Little Kangaroo

by Guido van Genechten

Overview

Bestselling title is now a board book!

"This is a good option to help young and older children with separation anxiety." - School Library Journal

The world is big ... Much, much bigger than Mother Kangaroo's pouch. But Little Kangaroo would rather stay with Mommy, where it's safer, warmer and easier. Mom tries to show Little Kangaroo all that life has to offer. It does no good at first, but then...

A splendid picture book about letting go in a loving way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781605377537
Publisher:	Clavis
Publication date:	07/05/2022
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	8.27(w) x 8.66(h) x (d)
Age Range:	4 - 10 Years

About the Author

Guido Van Genechten (1957, Belgium) studied drawing and painting, graphics and photography. Afterwards he worked for many years in the graphic industry. Now Guido works as a fulltime illustrator of children’s books. In 1998 he won the international Illustrator’s Award City of Hasselt with his picture book Ricky. This prize was the beginning of his international career as a children’s book illustrator. Since that moment, Guido Van Genechten has created many best-selling stories and received several awards. In 2007 he was the winner of the Reader’s Digest Award for Best Children’s Book Illustrator. And in the past ten years his books were published in 30 countries around the world.

Editorial Reviews

"The illustrations are bright, simple, and colorful. Young children will love the variety of wild animals and birds. …. provides a perfect opportunity for discussion. VERDICT This is a good option to help young and older children with separation anxiety." — School Library Journal

"Van Genechten's story of a small child separating from her parent is a welcome relief in the age of helicopter parenting....A good choice to reassure less-assertive children that the world is safe and full of sights to explore solo—or with a friend." — Kirkus Reviews

“A cute book about separation anxiety…” — Donna Maguire, educator

"This coming of age story is about separation anxiety. It is a splendid picture book about letting go in a loving way.” — Marilyn Panton, Story Wraps blog

“I am so buying a few copies of this book for friends with little kids! Sooo Cute! And the illustrations are so fitting! May also get a couple of copies for grown children that won’t move out…! Great book! Kudos to Guido van Genechten on a marvelous story!” — Catherine Hankins, Cleveland Public Library

From the Publisher

07/01/2017
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. VERDICT This is a good option to help young and older children with separation anxiety.—Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA

School Library Journal

2017-04-17
Mother Kangaroo is ready for Little Kangaroo, who is not so little anymore, to leave her pouch and explore the world on her own legs. But Little Kangaroo would rather stay put.Van Genechten's story of a small child separating from her parent, first published in Belgium, is a welcome relief in the age of helicopter parenting. The mother's constant encouragement to view the beauty all around is rejected time and again by the joey. She's quite content to remain with her mother, who introduces her offspring to butterflies, birds, monkeys, giraffes, and elephants. In the reverse of The Runaway Bunny, Little Kangaroo refuses to leave her mother. She starts out with eyes closed, hugging her parent, plugging her ears to block out the world. But slowly, she turns around and hangs her feet out of the pouch, delighted by the wonders around her. Then, surprisingly, the joey completely changes her mind and hops out of her mother's warm pouch, never looking back. What caused such a change? All the wild animals are easy to recognize, with clean, black lines and traditional colors and shapes. Accents in the landscape are filled in with graphic patterns, which provide interest to the colorful pages. A good choice to reassure less-assertive children that the world is safe and full of sights to explore solo—or with a friend. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews