adelaide

by Tomi Ungerer, Adolphe Chagot (Translator)

The story of a special kangaroo with wings who finds fame and fortune.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, France, Paris, Kids

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Jean-Thomas "Tomi" Ungerer was a French illustrator best known for his erotic and political illustrations as well as children's books.

Reviews

[Cristina Di Matteo]

Adelaide Il canguro volante è un bellissimo albo illustrato per bambini che sprona i piccoli a credere sempre nelle proprie capacità e a non smettere mai di sognare. La dolce protagonista è una cangurina nata con le ali. Proprio per tale motivo non riesce a distogliere il suo sguardo dal cielo, e a immaginare di voler volare insieme agli uccelli e agli aeroplani. https://ilmondodichri.com/adelaide/

[Cristina Di Matteo]

Adelaide Il canguro volante è un bellissimo albo illustrato per bambini che sprona i piccoli a credere sempre nelle proprie capacità e a non smettere mai di sognare.

La dolce protagonista è una cangurina nata con le ali. Proprio per tale motivo non riesce a distogliere il suo sguardo dal cielo, e a immaginare di voler volare insieme agli uccelli e agli aeroplani.

https://ilmondodichri.com/adelaide/

[Jennifer B.]

The story is cute, but the illustrations are even cuter!

[Cheryl]

Disappointing. Not nearly as powerful a story as Moon Man, nor as brilliant illustrations as The Three Robbers. Or vice-versa for that matter. More along the lines of Crictor, iirc.

[Bethe]

bookaday #108. Cute little story about a kangaroo with wings, Spanish reads very nicely, hoping I can find a jobber with it available to order this edition for school.

[Sorbet-Kiwi]

Je continue ma découverte des albums de Tomi Ungerer avec Adélaïde, qui est une kangourou. S’il a choisi cet animal, c’est parce qu’au moment de sa publication, ils étaient sous-représentés en albums jeunesse, je trouve l’idée sympa ! Elle nous emmène dans un Paris très joliment illustré où elle va devenir une héroïne ! Dommage que la fin soit désuète, bien qu’elle ait une touche de modernité pour l’époque. (Je précise bien « pour l’époque »).
Chronique complète dispo ici : https://sorbetkiwi.fr/index.php/adela...

[Melki]

A kangaroo named Adelaide is born with a desire to see the world. Luckily she was also born with wings. (Her parents were heavy Red Bull drinkers, perhaps . . . ?) She flies off one day, and adventure ensues.

After she passes through customs, that is.

This is definitely the best flying kangaroo story I've ever read.

[Jennifer]

This story is just bizarre. Adelaide happens to be born with wings so eventually she leaves her family and home and follows a pilot around the world. She gets bored and stops in Paris where she gets an acting job, and eventually marries a local kangaroo from the zoo and recognizes that none of her adventures would ever have happened without her wings. Um, ok?? (There was no original bullying because of the wings or any other indication that she disliked her wings).

[Sandra]

A children's book about a kangaroo that is different.

What I liked: I particularly liked the illustrations for this book. While the story is so lovely, words are used sparingly. A whole world within this thin book, one to read over again and again.

What I didn't like: Not a thing.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating.

[Rodopa]

Very strange...a female character taken in by a older male character...not great for a child story. Typical for Ungerer, there is lots of danger in this book, but ends with a fairytale ending?

3 stars for outstanding illustrations to a unsatisfying story.

[Banshees]

Es un historia de una cangurita que tiene alas, es linda la historia, sobretodo las ilustraciónes por eso mismo le pongo 3 estrellas.
Pero es si, no creo que sea un libro que te deja alguna enseñanza, bueno eso pienso yo.

[Katie]

Adelaide has wings, flies with a man to France, and has some adventures there. She saved a family from a burning building, had to recover in a hospital, and ended up falling in love with a non-flying kangaroo and got married.

[Elizabeth]

3.5 stars
The detail made me think this was based off a true story. Illustrating is 5, easy. Blown away by all the little details. Story itself was eh. My 3.5yo son started playing halfway through and only thing he could tell me about it was that there was a fire.

[Steph]

2.5 estrellas
Las ilustraciones son muy lindas y me gustó mucho que solo tuviera una paleta de colores, sin embargo, en una historia donde tienes una cangura que vuela el mejor final que se te puede ocurrir es que se case y tenga hijos? Aburrido como el resto de la historia.

[Bea Elwood]

Not my favorite, no real structure

[John]

I like this book because Adelaide flies flies flies, and when she passes a blazing fire and she needs to rescue the kids.

[Alper Çuğun]

Doesn't really say anything or go anywhere.

[Terresa Wellborn]

3.5 for old-school illustrations and fun flying kangaroo premise + Paris!

Themes: kangaroos, flight, magical animals
Ages: K-3rd
Pub date: 1980

[Heidi]

Cute, quirky, and heartwarming.

[Angélica]

🦘🪽

[Paulina Ireri]

Me encanta. Se volverá unos de mis favoritos para niños, además las ilustraciones están preciosas.

[Katy M]

2026 pop sugar reading challenge-a book in a format you don't usually read (foreign language children's book).

[Msimone]

Ce livre donne du courage aux enfants qui croient devenir autre que ordinaire. Un kangourou qui porte des ailes, né d'une famille sans, alors, les possibilités sont énormes! Beau livre.

[Shannon]

Adelaide the kangaroo was born with wings, and wished she could fly like birds and airplanes she saw over the desert (what? don't all kangaroos with wings live in the desert?). So she kisses her parents goodbye and takes off on an adventure. There is something so sweetly humorous and sensitive about Tomi Ungerer's artwork in this lovely picture book. Adelaide's sadness as she tells the Pilot goodbye, her humiliation at being inspected by the customs officials, her embarassment at being shouted at by a taxi driver, and her gratitude for Monsieur Marius' help are all rendered effectively (miraculously! how does he do that?!)with a few simple lines. Adelaide is a fantastic adventure story about following your heart and using your special talents to their best advantage. Best of all, there is a happy ending.

[Linda]

One day, brave and adventurous Adelaide leaves her kangaroo family behind and flies off to see the world. She visits lots of exciting places but eventually decides to stay in Paris where she finds fame, fortune and a handsome kangaroo called Leon.

A 'nonsense' tale that children will still mostly enjoy - because it's still a little bit silly. I mean really - a kangaroo with wings to fly!? Kids love this kind of silliness though and the tale of travel, adventure, drama and even love will be fun to read aloud.

[Dimity Monroe]

I love reading picture books that have been translated from another language.
This is especially true of Tomi Ungerer's books. Vintage and timeless looking illustrations match the quirky narrative in this one. Ungerer's plots are simple and bizarre. I remember these books from my childhood probably because I was considered by Ungerer to be a worthy audience for tales matter-of-fact tales of flying kangaroos, the man in the moon, and bands of robbers is a delight

[Maggie]

Great illustrations. Reminds me of books I loved as a child. Will look for more by this author. Adelaide the kangaroo with wings travels the world. Apparently the wording on the final page has been changed - don't know why; I think it would have fine just as it was.

[Maya]

Kind of weird in the best way, Adelaide is a kangaroo born with wings. No biggie, that's just the way she is. And she's off to find her place in the world. There is a fire in this book that sort of freaks out my kids, but over all it is such a fun story. I love it.

[Maryam]

It's a sweet story, but I found the text a bit plodding. The illustrations are charming; they're done in a limited, subdued palette. I quite liked them, but my sense is that my students may have a lukewarm reaction to Adelaida.

[Ceci]

que nunca encontraras canjuros co halas