Weekly Reader Children's Book Club presents Joey runs away

by Jack Kent

After Joey, a young kangaroo, runs away in search of a better place to live, other animals try out his mother's empty pouch while she is looking for him.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Storytime

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

John Wellington "Jack" Kent (1920 – 1985) was an American cartoonist and prolific author-illustrator of children's books. He is perhaps best known as the creator of the comic strip King Aroo. In addition to his own books, he illustrated more than twenty books by other authors.

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rather than clean his room, Joey decides to run away. His search for a new "pouch" leads him to some interesting places. Meanwhile, word has gotten around that Joey's mom has an empty "room," and various animals are eager to try it on for size. Kent's simple illustrations are a delight. This one is a Joey, I mean JOY, from beginning to end.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Time Machine
Joey Runs Away Is Run-Away Success In Our Home --4.5 Stars, April 14, 2005

A Scholastic Video, "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom", introduced us to Joey and his mom and we liked the story so much that we decided that we must have the book.

We searched for it on Amazon but have found that it is not currently in print. Bummer. This is such a delightful book that it is ashame that it is not more readily available. With its simple drawings and funny story it has something for most kids. [Mine who are 3 and 5, boy and girl, ask for this to be read all the time.]

The story:
Joey is a young kangaroo who runs away from home in order to avoid cleaning up his room. While he is gone, the other animals find out about mama's empty pouch and they approach her with the idea of renting it out. Of course, Joey's mom refuses. Joey searches but cannot find good lodgings. Joey and mom are reunited when Joey finally realizes that there is no place like home and hearth, and besides his room wasn't *that* messy.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young kangaroo named Joey doesn’t want to clean his “room” in his mother’s pouch. So he runs away instead. While Joeys mother searches for him, he looks for a new ouch to live in. Soon other animals come to inquire about renting Joeys pouch for themselves. Silliness with the different large animals wanting to live in the pouch, and the different creative pouches Joey tries out. Pictures are a more dated style, but don’t take away from the overall story.

[Emily Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book so much as a kid that when I was two and recieved my favorite stuffed animal, I named it Joey. It's been thirteen years and I still have that stuffed monkey (and he's still my favorite!).

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joey’s bedroom in his mother’s pouch is a mess, so he runs away instead of cleaning it. He tries to live in a pelican’s beak, a goat’s recycling bag, and a pillowcase, but he finds that his mother’s pocket is best. A scholastic read at home book.

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This secret gem really should be discovered by more people.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son LOVES this story.

[James]

DVD Reading of Story

[Viviane Elbee]

Joey the kangaroo did not want to clean his bedroom (his mother's pouch) so he runs away in search of a new home. He picks a few funny homes on his journey, such as a pelican's bill.

[Nicoleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pelican pouch, kangaroo pouch

[Ricci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Storytime, 10-14-15