ever known somebody well enough who can (pardon the cliche) "tell it like it is"?Well, Bob Keeshan (aka Captain Kangaroo) does JUST THAT in this touching memoir.

It is, without a doubt, one of the BEST autobiographies in years. Mr. Keeshan had such a flair for staying sensitive, straightforward, sincere, and not to mention playful and humorous.A good example is on page 73, when he describes theping-pong ball joke Mr. Moose used to play on him: "Pulling a fast one on the ol' Captain was something that kids loved for more than thirty years.It never got old!"Not a bad one-liner, here, not bad at all.Likewise, Mr. Keeshan, neither did your show, which today, is a bona fide classic.(For those of you out there who think this is old school, guess again.)

It is also with such a drive for such perky optimism that really made the show an American institution.Mr. Keeshanelaborates this on page 136 in the chapter, "The People who Make it Happen" with all the quality talent he assembled: whether it was directors, writers, and even guest celebrities, such as Mike Farrell (MASH), Eli Wallach, and Carol Channing.

Besides, how many people know that among the talent here was Lynn Ahrens, who used to write for "Schoolhouse Rock"?She also wrote the show's last theme song.Anyway, here's how I remember it, with the last few verses:

Colorful, magical,
wonderful WOW!
The Captain is coming,
just look at him now!

Super-sensational,
special, and new!
The Captain is coming
and you're gonna love him,
CAPTAIN KANGAROO!

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, BOB KEESHAN.FROM WHAT YOU'VE WRITTEN HERE IN YOUR BOOK, YOU'RE A WONDERFUL, COMPASSIONATE, CHARISMATIC HUMAN BEING.FOR THAT, YOU NOW REST WITH THE ANGELS, FOR YOU'RE ALSO A REAL GOD-SEND.MAY YOUR LEGACY CONTINUE ON WITH THIS BOOK,AND MAY IT ALWAYS ENLIGHTEN AND INSPIRE THOSE WHO WANT TO REACH NEW HEIGHTS.;)

Finnerty Flynn and His 101 Things
I have not read this book, but I am sure it is wonderful. I am all about Captain Kangaroo and Garfield Goose! I had an album that came with a small book; the album would "ding" when it was time for me to turn the pages. The album was narrated by Bob Keeshun (Captain Kangaroo); the album was called Finnerty Flynn and His 101 Things". I still have the album, but I can not find any information on it online. Does anyone know of this short book being in print, or even recorded on CD in the original album version? Captain Kangaroo would also read this book during his shows, along with Curious George, etc. Does anyone know where I could get DVD of the Captain Kangaroo and Garfield Goose series? Any help would be appreciated!

Words to Crabby Appleton song
A previous reviewer (Jane) asked if anyone knew the words to Crabby Appleton's song.I was surfing the web and found this:
"Tom Terrific was of my favorite segments of Captain Kangaroo.", TVpartier Ricky Waller writes, "I don't know if you have this documented, but the villainous Crabby Appleton sang a song that I will always remember and it went like this : 'My name is Crabby Appleton, I'm rotten to the core
I do a bad deed every day, and sometimes three or four
I can't stand fun for anyone, I think good deeds are sappy, I laugh with glee, it pleases me, when everyone's unhappy!'"

Childhood Revisited
Mornings sitting on the floor in front of the TV eating a bowl of Cheerios and watching the Captain.Bunny Rabbit tricking Mr. Moose with ping pong balls, and tricking the Captain to get his carrots.
Tom Terrific (does anyone know the words to Crabby Appleton's song?)
and the lovable Mr. Green Jeans, Mr. Bainter the painter, and waking up Grandfather Clock,I loved them all.This book takes me back to that special part of my childhood.I wondered where The Banana Man was, he wasn't included in the book.Na,na, na, na, na, wow!
This is a wonderful book full of memories.

Good Morning Captain: 50 Wonderful Years With Bob Keeshan
I went down memory lane with all the photos. I was back in front of our black and white T.V. in 1957 watching the Captain. I especially enjoyed the early years before the Captain's red coat. I thought the text was informative and just about right. I wasn't looking for a long read and intimate details, but rather a reminiscing of a time passed. I also learned several things about the cast especially Mr.Green Jeans. I was sorry to hear he has passed way. I recommend it to any Captain Kangaroo fan. My only regret was that the "Banana Man" was not there. ... Read more

Book Description
In the last novel written before his death in 1993, one of Japan's most distinguished novelists proffered a surreal vision of Japanese society that manages to be simultaneously fearful and jarringly funny. The narrator of Kangaroo Notebook wakes on morning to discover that his legs are growing radish sprouts, an ailment that repulses his doctor but provides the patient with the unusual ability to snack on himself. In short order, Kobo Abe's unraveling protagonist finds himself hurtling in a hospital bed to the very shores of hell. Abe has assembled a cast of oddities into a coherent novel, one imbued with unexpected meaning. Translated from the Japanese by Maryellen Toman Mori. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Marsupials, radishes, and hospital beds...
A man wakes up one morning with radish sprouts growing out of his shins. Just the day before, the wise-aleck dropped a note in the suggestion box at work proposing the manufacture of a new product: kangaroo notebooks. Is there a connection?

In the dreamy, surreal world depicted by Kobo Abe, it's not so much that things are connected as that they develop out of each other like the unexpected pattern of a rapidly mutating crystal. Seeking medical attention at a strange urology/dermatology clinic, the narrator of *Kangaroo Notebook* is wheeled into a makeshift operating room only to wake up in a world that may all be a post-op hallucination or--well, it's left up to you decide what else it could possibly be.

In the meantime, the narrator recounts his mock-heroic adventures through a hellish landscape of ghosts, goblin children, ghoulish invalids, and, maybe most peculiarly of all, an American biker. It's like a funhouse ride through an updated Dante's Inferno aboard the self-propelled hospital bed upon which the narrator travels from one bizarre episode to another. What coherence there is to this absurd tragicomedy is strictly of the sort you feel within a complex dream. There's no rhyme or reason to any of it--and, yet, somehow it's rich with the intimations of deep levels of meaning.

It's not particularly hard to write a text like *Kangaroo Notebook.* But it's very hard to do it well. Often such narratives are rambling, arbitrary, and completely dependent on an ever escalating series of shocks--violence, sexual, scatological. All these elements are present in *Kangaroo Notebook,* but Abe manages to imbue it with the `artless' art of a genuine dream--symbolic, transgressive, thematic, enigmatic--and he implants a subtle narrative drive that pushes this comic, yet ultimately disturbing tale forward to its logically illogical and haunting conclusion. *Kangaroo Notebook* is one of the better examples Ive yet come across of a style of wild absurdism that can too often read like an exercise in automatic writing.

A mind-bending novel, Abe's last, and filled with paradox, acute anxiety, and intimations of mortality, *Kangaroo Notebook* is an odd--and yet oddly fitting--final testament from one of the 20th century's more original literary voices.

Bizarre
I've enjoyed several of Abe novels, so I decided to try this one.I didn't enjoy it as much as I had his other novels.First of all, you're never really sure if it is a story about someone's real bizarre experience, or if it is a trip through the underworld.At certain points, it's really strange, but then at other points, it is very mundane.Perhaps it is a journey through the underworld, as the underlying theme is death.It explores how to approach the end when it comes.

If you're interested in Abe, then you might want to read this, but if you haven't read Abe before, I recommend trying some of his other books.

Kangaroo Notebook
Kangaroo Notebook is a darkly surreal novel, at turns bizarre and ridiculous then just as easily becomes normal and calm. While lacking a sense of continuity through a few odd narrative choices, Kangaroo Notebook remains an interesting experiment into imagination.

One day, our nameless narrator wakes to find that he has radish sprouts growing from his knees. Not particularly alarmed at this, he soon discover to his pleasure that they are edible and quite tasty. A doctor's appointment lands him in the hospital where he is knocked out with drugs. From there, using his trusty Atlas bed as a transportation device, we are led through bizarre scene after bizarre scene, from hairy American martial arts experts to the souls of aborted children who perform plays on the banks of the river Sai for charity.

The narrator is on one hand an interesting fellow - he IS growing radish sprouts from his knees, after all - and his adventures are quite entertaining, but there is a lack within him. He show no great curiosity as to why everything is happening to him, nor does he really seem interested in getting everything back to normal. He is content to go with the flow, and throughout the novel, he acts more as a spectator than an actual character. Almost, but not quite, he is an omniscient narrator, in the sense that his voice does nothing more than record what is happening. Not quite though, because he does participate in a few interesting conversations along the way. Unfortunately, his lack of personality is a definite crutch.

The nameless narrator ricochets from bizarre sequence to stunningly normal locale, then back to bizarre with a speed that is at time dizzying. Often, scene changes are precipitated by the narrator being knocked unconscious, a fairly weak literary device that is used far too often here. The end sequence is the most bizarre of them all, juxtaposing the lengthy normal hospital scene that proceeds it.

The novel ended, to my mind, abruptly and without closure. There is a cryptic message at the end - which, I'll admit, I was expecting something of the sort - but I couldn't really decipher it at first. But, after thinking about the novel for a few hours after I had finished, I realised that the ending was, in fact, perfect.

To my mind, appreciation of this book comes down to a personal choice. If you enjoy bizarre series of events that don't seem to be going anywhere but suddenly illuminate at the end, then by all means read it. If however, you don't like barely connected scenes with a personality-less narrator, steer clear.

Inventive, intriquing, ambiguous reading
Kangaroo Notebook is the last book written by Kobo Abe; in many ways, itis a reflection on the approach of death, on being an outsider, and,perhaps, on outsider as a kind of death."Perhaps" because thisbook is written in a very ambiguous style that allows, even encourages,readers to find different interrelationships between the parts.

Thenarrator begins the story at his suggestion in his workplace being selectedas the best - his suggestion, originally a joke, was a product, a kangaroonotebook.This leads to the proposition that marsupials are outcasts - themammal version of each species being more viable than the marsupialcounterpart. Within this context, the narrator notes that his shins aresprouting radishes.

Seeking treatment at a dermatologist is the beginningof a series of occurrences - real, dream, illusion, post-anesthetiaconfusion?This are absolutely delightful, humorous events - a bedtraveling in the city through the narrator's mental efforts, of ahell-based sulfur springs treatment, of child demons, of dead mothers incabbage fields, of an American graduate student studying fatal accidents,of euthansia ...

This astounding romp is a serious consideration ofdeath, our beliefs regarding death (the limbo children) and ofsuicide/murder/euthansia/accident.

A Dream World Just This Side of Madness
"Which situation should I declare 'real' and which one a 'dream?'"This is the question that plagues the narrator of Kobo Abe's Kangaroo Notebook, the last novel written before his death in 1993. We can consider ourselves lucky, indeed, that one of the world's mostdistinguished novelists left us with this surreal and unique vision ofJapanese society that is both disturbingly fearful and hilariouslyfunny.

On a morning that should have turned out like any other morning,the first person narrator of Kangaroo Notebook awakens to find radishsprouts growing out of his shins.Although his doctor in repulsed, thenarrator finds he now possesses the strange and unique ability to snackon...himself.

An eerie adventure to rid himself of his malady takes thebook's protagonist into an increasingly hostile and mysterious world, onethat in turn, is surreal, playful and almost unassailably enigmatic.

Theplot is a weird and wild ride to say the least.Unlike Kafka's narrator inMetamorphosis, our slowly unraveling protagonist checks into a dermatologyclinic and soon finds himself hurtling on a hospital bed to the very brinkof hell.

An attractive nurse, known only as Damselfly, straps him to ahospital bed and begins to administer huge quantities of unknown drugs.Ashort time later, still strapped to this hospital bed, still hooked up tohis IV and still suffering from his mysterious malady, our protagonist issummarily discharged.

A cast of spooky characters is then introduced viavisits to a glitzy department store, a cabbage field that serves as thefinal resting place of the narrator's dead mother and Damselfly's ownapartment.

One of those characters, the hirsute Mister Hammer Killer, anAmerican karate expert, has such a love of violence that our narrator onceagain finds himself confined to a hospital.

His situation only worsenswith the arrival of the "Help Me! Club," a club whose membersconsist solely of demonic chanting children.

The sexy Damselfly, herself,turns out to be a bit of a vampire.Her quest to collect enough blood towin the "Dracula's Daughter" medal is nothing short ofrelentless.Despite these bizarre plot twists and turns, the finale ofKangaroo Notebook is undeniably perfect and, almost surrealistically, makesperfect sense.

Abe's typical protagonist is an "outsider" whois haunted by a sense of alienation and anxiety over the fragility ofindividual identity.Although seeking relief from society's pressure toconform, he still yearns for communal emotional connection.

Theseuniversal themes, combined with an ironic, satiric and often bizarre mannerof expression, have led many to assume that Abe's writing bears a closerresemblance to Western writers, Kafka, in particular, than to traditionalJapanese literary models.Yet Abe's fiction reflects his strong Japaneseheritage in its vividly imagistic prose, its abundant incorporation ofJapanese cultural icons and its satirical treatment of Japanesepsychosocial dynamics.

Kangaroo Notebook is one of Abe's signaturetriumphs.He deftly uses a swiftly-moving barrage of morbidly fascinatingimages, characters and places to reflect cleverly-disguised, but recurringthemes, and he balances hysterical humor with deadpan lines, such as,"Something's really odd."Sure, we think.You don'tsay.

Surrealistic fiction is so often not given its due since the bizarreand original happenings must, of necessity, supplant traditional storylineand character development, thus distancing readers emotionally.But forthose readers who have achieved intellectual maturity and originality ofthought, surrealistic fiction offers insights surely lacking in moremainstream works.

In Kangaroo Notebook, Kobo Abe takes us on a masterful,dizzyingly original romp to the razor-thin line between life and death, atheme-park of his own life and art. ... Read more

Book Description

Kangaroos are synonymous with Australia and instantly recognizable by their pouches, long tails and ability to travel by jumping. Children can learn details about how a kangaroo grows from a tiny joey in its mother's pouch to an adult. They can discover that red kangaroos can be over 6 feet tall, weigh 190 pounds, jump up to 29 feet in a single leap and reach speeds of 30 miles per hour.

About the series: Each book in the Welcome to the World of Series introduces children to wildlife through color photographs, lively description and amazing facts.