Dot and the kangaroo

The environmental message in Dot and the Kangaroo is explicit in the author's dedication:

To the children of Australia, in the hope of enlisting their sympathies for the many beautiful, amiable and frolicsome creatures of their fair land; whose extinction through ruthless destruction is being surely accomplished.

The story is that of a child, Dot, lost in the bush and rescued and returned safely to her home by the kangaroo. Along the way and through the aid of magic berries which enable Dot to understand the animals' speech, the kangaroo and other bush creatures educate Dot about the destructive habits of men who are destroying not only the bush but the animals within it.

Ethel Pedley was a musician and choir conductor and was influential in the Royal College and the Royal Academy of Music extending their examination system to Australia. She is best remembered however for her classic children's story Dot and the kangaroo.

Published posthumously in 1899 in England, the book was illustrated by Frank P. Mahony with the plates etched in Australia. The Australian bush and in particular the kangaroo look authentic rather than the frequently often mis-drawn animal. The book has been in print almost continuously. Originally published in a slightly larger format of 245 x 185mm, in 1906 a reduced format was used (185 x 120mm). The publishers later returned to the larger format.

In 1977 an animated film was made by Yoram Gross and following its success a further six sequels were made.

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