Stranger safety (Adventures in the Roo World - Young Roo Series No. 1) (Adventures in the Roo World, Young Roo Series, 1) [Paperback]

Pati Myers Gross (Author)

Book Description

Series: Adventures in the Roo World, Young Roo Series, 1

Hip Hop Mob kangaroo characters, Runabout and Rhythm, first explain what a stranger is and the difference between a good and bad stranger. They proceed to show how strangers come in all different colors, shapes and sizes. Examples of situations with stangers are given and children are instructed on how to react. Although this books is excellent for children of all ages, it is geared for ages 2-8.

Editorial Reviews

Review

There are many books on the market about parenting and many more especially for children. The choice can be overwhelming. Whenever I come across books that deserve special consideration, I will use this column to bring them to your attention. Adventures in the Roo World (Stanger Safety, Fire Safety, and Out & About) is a collection of books written by retired St. Petersburg police officer Pati Gross. During her last five years on the force, Gross specialized in innovative, interactive safety and self-esteem programs for preschool students. She left the force to expand her program to reach children of all ages. Her messages are clear: kids can stay safe at home and away, they can understand that they are responsible for their actions, and they can feel good about themselves. Pati chose kangaroo characters to tell her stories because of their similarities to people. 'Roo's' come in different colors, shapes and sizes. The main characters in the roo world are Runabout, Reader, Rhythm, Rapper, Romper, Risky and Reckless. Each character's behavior and clothing resemble its name. I highly recommend this series of safety books for your family. -- St. Petersburg Times columnist, pediatrician, Dr. Bruce Epstein

About the Author

Pati Myers Gross has a BA degree in Criminal Justice from the Univ. of S. FL. She retired from the St. Petersburg Florida Police Department after serving over twelve years. During her last five years she specialized in innovative, interactive safety and self-esteem programs targeted to preschool children. She now writes books and teaches children of all ages. She also intructs teachers in workshops and advises parents in seminars. She is pursuing her dream to help save children's lives.

Product Details

• Paperback: 24 pages
• Publisher: Roo Pubns (June 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965257908
• ISBN-13: 978-0965257909
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 7.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,996,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Some very dangerous advice..., December 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Stranger safety (Adventures in the Roo World - Young Roo Series No. 1) (Adventures in the Roo World, Young Roo Series, 1) (Paperback)

Like many parents, I scrutinize books dealing with stranger safety because it is such a critically important issue. I was very disappointed with this book. Ms. Gross's overall determination to rhyme each passage makes it difficult to understand many sentences. But, most importantly, she also imparts some very dangerous advice to her young readers.

For example: "Good strangers are people your parents talk to. You can trust them to know just what to do." What an appallingly irresponsible and dangerous message for our young children, who are as helpless and incapable as we are of discerning between the harmless milk man and the pedophiliac tree surgeon! Mommy and Daddy talk to many strangers, and cannot know whether they are good or bad!

On the very next page, Ms. Gross suggests that we solve that problem by resorting to stereotype: "Community helpers can help even more. Police, firefighters, letter carriers or....doctors and dentists who round out the team, and teach you things always aren't what they seem." At first I couldn't even discern this poorly constructed passage. When finally I made sense of it, I was horrified to realize that Ms. Gross wants our children to believe that "community helpers" are unilaterally SAFE. Not only, her words imply, should they not be questioned but they are the ones providing the right answers ("...teach you things are always not what they seem."). SAFER, even, than the "good" strangers.

My children live in the same world where their peers are tragically molested every day by coaches, babysitters, neighbors, and many other "community helpers" (yes, even doctors and dentists!) and "safe strangers." My ambition is to impart clear and sensible rules to help keep them safe, something that must be accomplished without introducing prejudice and typecasting.

This book sends out very dangerous messages, both in terms of safety and social responsibility.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST Stranger Safety Book I've seen!, September 21, 2001

By 

"sandyinak" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stranger safety (Adventures in the Roo World - Young Roo Series No. 1) (Adventures in the Roo World, Young Roo Series, 1) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book to read to any and all children. It covers taking candy, secret words between parent and child, running away if someone tries to grab you, and who is a stranger, what do they look like. It's a cute book at the same time. Read in a sing-song rhythm it is one of my children's favorite books.

Knowledge is power! Make your children aware, not scared and they have a better chance of being safe and sound.

5.0 out of 5 stars an important reminder for all sensible parents, March 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Stranger safety (Adventures in the Roo World - Young Roo Series No. 1) (Adventures in the Roo World, Young Roo Series, 1) (Paperback)

I happen to live in the country where crime rate is the lowest among the most developed countries; even then, the crime rate is rising steadily. There is hardly any book in print in this country that gives advice to parents on how to teach your children protect themselves against "strangers". This is the issue that seldom being addressed in this society. Unless a real crime has been committed in the neighborhood the parents are seldom encouraged to talk to their kids about stranger safety. I am glad that I am one step ahead of those parents because it is never too early to educate your kids on this subject. It is very difficult for a young child to understand the concept of "stranger" and its relation to "danger". But this book has done a good job. It really shows to the child that bad guys can look like anything and they can use any tricks just to get what they want. The book has really helped me to start a conversation about self protection and bad guy identifying with my child. Also, the illustrations are funny and the lines are in rhymes, it really holds a child's attention.