SPLATYPUS

A clumsy platypus takes on a humorous persona.

In this playful, rhyming text, Platypus continually falls as tries to find friends. He meets a host of Australian animals (although their country is never mentioned) and tries to follow their lead. “Kangaroos / jump-a-roo, / so he hollers, ‘I’ll jump too!’ ” As he is shown “SKIPPING, / HOPPING, / DIPPING, / DROPPING,” he bumps into one of the marsupials and—“SPLATypus!” appears in red text, as the poor animal falls to the ground. “Far too jumpy, / far too bumpy, / this is not for Platypus.” He tries racing with dingoes, leaping with possums, and flying with fruit bats, only to be discouraged each time, until he discovers his natural milieu. His swimming skills come into play as he enters the water. Here he meets penguins, swans, pelicans, turtles, fish, lobsters, and even a sea horse. “DIVING, DIPPING, / SLIDING, SLIPPING.” Here he is also called “SPLATypus,” but the name takes on a different connotation as the water creatures welcome him. Browns, greens, and blues predominate in the watercolor palette, and the illustrator gives viewers a strong sense of several different habitats in the land Down Under. While most animals are represented in their real colors, the comical title character stands out with his uncharacteristic blue bill and webfeet. (Platypuses have black bills and feet).

An amusing tale, ready for reading aloud, of finding “the perfect place.” (Picture book. 4-7)