ADVERTISEMENT
978-0-9907512-2-9
J.E. Rogers, author
Fitzroy, a young kangaroo, loves living in the outback of Australia with his kangaroo family. This season the outback is greener than usual, and the beautiful plants growing against the red earth delight him. Then he notices the nasty pile of trash that sits alongside the railroad tracks. Every day it grows bigger and bigger, and gets smellier and smellier.
Fitzroy is determined to find a way to clean up the mess and ensure that it never collects in his outback home again. It's a big job. He'll need help. Who will lend a paw or claw? Fitzroy and the mob find that sometimes the help you need is right there beside you.
Plot/Idea: 7 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 7 out of 10
Overall: 7.25 out of 10
Assessment:
The kangaroos in this children’s book teach about the impact our trash has on animals and the environment. The overarching lesson here is sappy and overly preachy, while the target age range feels overly broad. The vivid and well-done illustrations will hook younger children, but the text is too dense and difficult for those readers. Still, the earnest story is suitable as part of a larger lesson on environmental responsibility.
Date Submitted: July 14, 2016
