Little Kangaroo

PreS-Gr 1—Mother Kangaroo wants her little one to leave her pouch and explore the exciting big world. Unfortunately, her youngster has a completely different idea. Little Kangaroo has no desire to leave her comfortable spot. She's warm and safe. There's milk in case she feels hungry, and she finds her mother's tummy sounds very soothing. Every time her mother attempts to ease her out of the pouch, Little Kangaroo jumps back inside. Her wise mother comes up with a plan. She takes her daughter to see the different animals around them. They hear birds singing and see elephants playing in the water and giraffes running across the plain. In spite of herself, the young kangaroo slowly makes her way out of the pouch. This is a sweet story about learning to let go. The illustrations are bright, simple, and colorful. Young children will love the variety of wild animals and birds. Little Kangaroo is a somewhat typical child and thinks the elephants are "stupid." This might not please some parents/caregivers, but it provides a perfect opportunity for discussion.