The Christmas Kangaroo

I found this delightful book on a trip to Australia in March 2011. If you are ever in Adelaide, I recommend you pay a visit to Michael Treloar Antiquarian Booksellers on North Terrace, where this book came from.  I hope to visit Australia again in a year or two and this bookshop is already on my ‘must visit’ list.

The Christmas Kangaroo was written by Ian Mudie in 1946, with black-and-white illustrations by Trevor Clare. Published by Frank Cork and printed by The Advertising Printing Office in Adelaide. 

This might be a common book in Australia, but as I hadn't seen it before I knew it would be coming home in my suitcase along with my other ‘finds’ including a 1st Australian edition of The Gremlins by Roald Dahl and a lovely copy of Colonel Crock by Edward Andrews.

The Christmas Kangaroo is a truly enchanting story about Mirram the Kangaroo and her son Joey, who meet a harassed Father Christmas, behind schedule, and with his sleigh still laden with undelivered toys. After much persuasion by Father Christmas the sympathetic Mirram agrees to help, and with Joey on her back and her pouch laden with an incredible number of toys she sets out.

Her feet have been polished by Father Christmas with his special lightening, non-slip, quick-travel, fast-as-fast, long-leap, racing oil, and her first tentative hop takes her soaring over the tall trees and out across the Gibber Plain.

Gibber Plains, Australia.

In the excitement, the toys are spilled, and valuable time is lost collecting them, but eventually Mirram sets out again, encouraged by the kindly advice of a talkative Willy Wagtail and the wise Mr. Possum. Faster and faster she goes, so fast that Joey thinks his ears will be doubled inside out by the wind. Faster and faster, for Mirram knows that she will have to hurry if she is going to fill every sock and stocking and pillow case by Christmas morning, and hang toys and presents on all the Christmas trees in Australia.

However, Mirram is happy, for she knows that when all the boys and girls wake up, they will see all the presents Father Christmas sent them - the only thing they won't know is that they were put there by Mirram, the Christmas Kangaroo.

I hope you enjoy reading about the adventures of Mirram and Joey.  I think this book weaves a very special kind of Christmas magic. 

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to visit and comment.  I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year. This vintage Christmas card is especially for you, love Barbara.

Hearty Wishes for Christmas