I'm Bored!! It's Half Term! "Blue Kangaroo What Shall I Do?" - Read This Book For a Start!! (What Shall We Do, Blue Kangaroo?)

Member Name: LAURALILIA

Product:	What Shall We Do, Blue Kangaroo?
Date:	17/02/09 (169 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good story for encouraging independence.

Disadvantages: Difficult to get hold of at the moment.

What Shall We Do Blue Kangaroo? By Emma Chichester Clark


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

This book is another book in the series about Lily and her soft blue toy - Blue Kangaroo. The book opens with the same two lines as the others-

'Blue Kangaroo belonged to Lily.
He was her very own kangaroo.'

One day Lily is a little bored and asks Blue Kangaroo, 'What shall we do?' Blue Kangaroo doesn't know what to do, so he doesn't say anything.

Lily goes off to see her aunt who is painting. She asks Aunt Florence if she will draw a dinosaur for her. 'No' - is the reply. Lily goes off and draws by herself anyway. She draws five dinosaurs and Blue Kangaroo is proud of her.

Lily then wonders what to do next. She asks Aunt Jemima if she would help her to make a picnic. Aunt Jemima is too busy, so Lily has a go by herself. She arranges all her toys and makes a lovely picnic.

She then goes to her mother and Uncle George, but they are both too busy... So once again, Lily entertains herself.

All of a sudden Lily notices it is raining outside. She shouts for help to get the toys in, but no one comes. 'I'll just have to do it myself', cries Lily. She pops all the toys into a wheelbarrow and rushes inside as fast as she can. She then puts all the toys on the radiator to dry, carefully observed by Blue Kangaroo. He notices that someone is missing!

Lily then goes off to see what her dad is up to. He can't get her younger brother to stop crying. Lily offers to read to him. 'All by yourself', questions her dad. 'Yes', says Lily - she knows that she can. Lily's father is proud of her as she gets her brother to sleep.

When she goes to bed that night, Blue Kangaroo notices that Tiny Teddy is still missing. Blue Kangaroo hops out of bed and decides to go and rescue him - all by himself. He rescues Tiny Teddy and the next morning Lily wakes up to find a very soggy Blue Kangaroo and a dry Tiny Teddy (who was popped on the radiatior).

Lily is so happy and proud of Blue Kangaroo and says 'what would I do without you?' Blue Kangaroo doesn't know - so he says nothing.


***Opinion***

Although this book isn't particularly amusing like some of the others, I still like it and so did my children. This is because for once Lily isn't up to mischief and is actually behaving well in this story. I particularly like how it demonstrates independence in a young child and the sense of achievement that comes with it. So many children find it hard in the early years to be happy in their own company or to occupy themselves and this is a good story to read to a child, to show some things that they might try themselves.

It is also good for showing how the adults in the story were so very proud and pleased with Lily. On a humorous note, I sometimes feel like Lily - 'I might as well do it myself, because on one else will!'

I like the repetitive nature of the language used, and the amusing 'Blue Kangaroo said nothing' line that runs throughout. The book would be suitable for a child aged as young as two or up to six and is a good book for an early reader to attempt alone, as Lily did in the story. The illustrations are beautiful as ever and there is good use of colour to denote both day and night. Lily's character and Blue Kangaroo are particularly well drawn.

I recommend this series of books, as they are a nice length and if you like one, there are more to read. Even young children like books in a series, just like adults.


***Availability***

For some reason this book is hard to get hold of. There are only used copies available at the moment of Amazon. I don't think it is an issue to keep anyway - better to pick it up at the library.

Summary: Beautifully illustrated book with a feel good factor.