I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!
#1 of 8 in Blue Kangaroo Series
on Goodreads (582)
What’s inside...
In 'I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!' by Emma Chichester Clark, we meet a little girl named Lily who cherishes her stuffed toy, Blue Kangaroo. Every night, Blue Kangaroo sleeps snugly by Lily's side. However, as Lily receives more stuffed animals as gifts, Blue Kangaroo finds himself gradually pushed out of Lily's bed. Feeling displaced and unloved, Blue Kangaroo worries about his place in Lily's heart. One night, he decides to leave and find somewhere else to sleep. When Lily notices Blue Kangaroo's absence, she realizes how much she loves and misses him. She searches for him and reassures him that he is her very favorite. The story concludes with Lily giving Blue Kangaroo his special place back in her bed, along with her promise that he will always be her number one. The book explores themes of love, jealousy, and the special bond between a child and their favorite toy.
Discussion points
How do you think Blue Kangaroo felt when he was given away? Can you think of a time when you felt the same way?
What does friendship mean to you? How do you show your friends that you care about them?
Why do you think Lily kept giving Blue Kangaroo to the new baby animals?
What would you have done if you were Blue Kangaroo?
How did the story make you feel at the end? What would you do if you were Lily?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive reading to convey the emotions of the characters, helping your child understand the story's emotional landscape.
Encourage your child to relate the story to their personal experiences, fostering empathy and deepening their understanding of friendship and loyalty.
Discuss the importance of thinking about others' feelings before making decisions that affect them, using Lily’s actions as a teaching point.
Pause at key moments in the story to ask predictive questions, prompting your child to think critically about the characters’ actions and possible outcomes.
Reinforce the story’s themes by discussing the importance of cherishing and valuing friendships in your child's everyday life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Value of Friendship
Explanation: The story centers around the deep bond between Lily and her stuffed kangaroo, showcasing how friendship can provide comfort and security.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of being a good friend and how caring for others can make them feel loved and secure.
Example Lesson: Coping with Jealousy
Explanation: As Lily receives more stuffed animals, Blue Kangaroo feels left out and jealous. This plot point helps children understand the emotion of jealousy.
Real-World Application: It can teach children how to express their feelings of jealousy in a healthy way, and learn to share attention and love among friends and siblings.
Example Lesson: Sharing and Generosity
Explanation: Lily decides to distribute her other stuffed animals among her siblings so Blue Kangaroo doesn't feel replaced, demonstrating acts of sharing and generosity.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand the importance of sharing their own things to make others feel included and valued.
Example Lesson: Acknowledging Feelings
Explanation: The book illustrates the emotions of the characters vividly, teaching children that it’s normal to have strong emotions and they should be acknowledged.
Real-World Application: Children learn to acknowledge their own and others’ emotions, and the importance of talking about their feelings with parents or peers.