Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You) introduces a joey named Little Roo who is "feeling grumpy and he didn't know why"?and, as all mothers know, nonspecific malaise is the hardest to dispatch. Everything Little Roo's mom does to cajole a smile out of her son?a tickle, a toss in the air (for which the book's orientation momentarily turns vertical), a game of hide and seek?fails. But when mom, with her joey tucked into her pocket, mistakenly bounces into a mud hole ("slippity... slippity... slide and... slop!") and gets "soaking wet and slimy from the tops of her ears to the tips of her toes," Little Roo finds himself grinning from ear to ear (even though he's mud-soaked, too)?because, as all kids know, there's nothing funnier than a grownup with her dignity askew. Fuge's (Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball) kangaroos are wonderfully expressive: when Roo's mother is finally at wit's end, she grasps her recalcitrant offspring firmly under the shoulders and regards him nose-to-nose with sourness worthy of the Grinch. McBratney convincingly conveys a youngster having a bad day, but the narrative unfortunately is not as spare here as in his previous works. Instead it spells out every iota of the action ("She gathered up some dry leaves, tossed them into the air and all the leaves came down on Little Roo"). Ages 2-6. (Apr.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Little Roo is not having a good day, even though Mother Kangaroo does all she can to brighten it. Fuge's endearing illustrations not only fill the pages with exuberance but add humor as well. On almost every spread, a mouse and its duckling friend are pictured observing each situation, with the little mouse imitating Roo's activities. Expressive facial features change from Roo's initial grumpiness to a look of surprise and shock to final laughter after slipping in the mud. Excellent use of white space surrounding the "slippity slide" page emphasizes the brown goop of the mud hole. Endpapers are a cheery lime green with pink and purple flowers. While the heartfelt sentiment will probably resonate better with parents than preschoolers, this title is sure to be a favorite with fans of McBratney's Guess How Much I Love You (Candlewick, 1998).-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When Roo the kangaroo wakes up in a bad mood, his mother tries all sorts of tricks to make him smile. Nothing works, until she tumbles by mistake into a mud hole, leaving them both covered with muck. At last, Roo can't help but smile. Expressive illustrations and lively typeface amplify the story's slapstick humor. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
McBratney presents another loving parent/child story in this endearing tale of a mother kangaroo's playful attempts to cheer up her grumpy son, Little Roo, and her success in getting him to smile again. Simple but rich text skips across warm, bright, bold and beautiful full-page illustrations perfectly in time with the story, gearing this tale to an animated read-aloud session held on a lap or in a large group. Artful page design utilizes the idea of the kangaroo's natural hopping by including two sections that have a vertical orientation that cleverly mimic the rollicking play and leaps of the mother and joey. This altered orientation provides a nice departure from the usual format and adds to the fun. Heartwarming and certain to tease smiles from even the grumpiest of little jumpers. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
