POLLY HOPPER’S POUCH

A winsome tale about an inquisitive kangaroo, with illustrations from a promising newcomer. Like a quintessential preschooler, Polly Hopper ponders the complexities of the world around her, from the mundane to the mysterious. The built-in "shopping bag" on her tummy gives the curious animal the greatest pause as she wonders at its purpose. Under the counsel of an older kangaroo, Polly strives to wait patiently for an answer to this perplexing riddle. Enlightenment comes with the birth of her first baby, Minny Hopper, revealing to Polly the perfect use for her special pouch. Bonnett-Rampersaud's text is sweet without being cloying. A winning blend of humor and tenderness, her gentle prose strikes just the right note for preschoolers who can relate to Polly's continual curiosity while simultaneously feeling wiser than the bewildered kangaroo. Chesak-Liberace's delicately hued watercolors are a continuation of the gentleness of the text. Softly drawn images, framed by an apricot-colored border, occupy the majority of each page with the text located underneath. The realistically rendered drawings offer young children an introduction to the fauna of Australia, as a veritable parade of very cute koala bears, emus, dingoes, and other inhabitants prance across the pages. A cozy tale that reminds little readers that good things can come to those who wait. (Picture book. 3-6)