Where are You Blue Kangaroo? - Emma Chichester Clark

Where Are You, Blue Kangaroo? By Emma Chichester Clark


I have already reviewed some of this series, but this is another favourite about Lily and her Blue Kangaroo.


***What's it all about?***


The story opens with what appears to be Lily and Blue Kangaroo playing hide and seek. However, it becomes clear that Blue Kangaroo isn't hiding on purpose; Lily keeps losing him! Lily's friend Florence ...
...and is about to leave; when she realises she has forgot something! Blue Kangaroo! She finds him on the slide and Florence tells her to be more careful next time.


The next week-end Lily goes shopping with Aunt Jemima and travels by bus. She is in a busy crowd of people when she remembers something - she has left Blue Kangaroo on the bus. Luckily a lady has seen what has happened and chases after them. Lily and her Kangaroo are ... more

Where Are You, Blue Kangaroo? By Emma Chichester Clark

I have already reviewed some of this series, but this is another favourite about Lily and her Blue Kangaroo.

***What's it all about?***

The story opens with what appears to be Lily and Blue Kangaroo playing hide and seek. However, it becomes clear that Blue Kangaroo isn't hiding on purpose; Lily keeps losing him! Lily's friend Florence takes her to the park, she has a lovely time and is about to leave; when she realises she has forgot something! Blue Kangaroo! She finds him on the slide and Florence tells her to be more careful next time.

The next week-end Lily goes shopping with Aunt Jemima and travels by bus. She is in a busy crowd of people when she remembers something - she has left Blue Kangaroo on the bus. Luckily a lady has seen what has happened and chases after them. Lily and her Kangaroo are reunited.

Uncle George then takes Lily to the zoo. Guess what? She leaves him on a bench and Blue Kangaroo is very worried. The monkeys reach down and pick up Blue Kangaroo and play catch with him! They throw him into the kangaroo pen and the park keeper helps to retrieve him, when Lily realises he is lost.

That night Lily tells Blue Kangaroo that they will be going to the seaside the next day. Blue Kangaroo worried and worried and hopped down from the bed...

The next day Lily is getting ready and she can't find Blue Kangaroo anywhere! She is really distresses, calling out 'Where are you, Blue Kangaroo?' She hunts high and low for him and finally finds him - in her dressing gown pocket.

From that day on she vows to never lose him again and wraps him around her waist when she goes out.

***Opinion***

This book as with the others, addresses simple issues that children will come across in their day to day life. This book looks at being careless; Lily continually forgets and loses her favourite toy, despite warnings from grown-ups to look after toy.

I also like how the Blue Kangaroo's thoughts are shown. His feelings of being scared at being left behind, teach children about the consequence of their actions. Not only was Lily upset, but so was her toy!

The book gives parents a chance to discuss looking after your belongings and what happens if you don't! There is the usual mix of rhyme, punctuation, speech, adjectives and other rich vocabulary that is so good for young children to be exposed to. The first two lines, are also familiar, they are the same two lines in all the Blue Kangaroo stories.

The illustrations are also lovely, with pastel shades and great expressions on the character's faces - I love the picture when Lily loses her kangaroo at the zoo!

There pages aren't too busy - just a couple of lines on most pages against a white background. I have a niece called Lily and love to buy her these books, they were also written for a young girl called Lily.

Emma Chichester Clark was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. The book is published by Harper Collins.

***Availability***

It is available from Amazon for £4.49 new or 7p used plus £2.75 P&P, at the time of writing and is the perfect addition to any child's library.

Summary: Great book to share at bedtime (and to get your children to look after their stuff)

This review is for the paperback not the audio book and the photo does not match the book!

This review is also published on Dooyoo.

 

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