Book Review: ‘Kangaroo Clues’ by Margot Finke

Australian author Margot Finke’s new book Kangaroo Clues is a masterpiece. The picture book introduces the reader to the Australian outback.

The story is about a kangaroo named Roo being pursued by dingoes. Learning about Roo’s world is very fascinating. The icing on the cake is when the author introduces other wildlife from the Australian Outback.

I enjoyed learning about a kookaburra, an emu, a koala, an echidna, a frillneck lizard, a galah, a platypus, and a goanna. The footnotes explanations made it easy to understand fully the true nature of these interesting critters.

Ms. Finke provides the reader with many adventures, but more importantly, the reader learns about how tough life can be for these animals. She also made mention of religious beliefs of the people from the Aboriginal culture.

Two things stand out when reading this informative book:

• Use of Language: It takes a very talented author to write in rhymes. Ms. Finke, in my opinion does a fabulous job. This is a big plus for children learning how to read. Teachers can use end rhymes to introduce children to new vocabulary. Here are some great examples:

A few dogs barked; they were safe on land.
None of them swam to give their mates a hand.
They soon slunk off, a beaten pack.
If they were smart they’d not come back.

As Roo leaped past the wattles and gums,
He planned a lesson for those outback bums.
The bush critters fled as Roo hopped past.
None of them wanted to be picked off last.

• The artwork:The illustrations bring to life the Australian Outback. I have never been to Australia, but the pictures speak loudly to me. The mystical appeal of the illustrations transports me to a land of adventures and excitement.

Young readers will fall in love with this great book. So, if you are like me, and love providing your young reader with quality, well written books, you may want to get a copy of Kangaroo Clues.

To find out more of Margot Finke, visit her website