McGillycuddy Could!

by Pamela Duncan Edwards, Sue Porter (Illustrator)

McGillycuddy is new to the farm. What use is McGillycuddy, wonder the cow, sheep, hen, and rooster. She can't make milk. She can't lay eggs. She can't even "Cock-a-doodle- doo!" So what do McGillycuddys do? Young readers will delight in this boisterous read-aloud and enjoy discovering all the special things a McGillycuddy can do!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Pamela Duncan Edwards is a British-born children's author living in the United States. She has written over forty picture books published in both the U.S. and the U.K., known for their playful language and engaging storytelling.

Reviews

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love McGillycuddy and couldn't resist reading this in one of my storytimes as a result. It was slightly hard to keep the kids' attention with this book, but McGillycuddy's just so cute.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

McGillycuddy is a kangaroo who is a new kid on the block.. er.. barnyard.

Upon his arrival, McGillycuddy is obviously different from the other animals and has very different talents. While the sheep provides wool and the cow provides milk, MiGillycuddy can't do any of these things. What he can do, however - proves to be very useful!

This book is beautifully illustrated, and McGillycuddy and the other animals are cuddly and adorable looking. The text is well paced and the pictures provide a great deal of movement (McGillycuddys are good at kicking, jumping, and bouncing, and the illustrations make good use of this!). There is just enough repetition to make the story appealing to young readers, but not abrasive to older ones.

All in all, this is a great tale with a great message - it's ok to be different!

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What, you may ask, is a McGillycuddy? Well, according to this wonderful book by Ms Pamela Edwards, a McGillycuddy is a kangaroo who one day happens by a farm to offer her services. The other farm animals keep grilling her with questions. (Grilled roo? Not for my review!) McG explains that a "roo", a McGillycuddy, could....ummm...hop. And jump. And kick. Unfortunately the animals look down on her as a roo can't give milk likely a cow, she'd fleece like a sheep, or lay eggs like a chicken. (It does of course give birth in it's pouch but why freak out kids with how that's done, at least that's Ms Edwards' thinking). What a roo COULD do is kick, and kick ass. If you've ever seen the Looney Toons of the 60s, where Sylvester the Cat keeps getting his feline butt knocked out by a baby joey, you've only ever saw how cartoons show butt kicking boxer kangaroos, but that's only the starting point. Real roos don't wear boxing gloves, and in reality a fight with Mike Tyson would eerrr not go well for the roo, let's put it that way. But yeah, a McGillycuddy roo COULD kick incredible amounts of ass, and the last scene of the book has McG smacking a fox clear outa the acres with both footsies! McG in the book could give the "other Sly from the movies" a run for the Rockys!!! Great book, and kid's will root for the roo!
Four stars
Let's hear a ROO! ROO! ROO!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first few pages enchant me, for one main reason and also a secondary reason:

FIRST COOL THING ABOUT THIS PICTURE BOOK

Such a perennial question, mostly for children but for their elders as well:

"We've never seen an XYZ before... What do XYZs do?"

Thus, Pamela Duncan Edwards has expertly steered this book toward discovery. And maybe also, delight.

SECOND COOL THING ABOUT THIS PICTURE BOOK

No rhymes. No forced doggerel rhythms. Just good, clean, conversational English. Yum!

Personally, I'm a sucker for blank verse. (For instance, blank verse by Shakespeare. Plus, iambic pentameter in just about anyone's poetry.) But I sure didn't discover my love for blank verse by age two!

THE PLOT'S PROGRESSION IS PERFECTLY MATCHED TO HOW YOUNG CHILDREN THINK

To this Goodreader, that's rare in picture books for children.

I don't quite get why so few picture books strike me as Thinking Age INAPPROPRIATE. All the more refreshing, though, to read this winner by Ms. Edwards.

Also, I think Sue Porter's illustrations are fabulous: Whimsical, but still distinctly tethered to reality.

THIS FINE, EDUCATIONAL ROMP HAS THE PERFECT ENDING TOO

Not that I'll do a spoiler, no no! Just saying.

[Marytza Mundo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book can be useful to use in younger students when learning about animals. In the story each animal says what they're good at. An activity that can help students is that before reading the text just asked them what they think the cow and the hen and all the characters of the book are good at like that they can practice identifying animals and what they do. I really liked this book because the illustrations are well done they show a lot of movement and color.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

McGillycuddy, a kangaroo, moved on the farm, but according to all the farm animals he could not do anything useful to help out on the farm. But when the Fox threatens them with danger, McGillycuddy demonstrates to them all what he could do.

[Wanda Torres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little story. Short and sweet. Perfect for bedtime

[Sandi Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the farm animals are confused about what type of animal McGillicuddy is, and what he can contribute to the farm. Great book to teach kids what each animal does to help the farmer.

[Amy Seto · Rating 5 out of 5]

The animals on the farm have never seen a kangaroo until McGillycuddy arrives. Curious about the newcomer, the farm animals ask McGillycuddy what she can do. Can she make milk like the cow? Lay eggs like the hen? Grow wool like the sheep? She tries with all her might, but McGillycuddy couldn’t. She can hop, jump, bounce, and kick, but the other animals aren’t impressed at all. McGillycuddy feels horrible and is about to leave the farm, but who will save the duck from becoming the fox's supper? McGillycuddy could!

This simple story, reminiscent of folktales such as, The Little Red Hen and Chicken Little, emphasizes the moral that all talents are useful. The repetitive text is mostly dialogue. The illustrations are brightly colored and full of movement. Animals are easy to recognize and bouncy McGillycuddy is an expressive and energetic protagonist.

Full Review at Picture-Book-a-Day: http://picturebookaday.blogspot.com/2...

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although McGillicuddy the kangaroo cannot produce wool or milk or lay eggs, the other animals learn that kangaroos can bring special skills to the farm. McGillycuddy is new to the farm. What use is McGillycuddy, wonder the cow, sheep, hen, and rooster. She can't make milk. She can't lay eggs. She can't even "Cock-a-doodle- doo!" So what do McGillycuddys do? Young readers will delight in this boisterous read-aloud and enjoy discovering all the special things a McGillycuddy can do!
Lot of fiction with the kangaroo on the farm in between all the other animals but a cute story

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a kangaroo hops onto a farm and announces himself as a McGillycuddy the other farm animals ask him what he can do. Make milk? Grow wool? Lay eggs? Wake the farmer? McGillycuddy can do none of these things and after increasing sadness at each unsuccessful attempt he finally leaves the farm feeling like he can't do anything at all except bounce, hop, jump and kick.

But when a wolf shows up on the farm looking for a tasty treat, namely a duck, McGillycuddy comes to the rescue with his mighty kicking legs!

A good lesson that everyone is good at something.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book from my personal library that we have never carried at the store. I got a copy years ago that I picked up during an author visit at a store I used to work at. I liked it and rather than getting her current book had her sign this one because I have a cousin with a similar name to the main character. It's the story of a kangaroo that comes to the farm only to find out that it can't do anything useful for the farmer. That is until the fox shows up. That McGillycuddy can help and everyone is grateful to have such a wonderful new critter on the farm.

[Rebecca Cimino · Rating 5 out of 5]

What use is a kangaroo on a farm? Told through the pattern of farm animals asking McGillycuddy what he can do – “but McGillycuddy couldn’t.” – this book is full of lively illustrations, and an important message. McGillycuddy might not be able to make milk, or eggs, or wool, but it turns out that a McGillycuddy just might be a very useful and special thing to have around after all. The message is one that will inspire children, even as they enjoy the silly story.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a bit of a last-minute selection for a kindergarten lesson on book covers, but it ended up being a perfect pick. It gave us a nice "moral" to talk about - how it's important to try new things and how different people are good at different things. It also was a great lead-in to beginning to create our own books about the things each student can do. We only got to the covers so far, but it will be nice to continue as we continue to talk about different parts of books.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about embracing our own special talents and realizing that we are all different. The introduction of a kangaroo to a barnyard setting is interesting and unusual (unless, perhaps you live on a farm in Australia!) The narrative is short and fun to read aloud and the watercolor illustrations are humorous and adorable. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGillycuddy Could tells of the different things going on in the farm that McGillycuddy the kangaroo, well...just couldn't. It became very sad when McGillycuddy thought he could, until something came along. The illustrations contrast well with softer tones on each page. The children enjoyed the McGillycuddy the character and the story, especially the ending.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGillycuddy can't lay eggs or make wool, but he can Bounce! Actually a pretty fun little story, and McGillycuddy is a fun name to say and there is a fair amount of repetition. Also, might be good for talking about Australia.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, short story for toddler storytime on pockets. McGillycuddy is a kangaroo. Several farm animals question his usefulness until he defeats a hungry fox!

[Aspasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just because you can't lay eggs or grow wool doesn't mean you don't have unique talents of your own.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about every animal finding their unique strength.

[LoriAnn Kocialski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute story!