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Marsupial Sue

Name: Marsupial Sue
Author: John Lithgow
ISBN: 9780689843945

by John Lithgow, Jack E. Davis

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Overview

Celebrated actor, musician, comedian, and author John Lithgow returns with a hilarious new picture book that embraces self-acceptance and perseverance. It's the story of a young kangaroo who longs to be a koala, a platypus, or anything other than a kangaroo -- until she discovers why it's best to be who she is.

Marsupial Sue, a young kangaroo, finds happiness in doing what kangaroos do.

Synopsis

Young Sue really doesn't like being a kangaroo, so she goes off to find something better. First she tries climbing the trees like a koala, but that doesn't work. Then she wades into the sea like a platypus, but that's no good either. Finally, Sue joins up with some bouncy, jouncy wallabies...and discovers that being a kangaroo isn't so bad, after all.

Publishers Weekly

This whimsical song-set-to-pictures features a malcontented kangaroo who sets off to find kindred spirits among other Australian animals. "Lithgow's ebullient encore will strike a positive note," according to PW, "while the charming illustrations entertain on their own merit." Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

About the Author, John Lithgow

John Lithgow is the New York Times best-selling author of The Remarkable Farkle McBride, illustrated by C. F. Payne, which was a Publishers Weekly bestseller, a Time magazine Best Book of the Year, and an American Booksellers Association Pick of the Lists. He is also an award-winning actor, best known for the role of High Commander Dick Solomon in the long-running NBC comedy series 3rd Rock from the Sun. "Farkle and Friends," the concert for children that he performs in orchestral halls throughout the country, includes a rendition of Marsupial Sue. Visit John at www.lithgowforkids.com.

Jack E. Davis(Illustrator) was Senior Art Director with a large ad agency before becoming a children's book illustrator. Among the books he has illustrated are Bedhead by Margie Palatini, Metro Cat by Marsha Diane Arnold, Music Over Manhattan by Mark Karlins, and the ongoing series "The Zack Files" by Dan Greenburg. He lives in Port Townsend, Washington, and has three sons and two cats.

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Editorials

Publishers Weekly

Lithgow (The Remarkable Farkle McBride) follows his successful debut with another musically inspired tale, which dances in waltz rhythm through Davis's (Music Over Manhattan) cleverly drawn illustrations. This whimsical song-set-to-pictures features malcontented Marsupial Sue, unhappy because kangaroo-hopping "rattled her brain" and "gave her migraine, a backache, sideache and tummyache, too." So the Birkenstock-clad kangaroo sets off to find kindred spirits among other Australian animals. (Though all she finds is howling pain when she falls out of the koalas' tree and "typhoid, pneumonia, colic, and gout" from her seaside dallying with the platypuses.) "Marsupial Sue,/ A lesson or two:/ Be happy with who you are./ Don't ever stray too far from you," the refrain warns each time her wanderings result in turmoil. Not until she flounces and jounces with the wallabies ("Exactly like her only not quite so tall") does she realize she's happy after all doing what kangaroos do, though no explanation is given of why hopping no longer bothers her. Davis's charming illustrations, rendered in colored pencil, acrylics and ink, are full of personifying characteristics (wallabies in headphones and sunglasses on birds) that entertain on their own merit. Lithgow's ebullient encore (companion CD included) will strike a positive note with book and music lovers alike. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Children's Literature

This is a truly enjoyable book that children are sure to be attracted to because of the fun story line, the captivating illustrations and a CD that includes a musical score with Lithgow singing the text. Marsupial Sue is a young kangaroo who is unhappy with being a kangaroo and journeys out to discover what life is like with the other animals. Her encounters with the Koalas find her hanging from a tree and falling to the ground in pain. Next, she explores the ocean and the life of a platypus but ends up sick in the hospital after eating seafood. She tries again in the autumn, and after joining a group of Wallabies, she realizes that she is very similar to them. Marsupial Sue finally accepts that her life as a kangaroo is not so bad after all. This is a great book for units about "Me" and "Self-acceptance." It is written by the actor from the popular NBC comedy 3rd Rock from the Sun, who also wrote the best selling picture book The Remarkable Farkle McBride. 2001, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, $17.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer:Melissa A. Caudill

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-Sue is not happy being a kangaroo. Her relatives hop all around, and she gets an incredible headache, among other pains. Wearing her sandals, backpack, sun hat, sundress, and heart-shaped sunglasses, she wanders away. She encounters a tree full of koalas and attempts to hang from a branch as they do but ends up in a heap on the ground with multiple wounds. Seeking another lifestyle, she eyes a platypus basking in the sun near the shore; while she lolls in the water, life at the beach looks good to the marsupial. However, a diet of scallop, shrimp, and trout does not agree with her, and off she goes to the hospital. At last Sue meets up with a wallaby, a miniature version of herself, and joins "in the throng,/Flouncing and jouncing and bouncing along." At last, she realizes that being a kangaroo suits her fine. Lithgow's snappy text has an engaging rhythm that is sure to grab children's attention. Davis's cartoonlike illustrations, in colored pencil, acrylic, dye, and ink, are quirky, bold, and filled with odd details: Sue in her Birkenstocks, a koala on roller skates, a platypus with a beach towel and baseball cap. Though the tone of the book is humorous and light, the "Be happy with who you are" message will not be lost on storytime audiences.-Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.