Meet Roo, a quirky, curious cat with a loud purr that can be heard across the room and long legs that let him jump high. Roo has a home he loves, but much to his dismay, the other neighborhood cats shun him because he seems different. One day he wanders off on an adventure, and what begins as fun suddenly turns frightening.

He finds himself in an unknown part of the neighborhood, caught in the lures of a steel trap, with no hope of ever reaching home again. He cannot get out of the cage without outside help. But will someone find him and rescue him?

Like Roo, children often discover that a person they meet is different, unique, or special, which then affords opportunities to explore deeper meanings of acceptance, friendship, and receiving help from others.

Children of all ages will enjoy this lyrical tale of Roo, the Kangaroo Cat. The discussion questions at the end are designed to help children open up about their feelings and to apply the story’s concepts to their young lives.