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Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tail

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From extensive collection, this Australian tale will teach readers the importance of teamwork.
Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tail is an Australian folktale about two friends, Tree Kangaroo and Koala. Long ago they were very close, but their friendship soured after the events that transpired during a long drought in Australia. Tree Kangaroo was a hard worker and resourceful while Koala was lazy and selfish. Tree Kangaroo had the idea of digging a hole for water in a dry stream bed. Tree Kangaroo started to dig, but Koala kept making excuses about why he couldn't help dig the hole. Finally, Tree Kangaroo ends up digging the entire hole and when he finally finds water, Koala jumps in a drinks all of it. Emblazoned with anger at Koala's selfish acts, Tree Kangaroo grabs Koala by his long, furry tail and pulls so hard that it breaks off at the base. Now Koala is left with a short, stumpy tail. The Australian folktale is complete with an appendix of fun facts. August House Publishers offers an of Why Koala Has a Stumpy Tail as well as !

24 pages, Paperback

First published December 19, 2007

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About the author

Martha Hamilton

37 books7 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss are a husband-and-wife team, also known as “Beauty and the Beast Storytellers,” who have traveled the world since 1980 sharing their passion for the art of storytelling. They have co-authored several books and recordings that have won numerous awards including Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children's Literature (awarded by Bank Street College of Education), Parents’ Choice, National Parenting Publications Awards, and Storytelling World. Their Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom, used in the teaching of storytelling from elementary schools to college courses, won an Anne Izard Storyteller's Choice Award and was praised by award committee members as "an infectiously enthusiastic book on the methods and merits of teaching storytelling to children . . . imaginative, inspiring, easy to read, and tremendously engaging . . . a terrific book that will be a classic for years to come."

Mitch and Martha’s story collections include world tales that they have retold in a conversational manner so that children can easily understand and retell them. Parents and teachers will find a wealth of information on how to get children excited about reading, telling world tales, and making up their own stories at Mitch and Martha’s Web site: http://www.beautyandthebeaststorytell...

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5 stars
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16 (34%)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Lynn  Davidson.
8,163 reviews34 followers
April 25, 2020
During a drought in Australia, two friends - Koala and Kangaroo - decide to dig a hole to try to find water. Kangaroo digs and digs, but lazy Koala keeps giving excuses for not helping. Finally Kangaroo has dug the hole himself and hits water - which Koala leaps down and drinks. Kangaroo is so angry he pulls Koala's tail --- and it snaps off, leaving him with a stump!
Profile Image for Tammy Manns.
93 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2020
Genre: Folktale
Grade Level: Primary (2-3)

Always treat others the way you want to be treated. It's not nice to trick others into doing your work for you or taking a friend for granted. You may be disappointed in the end. Koala found this out the hard way. This is a great book to teach teamwork and kindness to younger children.
Profile Image for May Kathryn .
1,272 reviews22 followers
January 19, 2024
Engaging narration

This book is a good reminder that cutting ties with lazy, parasitic friends is okay. It is also a good reminder not to be one, as you’d also lose your friends. I love the audiobook production. Kids would surely love this.
Profile Image for Stacie.
2,323 reviews
May 2, 2020
Help! Don’t be lazy like koala!!! 🐨 or you just might lose your tail!!!!! Thanks Audible for the free covid-19 read!
Profile Image for Mark Pedigo.
352 reviews2 followers
May 2, 2020
(Reading through many of the stories at stories.audible.com, made available for free for the covid stay-at-home.)
225 reviews
March 31, 2023
Unexpected cautionary tale of a lazy koala taking advantage of friends hard work. Based on an Aboriginal legend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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