The Drought Kangaroo
By (Author) Jackie French
Illustrated by Danny Snell
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty Ltd
28th October 2025
Australia
Children
Fiction
Hardback
32
Following on from The Fire Wombat and The Turtle and the Flood, The Drought Kangaroo is the third title in the series that focuses on animals and the challenges they face in environmental disaster, be it fire, flood, and now drought.
Drought has devastated Joseph the kangaroo's home. He longs for green grass and the cool, clear water he can smell in the distance.
Kangaroos can leap higher and further than any other animal, but can even Joseph's strong hind legs help him reach the waterhole And will the new mob there accept a stranger
Created by Jackie French and Danny Snell, the award-winning duo of The Fire Wombat and The Turtle and the Flood, this is a true story about a young kangaroo who went on the longest journey of his life and ended up living by a creek on Jackie's property.
Jackie French AM is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator, the 20142015 Australian Children's Laureate and the 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. In 2016, Jackie became a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to children's literature and her advocacy for youth literacy. She is regarded as one of Australia's most popular children's authors and writes across all genres from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi, to her much-loved historical fiction for a variety of age groups. 'A book can change a child's life. A book can change the world' was the primary philosophy behind Jackie's two-year term as Laureate. jackiefrench.com facebook.com/authorjackiefrench As a child Danny Snell was a reluctant reader, so it was pictures rather than words that drew him to the wonder of books. Danny went on to study graphic design and illustration at the University of South Australia and he now works as a picture book illustrator and author. Danny illustrates using digital media, focusing on simple compositions, subtle texture and a touch of whimsy. His books have won a number of awards including the CBCA Eve Pownall Award, the Environment Award for Children's Literature, and The Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Award. Danny lives in Adelaide with his partner, his two daughters and a sleepy old cat. He enjoys cooking and swimming, and yes, he loves to read.