Harriet Can Carry It

Some letter carriers complain of sore feet; for Harriet the kangaroo, it's a whole 'nother part of her anatomy that's giving her trouble. "My poor pouch is worn out from carrying stuff," writes debut author Mueller. "I'm sick and I'm tired. Enough is enough!" But Harriet's plans to unwind at the beach with her beloved Joey hit a serious snag when Wanda Wombat, "so nosey and grouchy," volunteers Harriet's pouch to carry everyone else's beach gear for them. In what becomes the story's refrain, Wanda overrides Harriet's cringingly mousy objections and insists: "She has lots of room. She has loads of space/ For tons of stuff in her big pouchy place." (Although most of the freeloading animals are marsupials with pouches of their own, nothing is ever made of this.) Illustrator Vonthron-Laver gamely portrays the odd premise with a sunny %C3%A9lan, treating readers to scenes of Australia's seashore and portraits of its signature species. But mostly this story marks time with some fairly wooden rhyming until Harriet finally blows her fuse and stands up for herself. Ages 4%E2%80%938. (Oct.)