The One in the Middle Is the Green Kangaroo

by Judy Blume, Irene Trivas (Illustrator)

Fredy used to have a room of his own. That was before Ellen was born. Now Ellen had a room of her own. Freddy moved in with Mike. Mom and Dad said, "It's the boys' room." But they couldn't fool Freddy. He knew better!
--back cover

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Picture Books, Middle Grade, Humor, Chapter Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Judy Blume spent her childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey, making up stories inside her head. She has spent her adult years in many places doing the same thing, only now she writes her stories down on paper. Adults as well as children will recognize such Blume titles as: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret; Blubber; Just as Long as We're Together; and the five book series about the irrepressible Fudge. She has also written three novels for adults, Summer Sisters; Smart Women; and Wifey, all of them New York Times bestsellers. More than 80 million copies of her books have been sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-one languages. She receives thousands of letters a year from readers of all ages who share their feelings and concerns with her.
Judy received a B.S. in education from New York University in 1961, which named her a Distinguished Alumna in 1996, the same year the American Library Association honored her with the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Other recognitions include the Library of Congress Living Legends Award and the 2004 National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters.
She is the founder and trustee of The Kids Fund, a charitable and educational foundation. She serves on the boards of the Author's Guild; the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators; the Key West Literary Seminar; and the National Coalition Against Censorship.
Judy is a longtime advocate of intellectual freedom. Finding herself at the center of an organized book banning campaign in the 1980's she began to reach out to other writers, as well as teachers and librarians, who were under fire. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the National Coalition Against Censorship to protect the freedom to read. She is the editor of Places I Never Meant To Be, Original Stories by Censored Writers.
Judy has completed a series of four chapter books -- The Pain & the Great One -- illustrated by New Yorker cartoonist James Stevenson. She has co-written and produced a film adaptation of her book Tiger Eyes, and is currently writing a new novel.
Judy and her husband George Cooper live on islands up and down the east coast. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boy who is sick of being the mediocre middle kid breaks out of the mold as a green kangaroo in the school play. This kid has some springs and he kills it! A fun read for early readers.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about being a middle child. It sounds tough. Luckily, this middle child found the glory of the theatre and he gets to stand out and be the Green Kangaroo. It helped to give him an identity.

This is a beginning reader and a nice little story for kids to start on. It was cute. Judy Blume is such a great author.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

After I read In the Unlikely Event I decided I finally needed to read (or re-read) all the Judy Blume books, and this one was first in the list. This was okay, but I am definitely not the target audience. Kids would probably like it, though. Obviously.

[— nova · Rating 3 out of 5]

can relate to the frustration of being a middle child lol. this was cute.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suddenly got this wild idea that I would read Judy Blume's entire bibliography this summer. I realized that while there were many of Blume's titles that I loved, there were many I had never read and decided to just do it. I've been in a monstrous reading slump and figured Blume's short, easy reads would be what the doctor ordered.

I'm reading the books in chronological order of release date because I can and "The One in the Middle is a Green Kangaroo" came first. Published first in 1969, it is the story of a boy named Freddy who feels the weight of being his family's middle child. He is neither big and important or young and cute. All of his clothes are hand-me-down and when his baby sister is born he must share a room.

Freddy decides to do something to set himself apart and becomes the star of the school play and then he doesn't mind being in the middle so much anymore.

This book is nearly 40 years old, but I read it aloud to the girls and it didn't feel dated or old fashioned. It was just the right book for kids who may feel overshadowed by their older or younger siblings.

This book would be a great transitional book for early readers. My middle daughter is going into third grade but reads above her grade level. She liked this story, but at only 50 pages this book really wouldn't be a challenge for her at all. I'm thinking first grade students would get the most out of this book, but it would also be a great read aloud choice as it can be read, in totality, in about 20-25 minutes.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Judy Blume's books. I loved them when I was a child and I'm excited to share them with our girls. I usually associate her work with middle-grade and YA fiction, but she also has a few fun picture books, too.

This is a fun story about the frustration of being the middle child as well as one boy's efforts to find a place in the spotlight. The narrative is short and engaging and the illustrations are colorful and complement the story nicely. I don't remember this story from my childhood, but it has a timeless quality that makes it still relevant today. We enjoyed reading this book together.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mission is to read through the entirety of Judy Blume's works. And here we have what I thought was listed as her very first publication but the dates on the inside of this one don't match? Anyway, this is a children's book and is super short and quick. It's about Freddy feeling not very special being a middle child so gets a role in the school play that finally puts him in the spotlight. Adorable with of course a sweet message.

[Colton W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freddy thinks his life is poopy because he is a middle child. But then he tries out for the school play and realizes he is special, and then he decides it's okay to be in the middle. He is happy with who he is. I read my first chapter book! Yay!

[Nancy Kotkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tired of being the middle child, a second-grade boy takes a part in the school play, something neither his older brother nor his younger sister has ever done. After he is successful in the play, he no longer cares about being the middle child, even though he continues to face the same middle child issues. While it's clear that he feels better about himself as a result of his performance, it's muddy what that has to do with the story's main conflict of being a middle child, which isn't ever resolved.

[Molly Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book that I thought was very cute and teaches a lesson.

[Kristine]

I ❤️Judy Blume and she is the one who was there for my adolescence. Just seeing her name makes me Nostalgic. So, today I decided to use my App for the Free Library Exchange. It is such a Fun Thing to Do.

I moved to North Carolina and love to just go to different areas and towns I have never been to. Most are fairly close by. I am really interested in Buying and Donating My Books that People will enjoy. This is Especially True in some Impoverished Areas. There is much Diversity there and Great the Library Exchange was near The Recreation Center and Another at the Local Swimming Pool. These Kids Need More Current Books that Interest Them. See What I can Do.

Anyway, I have never heard of this book before and rethought I had read all Judy Blume’s Books, so really Excited to Find this One. About Siblings and a Boy who is not happy about some situation. I can’t wait to read this One❣️ Love getting older books and beloved authors. How Great is That💗

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judy Blume's first published book from the late 60's is still totally relatable in 2018. If you're a middle child, that is.

And Freddy Dissel is just that, the "peanut butter part of a sandwich" between his older brother and younger sister. He needs a way to stand out, and taking on the role of the green kangaroo in the school play sounds like the perfect way to do it!

It took me 10 minutes to read; it's an early chapter book that could be read aloud for 1st-3rd grade. I would pair it with Freckle Juice and do a study to compare/contrast the young characters.

[Rafal Poplawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very short novel by Judy Blume about middle kid, who is truly unhappy by being in the middle, between older brother and younger sister. Things change when he is given part of Green Kangaroo in the school play. This allows him to build confidence in himself and no longer feel bad about being the middle child!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been going through things from my childhood and found a picture I drew titled The Green Kangaroo and on the back the teacher had written ‘book report’ so I’m guessing that I did a book report about this book. So of course I had to read it. It’s pretty cute.

[Nadia L. Hohn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fun, cute, and very short. I am not sure what the moral of the story is but it is a very accessible read.

[Amy Warren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very sweet story about a middle child who gets no respect until he takes a chance and auditions for a school play. Great book for children feeling a bit unseen, about taking a risk and stepping out of your comfort zone.

[Rachel Stine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was left on top of the shelf. So I read it before putting it away. Super cute but short and not much character development.

[Roseby Valencia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny read.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The One in the Middle is the Green Kangaroo
by Judy Blume
Reilly & Britton 1969
Realistic fiction chapter book
310L, DRA24, Guided Reading M
Grades Pre-k - 2
Freddy Dissel is a second grader who feels like he does not fit in. He has an older brother, Mike and a younger sister, Ellen and he finds himself right in the middle. Freddy feels that being the middle child is like being the peanut butter part of a sandwich and he is stuck right in the middle between Mike and Ellen. Mike did not want to play with Freddy because he was too young, and Ellen did not want to play with him because she did not understand how to play “his way”. When Freddy hears about a school play, he wants to join in. Mike had never been in a play and Ellen had never been in a play, so this will make Freddy special. Freddy can be loud, Freddy can jump, and Freddy will be a perfect kangaroo. Freddy does not have to care anymore about being in the middle, Freddy comes to see that just being Freddy is perfect and special.
Classroom Activity: Complete a read aloud with the students, stopping after each chapter to ask what Freddy is feeling and to make predictions as to what will happen next. While reading the story aloud students may complete an “I Spy” activity, where every time there is a contraction in the story they note it on the worksheet. There are a total of 15 contractions used in the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.2.2.C Use an apostrophe to form contractions and frequently occurring possessives.
2SL1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse peers and adults in small and large groups
and during play.
2SL1a: Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and participate by actively listening, taking
turns, and staying on topic.
2SL1b: Build on others’ talk in conversations by linking their comments to the remarks of
others through multiple exchanges.

[Megan Cureton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a young boy named Freddy that is a middle child. He has an older brother named Mike and a younger sister named Ellen. Freddy always is being stuck with Mike's old clothes and Ellen has a room to herself and Freddy had to move in with Mike. Freddy always wanted to do something special that neither Mike or Ellen have done, so he auditioned for a school play. To his surprise, he got the part of a green kangaroo and all he had to do was hop around on stage. The day came for the play and Freddy was nervous, he ended up doing great and everyone cheered him on. Since he has done something new, he no longer minds being the one in the middle and is great just being Freddy. I really enjoyed this book. I can kind of relate to Freddy, although I am not the middle child, I am the youngest child and with that also comes old clothes and getting to follow in my older brothers footsteps. I think this would a great book for third and fourth graders to have in their classroom library. I think the language and vocabulary used in this book is somewhat challenging for third and fourth graders but would be too much of an easy read for fifth graders. I also like the fact that this is a good book for students to be able to relate to. I know many students have brother and sisters and this shows them there's always something you can do to be special, whether you are the youngest, the middle, or the oldest child. I think that the students would enjoy the humor in this book and I know students like reading stories that they can relate to and if they can't connect with the story, then they can always put themselves in someone else's shoes and see what it would be like to have siblings. I like that this book shows students that each and every one of them is special.

[Alyssa Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute book and one I think that kids who are feeling left out (especially middle children) would appreciate. It acknowledges the fact that sometimes having two or more siblings can be lonely because your parents’ attention is split, but it also shows that if you pursue your interests, you can stand out from others and be unique simply by being yourself. Freddy takes an interest in drama, and is therefore able to stand out when he lands a role as a green kangaroo.

The illustrations are cute, friendly, and very colorful. It’s a pretty book to look at for younger children who are interested in the illustrations rather than the story; the words themselves are fairly lyrical and would offer a fun reading aloud experience. I’d definitely recommend this for children who have multiple siblings and who might be feeling unappreciated or left out.

Also posted on Purple People Readers.

[eRin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddy Dissel is having a hard time. His older brother, Mike, gets all new clothes and Freddy only gets Mike's old ones. Mike won't let him play with him. Freddy's younger sister, Ellen, is just a baby. She got Freddy's old room, and Freddy was forced to move into Mike's. Plus, Ellen is just a baby, and can't play the games that Freddy wants to play. Freddy feels like no one notices him. But then he sees that a play is going to be performed at school. If he was in the play, then someone might notice him!

This is the first chapter book of Blume's that I've read, and it's very cute. Blume accurately gets the middle-child syndrome and does a good job with getting into a second-grader's head. I think that she does a better job with her juvenile fiction and YA books, but this is a good book that I'd recommend to any young child--especially a middle child!

[Swankivy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute book where a middle child finds his specialness and identity, driving home the point that everyone is unique and needs to find their own path. I didn't relate to it much personally because I was an eldest child, not a middle child, but I thought about my sister sometimes while reading it and wondered whether being a middle child was ever like this for her. (Though I knew she didn't really have the hand-me-downs problem because we were about the same size for our entire lives.) I think the book does strike that very good balance between highlighting the problems of a middle child (so middle children can relate) and showing the solutions (striving for individuality and deserving it).

[Katie Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Freddy Dissel, a second grader, always felt like he was left out. He wasn't big enough to play with his big brother and was too big to play with his little sister. Freddy hears about a school play and wants to join. When he finds out the play is only for fifth and sixth graders, his disappointment grows; however, Freddy is allowed to audition for the most important part of all. This cute book is great for students who are beginning to transition into reading chapter books, but still into books with a lots of pictures. I would use this book to talk about self-determination and ways to positively handle "road blocks."

[Amy]

Realistic Fiction, published in 1992 for grades prek-5. Themes include family issues, sibling issues and humor. Freddy is the middle child and tends to be overlooked quite a bit since his older brother and younger sister require more attention. This all changes when Freddy is offered the role of the green kangaroo in the school play. His family is very proud of him!! Guidance counselors could use this book with middle kids and teachers could use this as an introduction to emotions and play acting. The students could be given an emotion written on paper and the students need to act that emotion out.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The middle child in this family seems like the precursor of Blume's more famous character, The Pain. This youngster is tired of getting the short end of the stick every time: sharing a room, wearing hand-me-downs, and always being second (or third) to experience new things. What can he do that will be special and get him 100% of everyone's attention? A part in the school play is just the answer.

Blume is a master of family dynamics and those scenes involving sibling bickering and the craziness of family dinner time are the most charming scenes in this transitional reader.
Realistic pencil illustrations.

[Teresa Gartland]

This is a realistic fiction book that could be geared towards elementary students. This story is about Freddy and how he feels excluded in his family. Freddy is the middle child and feels like he does not get enough attention from his family because of this and feels he has to do something courageous to get his families attention. Students can connect with this book, especially if they are a middle child. We can use this book to find ways that each student can shine in his or her family. Students need to know that just because they are a middle child does not mean that they are forgotten or overlooked.

[Kimberlee Gutterman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Freddy was always feeling left out, especially at home because he was the middle child. He no longer has his own room and didn't have anyone to play with. However, he uses the school plays as an opportunity to show everyone how special he is and in doing so he learns himself that he is special. I think a lot of children can relate to Freddy because a lot of children are the middle child of the family and psychologically speaking, they could be treated the same and be feeling the same as Freddy at the beginning of the book. Children who feel like this can see how Freddy overcame that feeling so they can find something of their own that helps them feel better too.

[Margaret Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slight.

[Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is about a young boy who is stuck in the middle of his older brother and younger baby sister. He can never get new clothes because he always receives his brother old clothes. He can never get a room of his own because he has to share it with his brother becuase of his younger sister. The young boy just wants to impress his parents. For first grade children, I would use this book in the classroom to let children know although you have a older and younger sibbling, your parents still love you and haven't forgot about you.