Lily and her beloved toy companion, Blue Kangaroo, return in this prequel picture-book adventure, which explains how they first came to be together. Excited at the prospect of helping to care for her new baby brother Jack, Lily is dismayed when her initial efforts only lead to disaster, as Jack is alternately disturbed and terrified by her snack-bringing and storytelling. Given Blue Kangaroo by her grandmother, as a means of practicing her care-giving skills, Lily immediately bonds with the stuffed blue toy, just as he does with her...

First appearing in I Love You, Blue Kangaroo!, which was published in 1998, Lily and Blue Kangaroo have starred in nine picture-books, although this most recent title is only the second of the series that I have read, after Merry Christmas, Blue Kangaroo!. I found the story enjoyable, and liked the fact that Lily is eager to help with her baby brother, but needs a few pointers when it comes to learning the right way to do it. I also appreciated that the mother admits that she too made mistakes, when caring her Lily herself, as this emphasizes for young children that even adults have to struggle, when learning new skills. The artwork is adorable, capturing the ups and downs of Lily's interactions with Jack, and then with Blue Kangaroo. Recommended to fans of Emma Chichester Clark and her series about Lily and Blue Kangaroo, as well as to anyone looking for children's stories about getting a new sibling and/or a new toy. ( )