The monkey narrator of this amusing meta-fictional picture-book opens with the claim that he is a mind-reader, proceeding to invite the reader/listener to think of something, that he will in turn divine through his special power. That thing is, of course, a purple kangaroo. A purple kangaroo in search of his chichilla best friend Señor Ernesto de Pantalones...

The narrative of The Purple Kangaroo only becomes more involved after that, in a series of wildly imaginative and humorous developments that will keep young readers entertained, just as the colorful artwork from Peter Brown, created using acrylic and graphite, will keep them involved visually. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books with a silly sense of humor, or who is a fan of Peter Brown's artwork. ( )

Clever, creative, funny. No depth - not a fable or a character study... more like brain teaser... maybe a sharp kiddo will try to play the role of the monkey and play the trick on grandpa.... After all, it is, in a way, a science book, because this is how our minds work.... ( )

44 months - I'll give this one kudos for originality and it was entertaining to read once or twice from the library. The illustration style didn't thrill me greatly and I just can't see this one having longevity over time. O was entertained... at least the first time or two. ( )

The book started off very cute as a monkey telling the reader they can guess what they are thinking. The monkey is guessing the reader thought of a purple kangaroo and with each page the thought gets bigger and bigger. I think it's a great lesson for "voice" in a story but I'm not sure how my students will react (and follow) the sequence of making the thought bigger and bigger. Definitely a fun read-aloud. But not good for using as a "story" as far as beginning, middle and end go. Creative though... ( )

This would be a good storytime title - it has the kind of humor that ages 5 and up will really appreciate. It sort of reminds me of titles like "The Monster at the End of the Book," where the humor hinges chiefly on a joke revealed at the very end. In this one, a monkey claims he's psychic and knows what you (the reader) is thinking. He guesses that you're thinking of a purple kangaroo doing all sorts of wildly implausible things. At the end, he says, okay, maybe you weren't thinking of a purple kangaroo, but you are now! The illustrations are large format, not too detailed, and perfect for storytimes. The title would read aloud very well, with lots of opportunities for dramatic voices and gestures. Good opportunity to work in a monkey puppet if you have one. ( )