Book Review: Kip the Kangaroo’s First Day of School
- Jake Evanoff
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
With Star Ship Reviews, our goal is to bring attention to some of the wonderful independent authors and illustrators out there. For this week's entry, we'll be looking at "Kip the Kangaroo’s First Day of School" Written and Illustrated by Julie Given.
Kip the Kangaroo’s First Day of School Julie Given
The Artist:
Julie Given is a Canadian children’s and middle-grade author whose work blends creativity, humour, and heart. She is the creator of the Kip the Kangaroo book series, the Liam and Olivia children’s travel series, and the middle-grade fantasy novel Valley of the Tall Ones. She has also written the playful nonfiction title A Very Important Book for Eight-Year-Olds Only.
With years of experience as a professional communicator, Julie brings her storytelling skills to life in books that help children explore courage, curiosity, and kindness while sparking conversations between kids and parents. She lives in Niagara, Ontario with her husband and family, where she continues to dream up new adventures.
The Story:
"Kip the Kangaroo is ready for an exciting new adventure - his very first day of school! Kip the Kangaroo's First Day of School is a joyful story that celebrates curiosity, friendship, and the excitement of starting something new. Perfect for young readers getting ready for their own school adventures!"
The Review:
Kip’s adventure begins when he spots a bus that will be taking him to his first day of school the very next day. In order to prepare for his big new adventure, Kip and his Mom go shopping for supplies. The next morning, Kip is greeted by all of his friends, and they make their way into their new classroom together. From story time to a class sing-along, Kip has the perfect day at school and can’t wait to do it all over again.
Reading this book definitely brought back several fond memories of my own first day of school. Julie was able to capture that feeling of nostalgia not only with her words but also with highly detailed illustrations. I would recommend reading this one with any little ones in your life who may be preparing for their first day of school.
The Mini Interview:
To wrap things up, we've asked Julie to answer three quick questions for us!
What was your inspiration for the story?
Kip the Kangaroo's First Day of School was inspired by all the big feelings that kids (and parents!) go through when it’s time to start school - that first moment they begin their own little independent life. I wanted to capture that mix of nerves and excitement in a way that felt fun, reassuring, and adventurous. The teacher’s name is Mrs. Chadwick, which was my favourite teacher when I was in school, and Kip’s spaghetti dinner with his family when he gets home is a tradition we had growing up!
What was your favorite book growing up?
I loved The Berenstain Bears series when I was little. The stories were funny and relatable, but they also snuck in lessons about kindness, family, and problem-solving. Those books made me want to read more, and that’s something I hope my books can do for children today. I hope they will open a door to a life of reading.
What piece of advice would you give to aspiring children’s authors?
Write the story only you can tell, and write it in a way that speaks directly to children. Don’t try to “teach” them with heavy hands; kids are smart, and they’ll sense that right away. Instead, let the fun, the heart, or the silliness come first. And once you’ve written your draft, read it out loud. If it flows like a story a child would want to hear again and again, you’re on the right track!
The Links:
If you'd like to grab your own copy of the book, it can be purchased here:
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Cheers,
-JE
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