Kendrick In the Land of the Giant Kangaroos

By Jennifer Jayne Scobie

This novella is an adventure and mystery for kids 9 to 14 years of age.
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While on vacation with his parents, young Kendrick meets Savanna, a giant kangaroo who thinks that Kendrick is baby Joey. Finally convincing her that he isn’t Joey by letting her look at him through a magnifying glass, they both go looking for the missing kangaroo Joey with Kendrick riding in Savanna’s pouch. In the adventure of a lifetime, Kendrick helps find Joey and learns a lot about giant kangaroos. He can’t wait to get back home and tell his friend, Zayden, of his adventures.

The next summer, Zayden goes on vacation with Kendrick and meets the giant kangaroos himself. After introducing Zayden to Savanna, the boys learn that two kangaroos are missing. Wanting to help, the boys look for the missing kangaroos, never expecting to stumble upon the mysterious Kangaroo Curse and secrets that can turn the world upside down - and they can’t tell a soul what they’ve seen or heard!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 20, 2017
• ISBN: 9781387379958

Book preview

Kendrick In the Land of the Giant Kangaroos

Kendrick In the Land of the Giant Kangaroos

by Jennifer Jayne Scobie

Copyright

Copyright © 2014, 2017 by Jennifer Jayne Scobie

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

All characters in this book are fictional.  If there is any resemblance to any real person or persons, it is only coincidental.

ISBN  978-1-387-37995-8

Acknowledgment

I would like to thank my friend, Larry R. Smith, for his feedback and encouragement throughout the journey of writing this book.

Part I - Swept Off His Feet

Chapter 1: Curiosities

Kendrick is having a wonderful time camping in the wilderness with his family.  His Dad gave him a clear container with a lid that has holes and a handle so that he can inspect insects and learn about them.  This has become his favorite thing to do.  Kendrick also has a huge magnifying glass that he hangs from a chain clamped to his shirt pocket.

So far, Kendrick has watched two ladybugs, a few fireflies and some ants.  There are a lot of wonderful insects to examine in the wilderness and Kendrick wants to see them all.

Hey!  Look!  There's a trail.  Can I follow it, Dad?  I bet there are lots of cool bugs to discover out there.

Go ahead Kendrick, but don't go off the path, and be back here in time for dinner, his Dad replies.

Oh Boy! exclaims Kendrick, and he runs down the trail, eager to explore.

Kendrick sees a praying mantis for the first time in his life.  He thinks it is an awesome insect.  He inspects it with the magnifying glass and puts it carefully into the container.  He likes the praying mantis so much, but he wonders if his Dad might even let him keep it.  Then he continues to further down the trail.  Owl calls echo through the wilderness and a lone raccoon rustles through the vegetation nearby.  Kendrick feels peaceful out here.

He arrives at a division in the trail where the trail branches off in five different directions.  Remembering what he was told about how to make sure not to get lost in the woods, he ties a tissue around a tree on the trail he just left. That way he will know which way leads back to his family when he returns for dinner.

He chooses the path that looks the most interesting, and off he goes, examining and inspecting all the bugs he sees along the way with his wonderful huge magnifying glass.

Oh dear! he thinks.  The path seems to have ended.  There is a fence with a sign posted.  Private Property.  No Trespassing! it reads.

Kendrick looks through the chain link fence.  He can hardly believe his eyes!  There is a beetle the size of his hand sitting on a leaf just a foot behind the fence!  That is incredible!  His Dad will be so proud of him when he brings that beetle back in his box to show him.  He crawls under the fence and plans to catch it.

Suddenly Kendrick hears some thumping.  It gets louder and louder.  The earth shakes.  What could this be?  An earthquake?  A big dinosaur still alive?  Is it Big Foot? he thinks to himself.

Chapter 2: Mistaken Identity

A booming voice thunders through the air.  Joey?  Joey?  Where are you Joey?  Thump thump thump.

It's a kangaroo!  A giant kangaroo jumping!  It must be bigger than a jet airplane!

There you are Joey.  Don't ever wander off on me like that again!  The kangaroo picks Kendrick up and puts him in its pouch!

Kendrick is shocked.  He struggles to get his head out of the giant pouch so he