HELLO, MAMA WALLAROO

Preschoolers may think they know about kangaroos, but have they ever heard of or seen a common wallaroo, a kind of kangaroo? In this simple informational text, they get to meet one and conduct an interview with her.

Lunde and Wynne have used this format in three previous books (Hello, Baby Beluga, 2011, etc.), and it is an effective way to convey basic facts such as: “[W]here do you live?” (Australia); “what do you eat?” (grass); and “what do you fear?” (dingoes that try to eat her). With the circle of life alluded to—and the very youngest naturalists need not worry, as Mama Wallaroo hops away when she sees dingoes—they next get to ask what is in her pouch (a baby). The questions appear in large type, with Mama’s responses set off in smaller type. Mama and her habitat are realistically depicted in pencil, ink and watercolor illustrations that have plenty of “awww” power. The last spread notes that there are “about fifty different kinds of kangaroo-like animals in Australia” and provides a few more details about joeys and male wallaroos.

Tots who have enjoyed the earlier titles with find this a satisfying introduction to an animal whose name they will also love repeating.