What Do You Do With a Grumpy Kangaroo?

January 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 1-This series starts with the premise that a library is a magic castle with many "Word Windows" (books) inside that will take readers on an adventure. Each title opens with the same two pages to share this information. Some of the introductory pages are attractively illustrated with piles of books and children reading-some with one another, some alone, and some with small animals. In Color Clown, Emma meets a clown who paints the wrong colors on various objects, such as making an igloo blue. The rest of the story is a trip through the primary colors and the "trick" of making orange, green, and purple. In Dragon, Megan and a dragon try various modes of transportation, but nothing will go, and it's up to readers to deduce why (they're too heavy for the wagon, there's no snow for the sled, etc.). In Grumpy Kangaroo, Dan helps the animal overcome feelings of fear and sadness and helps her become happy. In Rabbits' Habits, two rabbits always make mistakes and always do the right thing. Each title ends with a page of five questions that are didactic and unoriginal. The cartoon illustrations are merely adequate. There is nothing particularly wrong with these titles, but there's not really much to recommend them, either.-Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

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