What Do You Do With a Kangaroo?

by Mercer Mayer

A little girl copes with a variety of animals who try to take over her things and order her about.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Humor, Classics, Fantasy

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Mercer Mayer is an American children's author and illustrator. He has published over 300 books, using a wide range of illustrative styles. Mayer is best known for his Little Critter and Little Monster series of books.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this little girl in this story. Each page is a different animal giving her a different annoyance. A cheeky Kangaroo in her bed or a possum hanging in her bathroom and they are all bossy and demanding. This little girl is able to stand up for herself and set boundaries. She is a very healthy girl in that respect. She doesn't need help, she just grabs then up and kicks them out. She basically has a zoo outside her window. The end is funny when all the animals are in her bed and there are too many for her to throw out so she just finds a way to sleep with them.

I would love to have this much ability to set boundaries and stick up for yourself. It's huge to be able to do this, especially as a child. It's healthy to be able to stand up for yourself and some of us aren't able to do this. I'm a passive aggressive person and don't like to challenge someone head on.

I love the art, though it is rather dark, like night. Nothing serious her, but it is a fun little story seeing this little girl throwing these huge animals around.

[booklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I wrote my first totally inadequate review of this book, my friend, Shy Lyn (who won't post comments but sends me her thoughts by e-mails wrote this):

(Read with a Southern accent...)
What do you do with a kangaroo
Who jumps in your window
Sits on your bed and says
"I never sleep in wrinkled sheets.
So change them now and make them smooth
And fluff up the pillow, if you please."
What do you do?
You throw him out
That's what you do
Get out of my bed, you kangaroo!"

What do you do when you go to the bathroom to brush your teeth
But hangin' there where your towel should be,
Brushing his teeth like he owns the place...

We love that book! As you can tell, I've read it so many times in the past I pretty well have it memorized. Although it has been a long time. HOWEVER - now that Orion is old enough, I'll have to find it again and read it to him. And The Bad Child Book of Beasts and one of Andrew's favorites:

Let's Marry, Said the Cherry
Why me, said the pea?
Cause your sweet, said the beet.
Say you will, said the dill
Think it over, said the clover
Don't rush, said the squash

and so forth. His favorite line was (with the gestures included) "Who knows, said the rose?"

That's when I knew what I'd written in this review was totally inadequate, not to mention I'd given a very shoddy reading of this incredible book! Oh dear! So, in order to rectify the situation, I have bumped my rating up a whole star and I promise the next time I get the chance to read this to my friend, Mamie, I will attempt to do a Dixie accent. Failing that, I'll at least try to put a little more spirit, life and/or humor into the read!

Thanks, Lyn, for the tip! A good book can be totally mucked up by a poor reader! Yikes! booklady beware!

Just one thing Lyn, have you ever thought about an Aussie accent? Ya know, kangaroos and all...

Dec. 5, 2023 update: I had totally forgotten about this book but found our copy of it in the attic yesterday. I was going to add it in when I discovered this old review from back in 2008 when I had read it to a friend's daughter. I don't remember reading it to our daughters... 😟 But I am looking forward to reading it to grandchildren! ❤️

[Brian James · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you do with a Kangaroo
who jumps in your window, sits on your bed, and says.

"I never sleep on wrinkled sheets,
so change them now and make them smooth,
and fluff up the pillows if you please."

So the young narrator asks her readers on the first page of this delightfully silly book. Then page after page, another preposterous critter after another disrupts the little girl's day with ridiculous demands.

An Opossum uses her toothbrush, a llama wears her favorite jeans, a tiger steals her tricycle and a thirsty camel drinks her bath water. What is a spirited little girl to do? You throw him out, that's what you do. This is her answer to every problem. Only at night, when she finds all of the creatures in her bed and she's much too exhausted to throw them all out, there's only one thing to do. Let them stay.

Mercer Mayer's brilliant illustrations are packed visual jokes that bring this character and story to life. I also love how it portrays a child's stubborn, imaginative spirit in a way that isn't critical or stylized. The girl just is as she is and eventually comes around on her own. Kids will delight in her attitude and the absurd situations the book presents, while also eagerly anticipating the repeated refrain. A wonderful read-aloud that is also good to read to yourself with grin that grows wider at every turn of the page.


There are some books that bring to life the magical world that we once saw as children and have to struggle to maintain as we get older, knowing the payoff is worth the effort. Here's one of those books that take me there and for that, I'm grateful.

[Cassie 'The Thinker Go Go Go Go' Mis. Roben Goodfellow'\Isabelle Lightwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites growing up. I remember my mom or dad reading this to me, at night before bed. Along with 'Do you have my purr?' I still have a copy of this but, I have NO idea where it is. Hopefully it'll turn up at some point. But I really love this one and will continue to do so. Plus I highly recommend this to any parent looking for a good read to read to their little one.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my book as a kid, and my mom recently found it and I absconded with it. I am writing this review at the age of 37.

This book is amazing. The protagonist is a little girl who stands up for herself and doesn't take any guff from pushy animals. The illustrations are fantastic -- everybody has a very expressive face, and as we meet each animal, they appear in the background of successive illustrations. I feel like that's such an essential sort of thing to have in a kids' book, something for them to look for and pay attention to -- maybe I just think that because I was raised on this book.

I still talk to animals like this: earlier this year there was a bear in my backyard, chowing down on my birdfeeder. I said "hey, get out of here, you Bear!" I had no idea that I got that from this book. But I did! It really made that much of an impression. When I read this book I'm pretty sure that it's about me, that I'm the little girl in the story with the blue jeans.

Anyway, highly, highly recommended. Get out of here, you Kangaroo!

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My very favorite kids book. I love this little's girls assertiveness in taking on the animals that are using her stuff; yet such a sweet ending! So cute and my first indoctrination into feminism :)

[Hana Sm. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book over & over because I like the story and the pictures. I never read this book growing up which is surprising because the book was published in 1973! The story is 40 pages in all, so if it seems too long to read to young children, you can read the book spread out over a few days or nights. This is a "Nonsense" book because the situations are impossible. 7 different animals come to a girl's house (she is unnamed) & start bossing her around. The animals are uninvited & she throws them each out. In order, the animals are a kangaroo, opossum, llama, raccoon, moose, Bengal tiger, & a camel. Here are 2 samples of the ridiculous situations:

What do you do with a Kangaroo
who jumps in your window, sits on your bed, & says,
"I never sleep on wrinkled sheets, so change them now &
make them smooth, & fluff up the pillows if you please."

What do you do?

You throw him out, that's what you do. "Get out of my bed, you kangaroo!"
--------------------
What do you do when you go to the bathroom to wash your face &
hanging there where your towel should be,
brushing his teeth like he owns the place is an Opossum?

He says to you, "This toothpaste you use is much too sweet, & your toothbrush,
I'm sorry to say, is all worn. Please get me a new one tomorrow."

What do you do?

You grab him up by his skinny tail & carry him off, that's what you do.
"Get out of my bathroom, you Opossum!"
--------------------
I would use this book to teach literacy by discussing the descriptive words used in the conversations. For instance, the opossum tells the girl that her toothbrush is WORN. A lot of students may not understand what that word means, so I would use this opportunity to explain how "context clues" work. I would ask, "What does worn mean? How can we figure out what it means in this situation?"

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I recently purchased it when I stumbled across it at a bookstore. I had forgotten all about it, but at soon as I saw it I knew that I had to have it. You can never go wrong with Mercer Mayer!

[Robert Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jane Casserly gives a humorous performance on the Audio CD version reading and giving voice to the little girl and all the animals who give her so much bother.

(ISBN: 0-545-07749-4)

[Faloni © · Rating 5 out of 5]

A kangaroo in the house? Sounds like trouble! 🦘😂 Wild and whimsical fun for animal lovers. 🌟💚

~ young author ✍🏾
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked this book up for 50 cents at a book swap at our son's preschool recently. I remember reading Mercer Mayer books when I was a kid, but somehow never came across this one before. In this book, a girl encounters a variety of wild animals getting in the way of her daily routines. Each animal delivers an eloquent speech filled with silly affectations before the girl unmercifully, with little fists balled up in rage, throws them out one by one. The illustrations are superb, especially the scenes of the final showdown between girl and beast, and the text is just hilarious. My husband loves to do over-the-top voice characterizations for each animal when he reads it aloud.
Of course, I also like to see a portrayal of a little girl who refuses to take any shit, especially from presumptuous, intrusive fauna.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that was charming and silly at the same time. As a fan of animals I would have probably gave into the majority of animals as being permanent house guests although not giving into their crazed bossy commands.

With such a spirited and brave little girl your children will be excited to see who the next beastie will be doing and what he wants while watching the poor girl trying to throw them all out. The other fun thing I have with this book is trying to pinpoint all the kicked out animals and seeing what they are doing in the background as she is contending with the current rude houseguest or enjoying the looks on the poor cat's face.

A truly charming and enjoyable book that will remind you of "If You A Give A Mouse A Cookie" but in my honest opinion a lot better....

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this over and over again as a child, and now as a parent. My two-and-a-half year-old son thinks it's hilarious and loves the illustrations and repetition, and as an adult, the story is just as bizarre as I remember. I'm not sure what the take-away is supposed to be, but I love how the girl reclaims her space, clothing, and belongings from unwelcome house guests. I'm still baffled but strangely satisfied by the camaraderie in the last illustration. I remember speculating about this book while reading it as a kid, and having SO MANY QUESTIONS that remain after reading, even now.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical early-style Mayer illustrations, which are lovely, but the story is repetitive and the pay-off is weak.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is sort-of like a mash-up of If You Give a Mouse a Cooking and Mr. Gumpy. The illustrations are flawless of course. Lots of humor in the art and character situations. The words are good too. I like the ridiculous demands of the animals. That seems to be a theme for me:; I am attracted to stories that are extremely fanciful perhaps even absurd. I also like that the heroine is pugnacious ("Gimmie my pants back, you Llama!"). One new think I learned in this reading of the book (I'm embarrassed to admit) is that Mercer Mayer is a man. All my life I always pictured a nice middle-aged lady writing these stories but when I glanced at the bio it said "he". Who knew?

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here you are, going through your day, and you KEEP on and KEEP on being RUDELY interrupted by the wildlife! What do you do when the kangaroo demands you make your bed for him to take a nap? What do you do when an opossum starts brushing his teeth like he owns the place, squirting toothpaste all over the floor? What do you do when a tiger takes your trike and insists you push him on it?

YOU THROW THEM OUT!

Of course, if you can't, you might all just have to snuggle up together and go to bed. It's been a long day :)

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first two pages described a scenario that could have been charming, but unfortunately, the third page set the tone for the rest of the book, which my seven year olds described as, "mean and rude!" and by the last page, the story was in such a steep nose dive it just couldn't pull up. Aside from the story line, the prose seemed disjunct--rhyming in some places but with no apparent pattern, so we would start to feel a rhythm and then it continually defaulted into random nothingness. Not our favorite pick.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great study in a strong female character voice. The animals trying to boss the main character around lead to a great opportunity for he students to predict what they think the main character will do. Also he sequence of the animals help the students learn to put things in order. The repetition of what the main character does and says helps to build the students awareness that the same thing can be done and said in many different ways.

[Graywaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sweet and wonderfully non-sensical. A fun and silly tale of a little girl confronted with some wild guests. This was my first Mercer Mayer experience outside of Little Critter and I love it. The illustrations made me think of a sweeter Sendak. My only critique is the fact that there isn't too much rhythm in the text, but if you don't mind letting go of coherence and embracing the ridiculousness it's a splendid read.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is longer, so it's probably best read with smaller, older crowds. A little girl describes with happens each time she finds a different animal in a different area of her home. It does make itself repetitive because each time the little girl wants to get rid of the animal, she says "You throw them out that's what you do!" You can get kids involved that way.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A much beloved classic in my household. When an animal menagerie, including possums, tigers, and raccoons, invade a little girl's house, she pushes them out until she cannot any longer. A often requested book from my 2-year-old.

[Jessica Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

My two year olds favorite book! He almost had it memorized. We don't tire of reading it multiple times a day!

[Lynette Winterton · Rating 3 out of 5]

the pictures are great but the story is lacking

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book as a kid! Just saw it on someone’s book sale! Brought back great memories!!

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. And the MC is delightfully sassy.

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember this from my own childhood. I recall that I found it very funny. It doesn't really hold up to reading it as an adult, but I'll give it three stars for the memory.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rude and bossy animals come to your house and make ridiculous demands ... what do you do? Throw them out, of course, one by one. But what if they come as a group?

[Kendall Henson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This fun book explores the puzzling question: What would you do if there was a kangaroo in your bed? A camel in your tub? A tiger on your bike? Throughout her day, a little girl has to compete with many interesting (and quite demanding) animals who have invaded her home. In the end, though, she wonders if having them there is so bad, after all.

I didn't love this book. There was a cadence to the story that I liked, but it got frequently interrupted, which threw me off. It also was a bit repetitive. However, it is a cute story that I believe children would enjoy.

I believe the classroom value of this book may be only in entertainment. Children can laugh at the silly idea of zoo animals in a house, but aside from that, the animals are demanding and rude, and the little girl's response to them is unhospitable (even if they are animals).

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern fantasy
K-2nd grade
I really enjoyed this book because it’s cute how this little girl tells these different animals what to do and shows no fear. I really liked reading this book because it’s very imaginative and fun especially for younger kids who would find the animals silly. It is easy to have the students interact with having the same phrase repeated over and over throughout the book.

[Bridget Walswick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl finds a slew of random animals in her house each residing in a different room and asking her many things. A kangaroo, opossum, raccoon, camel, llama, tiger, and moose. all she tries to do is stop them from using her things and invading her space. finally in the end she gives in and accepts them into her life. This is a true story of acceptance.