JUST US, PLATYPUS!

How we perceive others when we first encounter them—and how they perceive us—are important issues, handled lightly but with focus here. Kangaroo is having a fine time hopping when she falls into a creek. She spots an unknown animal in the water and, seeing the creature’s bill, thinks it might be Duck. But no—not a duck, not a frog: The creature is brown and furry, with a large flat tail, black eyes, and sharp claws. Kangaroo worriedly suspects that it might be a “River Monster,” while Platypus, observing Kangaroo’s deerlike head, giant feet, and short arms, fears she might be a “Land Monster.” Different preferred diets elicit a “Gross” from Platypus and an unspoken “Ick” from Kangaroo. But Kangaroo very politely asks to see his unusual paws and praises him when he teaches her to swim. Her wise conclusion is an acceptance of their individuality. Sometimes the rhyming four-beat lines are rocky, with anywhere from four to 13 syllables and changing stresses. The flat, grayscale, cartoonish illustrations are serviceable. A platypus has no teeth, but despite the “thought bubbles,” it might not be clear that the scary mouthful of sharp incisors depicted here exists only in Kangaroo’s imagination. Discussion questions close out the book.