1. Animals
2. Children as artists
3. Children as authors
4. Friends
5. Kangaroos
6. Music
7. Singing
8. Stories and motifs
9. Stories in rhyme
10. Uluru / Ayres Rock (South Central NT SG52-08)

Taleena Simon was 10 years old when she sang on the Aunty Wendy’s Mob CD, ‘Happy to be me’. She was then inspired to write a song about a kangaroo that played guitar in a rock band near Uluru. That song is the inspiration for ‘Kangaroo Rock’. Watching Kangaroo inviting and gathering his friends to join the rock and roll band against the Uluru backdrop adds to this appealing story featuring a lively bunch of very unlikely characters.

Kangaroo’s friends gather: the dingo, lizard, cockatoo, snake and emu, altogether a colourful and jubilant rock and roll band. The illustration of these animal friends with their instruments standing in front of Uluru is a visual hoot! Like the other books is this series, the words are in rhyme and here they are so rhythmic that there is no sitting still when reading the words.

Wendy Notley is a non-Aboriginal early childhood trained teacher who has worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. She is the creator of the Aunty Wendy’s Mob resources—song and stories that honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Her website states that great care has been taken to follow protocols regarding the inclusion of information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in the development of these resources. Taleena Simon is of Bundjalung, Wiradjuri and Birpi descendancy. She illustrated the story and together with Wendy Notley, Taleena created the words for ‘Kangaroo Rock’.

Series title: ‘Growing Up Strong’ and Happy to be me’ is the collective series title for eight picture books, two teacher resource books and digital audio material. The texts in the book series are adaptations of songs on the ‘Happy to be me’ CD.

1. Wendy Notley’s website https://www.auntywendysmob.com
2. Rugby.Com.Au, Taleena Simon becomes first Aboriginal woman to sign professional Sevens Contract 10 July 2014 https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2016/02/12/taleena-simon-becomes-first-aboriginal-woman-to-sign-professional-sevens-contract
3. Aunty Wendy’s Mob Facebook. ‘Taleena Simon: co-writer of 'Kangaroo Rock' at the age of 10; sang on the 'happy to be me' CD that same year ...and illustrated 'Kangaroo Rock' at the age of 14. Now, carving it up on the field, scoring 4 tries for the Roosters! 23 September 2018 https://www.facebook.com/auntywendysmob/posts/1373420259456558