Young Kangaroo

by Margaret Wise Brown

A tiny kangaroo is born and moves into his mother's pouch, where he grows big enough to be interested in the world about him long before he actually leaves her pouch to investigate further

Genres: Picture Books, Australia, Science

44 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1900

About the author

Margaret Wise Brown wrote hundreds of books and stories during her life, but she is best known for Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. Even though she died nearly 70 years ago, her books still sell very well.

Margaret loved animals. Most of her books have animals as characters in the story. She liked to write books that had a rhythm to them. Sometimes she would put a hard word into the story or poem. She thought this made children think harder when they are reading.

She wrote all the time. There are many scraps of paper where she quickly wrote down a story idea or a poem. She said she dreamed stories and then had to write them down in the morning before she forgot them.

She tried to write the way children wanted to hear a story, which often isn't the same way an adult would tell a story. She also taught illustrators to draw the way a child saw things. One time she gave two puppies to someone who was going to draw a book with that kind of dog. The illustrator painted many pictures one day and then fell asleep. When he woke up, the papers he painted on were bare. The puppies had licked all the paint off the paper.

Margaret died after surgery for a bursting appendix while in France. She had many friends who still miss her. They say she was a creative genius who made a room come to life with her excitement. Margaret saw herself as something else - a writer of songs and nonsense.

Reviews

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this book not only teaches readers about the development of a baby kangaroo, but also invites them to imagine what the baby kangaroo must be thinking at every stage of development. Not necessarily what a person might think of when they think of a STEM/ STEAM book, but I think it would work really well.

[Carfig · Rating 3 out of 5]

From birth to almost independence, the life of a joey. Interesting facts, including his mom throwing him into a bush so she can run faster and elude the dingo pack. She saves both their lives!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has nice, solid information about kangaroos told in a story format. It didn't feel "sciency" at all. All my kids enjoyed it. The 4-yr-old was really upset about the part where the dingoes chase the mum kangaroo and she pushes the baby out and isn't able to find him until the next day. Once it resolved he felt better, but he spent several days asking why she did that and commenting on how sad and scary it was for the joey.

A good book for the younger elementary years.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has the feel of a nonfiction book at first. There's lots of detail (it's a long story) about a baby kangaroo and how he first experiences the world. The little joey relies on his mother completely, and there are many dangers she protects him from. Soft colored pencil illustrations give realistic support to the story.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lot of text
A tiny kangaroo is born and moves into his mother's pouch, where he grows big enough to be interested in the world around him long before he actually leaves her pouch to investigate further.

[Bonnie Pohlig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice pictures, and although it doesn't have any references, I feel like a lot of the information is correct. A good way to learn about kangaroos, and it's a nice little story.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHH.

CUTENESS.
The narrative story of how kangaroos are made and born and raised.