Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
---|---|---|
Searching... Mount Angel Public Library | E CHICHESTER-CLARK | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Willamina Public Library | E CLA | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
Young readers will love this endearing story of sibling rivalry, loyalty, and lasting love. Every night when Lily goes to sleep, she says, "I love you, Blue Kangaroo!" And Blue Kangaroo cuddles up close to Lily and sleeps the whole night through. But one day Aunt Jemima brings Lily a new companion, Wild Brown Bear, and Blue Kangaroo has to make room for him. Then along comes a yellow cotton rabbit, and a wiggly green crocodile. As more and more furry creatures join Lily, Blue Kangaroo gets pushed to the side! Blue Kangaroo is left to wonder if Lily would even notice if he was gone.
Author Notes
Emma Chichester Clark was born in London, England, but grew up in Ireland. In 1975 she went back to England to attend the Chelsea School of Art in London. After completing her undergraduate degree, she enrolled at the Royal College of Art for her master's degree. She was approached by an editor at London publisher Bodley Head to illustrate for her first children's book entitled, Listen to This.
Clark is considered one of England's most distinguished picture book creators. She has written and illustrated many of her own picture books while also creating accompanying artwork for numerous stories, picture books, anthologies, and retellings by other writers, including Roald Dahl. In her own books, which include Up in Heaven, The Story of Horrible Hilda and Henry, and the award-winning I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!, she features child, adult, and animal characters in humorous situations that provide realistic portrayals of human feelings and failings. Clark was also a visiting lecturer at Middlesex Polytechnic and City and Guilds School of Art, 1984-86. She had an exhibition of her illustrations at the Thumb Gallery, England, 1984 and 1987.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (5)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-A heartwarming story of a little girl and her beloved stuffed animal. As Lily begins to accumulate an assortment of stuffed toys from relatives and friends, Blue Kangaroo begins to feel rejected. When at last the child's bed becomes too crowded, Blue Kangaroo rolls out and hops down the hall and into the baby's crib. When the baby delightedly claims him the next day, Lily offers her brother all of her other animals in return for Blue Kangaroo. A wholly satisfying story of the bond between a child and her favorite animal, enhanced by large, expressive watercolors.-Sally R. Dow, Ossining Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this warmhearted story of a faithful toy, a girl acquires a menagerie of stuffed animals but declares the first her favorite. Blue Kangaroo, who belongs to Lily, is an aquamarine-hued plaything with a faint smile on his long, pointy face. "Every night, Lily said, `I love you, Blue Kangaroo!' And Blue Kangaroo fell fast asleep in Lily's arms." This special, one-to-one relationship changes when family and friends begin to bring gifts for Lily, including Wild Brown Bear and Yellow Cotton Rabbit. Lily's good-night list expands to include each arrival, but readers will notice that Lily subtly distinguishes her blue pal from the rest. Even though he still hears the title phrase, Blue Kangaroo worries that he's been replaced. Clark (Little Miss Muffet's Count-Along Surprise) uses authoritative colored-pencil outlines and summertime-bright watercolors to evoke sympathy for the kangaroo in busy family scenes. As Lily cuddles her presents (none of which displays her kangaroo's attentiveness), her baby brother grabs for the lonely toy. In the end, though, Lily would rather donate all her other toys to her brother than part with Blue Kangaroo. Clark considers jealousy from several angles, exploring Blue Kangaroo's feelings and Lily's possessiveness. The reassuring message is that newcomers don't have to displace best friends, but sometimes even buddies need to be reminded that they matter. Ages 4-8. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
After Lily's beloved Blue Kangaroo gets displaced by new plush animals, he sadly walks down the hall to the baby's crib. But Lily then realizes Blue Kangaroo is the one she loves best, and a happy compromise is found. Watercolors in cheerful lollipop tones show pleasantly cluttered domestic scenes in a tale of loyalty that also subtly explores sibling relations. From HORN BOOK Fall 1999, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Blue Kangaroo is Lily's favorite stuffed animal. They play all day and sleep entwined at night. Then a gathering swarm of stuffed animal gifts invades their perfect world and cuts into Blue Kangaroo's quality time. Indeed, in bed the young marsupial is shuttled further and further from Lily as new beasts'a tiny teddy, a green crocodile, a yellow rabbit, and more'are added, until he finds himself on the floor, having been squeezed right out. Blue Kangaroo wanders off and discovers the baby's room, and his two waiting arms. When Lily finds Blue Kangaroo with the baby the next day, she snatches him back. The baby wails. Lily hands over all the other stuff animals: ``He can have these, but nobody can have Blue Kangaroo!'' Such a sudden case of protectiveness looks suspect; it's nice to think that Lily's rekindled desire for Blue Kangaroo is the product of undying love, but less noble motivations are more obviously applicable. Young readers will enjoy debating the source of Lily's actions'to outdo the baby, or to remind them all that she loves Blue Kangaroo first, and best. (Picture book. 4-8)
Booklist Review
Ages 4^-7. Lily loves her stuffed blue kangaroo, but when she begins acquiring other plush toys--Wild Brown Bear, Green Crocodile, Yellow Cotton Rabbit--her old buddy is forgotten. Crowded out of the bed, Blue Kangaroo makes his way to the bedroom where Lily's brother sleeps and is welcomed with delight. It's not hard to guess what happens the next day when Lily sees Blue Kangaroo in the arms of her baby brother. The surprise comes when Lily finds a way to make it up to her old stuffed friend and also keep her brother content. The cheerful pictures in blooming colors evoke a childhood scenario that can open the way for parent-child discussions of selfishness and generosity. They are warm without being too sweet, and the cameos showing Blue Kangaroo growing ever more alarmed as he's pushed aside add a touch of poignant comedy. --Stephanie Zvirin