If I Had a Kangaroo (If I Had A...)

PreS-K--Kangaroos are front and center in this rhyming book from Australia. Clearly, our little narrator is smitten with all things kangaroo and she happily shares all the things she would do if she had one as a pet. The silliness starts right away as she imagines what they can do together. After all, kangaroos bounce, kick, and have perfect pouches for napping friends. But there's more! She barbecues, she delivers the mail, and plays cricket, too. In fact, the kangaroo does what every other Australian can do, maybe a bit more. The rhyming text is fun but gets off to a rocky start on the first page. The text placement is odd and makes it difficult to read in the proper order initially. By page two the rhyme rights itself and readers will be giggling along. The illustrations are bright and colorfully appealing, fully in support of the silliness of the text. VERDICT Nothing beats a rhyming book for library shelves, and this one makes for a fun read-aloud about an animal children know.--Joan Kindig