Kenya the Can’t Garoo – New and Revised

Kenya was the saddest kangaroo in town. She couldn’t hop or jump.

At school they made fun of her. They even called her the “Can’t garoo”.

Nothing seemed to help. Was it time, they wondered to make an appointment with the famous Dr. Cluck?

Dr. Cluck was a very busy doctor. Porcupines and hyenas were also waiting patiently to see Dr. Cluck.  There wasn’t much room in the waiting room.

“Sit down”, said Dr. Cluck, and she did. Kenya noticed, though, that the doctor was not sitting at all. He was upside-down on the desk, doing a headstand. After a moment of not doing anything in particular, Dr. Cluck smiled and said:

“It’s perfectly clear,

My unhopping dear.

The reason you’re down,

Not jumping around,

Is easy to see,

At least for me. 

The situation,

Needs agitation,

So try standing on your head.

You might find,

It frees your mind,

And other things you

Might leave behind.

And without “so long”,

Or any such thing,

He suddenly began to sing:

“My name is William Cluck III,  What a rooster, what a bird,

My father was a famous Cluck, His father, too, was no dumb duck,       

And in their footsteps I continue, To muster every verb and sinew

To lend a wing to others who, Are feeling just a little blue.

So if you’re –

Down in the dumps, sick of your humps,

Stuck on a wall, getting nowhere at all,

Flat on your back, or just out of luck,

Try giving a call to Doctor Cluck.”

Then he tapped his feet to an African beat,

Patted his chin and ruffled his tail,

Had a sip of ginger ale, and invited the very next patient in.

For a whole month, Kenya thought about the upside-down Dr. Cluck and his strange advice. Did he think everyone should stand on their head?

One day, Kenya decided to give it a try. It wasn’t easy. For a kangaroo, standing on your head is not something that comes naturally.  

And then it suddenly began to happen.

Things from her pouch,

Started falling to the couch.

An umbrella from last November.

A library book from who can remember,

A toothbrush, some mouthwash,

One galosh,

Then another,

A glove,

Then the other,

Then more and more,

Began to pour.

Out came:

A checker game,

Two baseball hats,

Three cricket bats,

A chocolate bar,

Her favorite guitar,

A spinning top,

A lollipop,

A discman, a walkman,

A  pacman, a talkman,

More things kept falling

From her pocket,

A launching pad, complete with rocket,

A rope, some string,

Five bells that ring,

An orange peel,

A spinning wheel,

A piano complete with 88 keys,

And, finally, if you please,

A cucumber sandwich

With mayonnaise and

Yellow cheese.

And now, with empty pocket, or pouch,

Kenya hopped from bed to couch,

From couch to floor,

Right out the door,

Then down the hill,

She couldn’t sit still.

She showed her friends what she can do,

And now they call her

The “Can garoo”.

On Sunday, Kenya and her family had a giant pouch sale.

The very next day, Kenya sat down and wrote a letter to Dr. Cluck:

Dear Doctor William Cluck III,

Although you might seem quite absurd,

You really are a special bird,

Thank you from the bottom of my pouch,

Sincerely yours,

Miss Kenya Crouch

Thank you for reading our book!

If you like it, you might also want to read:

“Tim the Porcupine Meets Dr. Cluck”

Read more about me and see ALL my books on Ourboox (I have many)

Or even better, create a book of your own!! And finally, you can always write me at [email protected] 

If you’re in a real hurry, here is the really short version that I once made for a phone app (never materialized, though)

Kenya Crouch was a sad kangaroo.

Her friends called her the can’t garoo.

Animation – touch Kenya and she sobs.

When her friends hopped towards the sky,

Kenya would sigh.

Animation – touch her friends and they hop up and down (or shake the i-phone and they boing around).

Kenya tried all kinds of things –even a pogo stick. Nothing seemed to do the trick.

Animation – touch the pogo stick and it bounces twice and then she falls over. 

So Kenya went to visit Dr. William Cluck.

“You’re in luck!” said Dr. Cluck.

Animation – touch Dr. Cluck and he says “You’re in luck” 

“I know what to do

To make your dream come true.”

“Just jump up on your couch or bed,

And then try standing on your head”.

Animation: touch Dr. Cluck and he sings his rap, or says:

“Adieu, farewell to you, cockadoodledo”

Kenya wondered why the Doctor said

“Just try standing on your head”

Animation – turn the i-phone over and Kenya does a headstand on the bed.   

Wow – Look what’s happening now!

Animation – rub the pouch and things fall out with a boing sound.

A hat, a bat, a bar a guitar,

And more and more and more and more!!

Animation – touch each of the items and the names are spelled. Or strum the guitar and make a sound. 

Kenya felt as light as a kite.

She hopped to the floor and then out the door.

Animation – touch Kenya and she bounces out the door, boing, boing

Now she jumps so very high.

Do you want to help her try?

Animation – there is a bar or a cloud at the top of the screen and the faster you swipe her, the higher she bounces.   

She can hop as high as her other friends do.

So now they call her the ‘Can garoo’.

Animation – touch Kenya and she hops high. Touch her friends and they say “Wow”.