''Amusing illustrations, rendered with fluid, black brush strokes and a snappy, eye-catching, orange-dominated palette, effectively capture all the turmoil, unrest, and chaos of Alexander''s life in Mum''s bulging pouch. Double-page spreads of Alexander fruitlessly wrangling an endless array of diverse objects present a convincing argument for his eventual progression from pouch into the next phase of his young life. A humorous invitation to embrace change and move on''. -- Kirkus ''Pops of golden yellow dominate the watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations of this tongue-in-cheek story about helping children embrace their independence.'' -- Foreword Reviews ''"The Pocket Chaotic" by the team of author/storyteller Ziggy Hanaor and artist/illustrator Daniel Gray-Barnett is an original, funny and heartwarming picture book tale about a connection between a mother and son (and his journey towards independence), that will ring true for many children especially in these uncertain times. A thoroughly ''kid friendly'' and entertaining read, "The Pocket Chaotic" is a very highly recommended addition to family, daycare centre, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children ages 3-6'' -- Midwest Book Review ''Don''t get him wrong, Alexander loves his mom, but why does she stuff her pouch full of junk? Is she incredibly messy or is there an ulterior motive at play? A clever little readaloud. This reminded me a lot of classic kangaroo stories like Katy No-Pocket or (the far more similar) Joey Runs Away. I was very impressed that both the author and the artist managed to keep from giving away the mom''s intentions until that very last page.

Hand this one to a parent trying desperately to get their 25-year-old out of the basement''. -- Fuse 8, School Library Journal ''A whimsical story about parents and children evolves, with a special and fun message that kids will appreciate''. -- Donovan''s Literary Services ''This is such an adorable book -- one that I want to add to my personal library, too! The cute remarks from the kangaroo''s mother spoke directly to this mama''s heart!'' -- Net Galley ''A charming and well-crafted picture book story about Alexander, a joey who lives in his kangaroo mother Nancy''s pocket, his quest for order and tidiness, and his ultimate independence. There''s a lot to discuss here with themes of organisation, self-reliance and living with other people. With vibrant and florescent illustrations, this is a great book for reluctant readers in year 1, and also to read to classes in KS1, particularly at the start of a new school year''. -- School Reading List ''From the witty title, to the delightful endpapers, The Pocket Chaotic is a charming story about becoming independent and growing up. The long list of items that Alexander finds in the pouch are great fun to read aloud, and the witty illustrations caused me to laugh out loud more than once. Adult readers will wonder, is mom Nancy Machiavellian, or just messy? Either way, The Pocket Chaotic is both entertaining and comforting.

That''s a neat (ha!) trick.'' -- Mr. Alex''s Bookshelf '' I loved this adorable story! It is completely hilarious from start to finish, and I loved every page! The illustrations add so much to the humor of the story! The funny expressions on the characters'' faces are just perfection. I love the crayon art style, and the neon bright colors are sure to capture your attention''. -- Luminous Libro ''We often get picture books where the kid has to get their act together, but how often are we treated to a hapless parent? The illustrations (shout-out to 1944''s Katy No-Pocket by Emmy Payne with illustrations by H.A. Rey) are delightful. The family lives in a people-world (England? Nancy is called his "mum" and it''s a British publishing house) with colorful, orderly shops and fantasy pockets (with room for laddered shelving units).

The kangaroos are all neon orange and are rendered in slightly messy, scribbly watercolors. There is so much to look and giggle at in this book. If you have fond memories of Mrs. Piggle Wiggle''s cures, in which parents engage in subterfuge to bring about behavioral change, you''ll appreciate this book. This is also a light-hearted look at the serious topic of growing up and taking steps to independence, recognizing that the process can be uncomfortable at first!'' -- YS Book Reviews ''A book about becoming independent for the first time, The Pocket Chaotic acknowledges that there is a time when little ones start to feel that they need more than the cosy safety of home. Being snug in mum''s pocket is lovely for the little joey until he starts to get too big and need his own space - and mum needs a bit of space for her life, too. This stylish book with a relatable story is a joy for children and adults alike. The beautiful illustrations use muted tones with pops of neon orange, mixing gentle watercolour and bold strokes.

Each page features just a sentence or two, which are occasionally set out playfully across the page, adding fun and drama''. -- BookTrust ''Enjoy this exuberant, warm story and share the neon illustrations little ones wanting independence, yet not quite ready to really let go''. -- Armadillo Children''s Magazine ''The Pocket Chaotic is a playful, heart-warming story of a journey towards independence. @cicadabooks, Ziggy Hanaor & Daniel Gray-Barnett work wonders with a life skill we want to instill in young children, but doesn''t often feature in books''. -- The Value''s Bookshelf ''The story of Nancy the kangaroo and her joey, Alexander, who spends most of his time in his Mum''s pouch, or "Alexander''s pocket" as he like to think of it. The trouble is, Mum is a bit untidy. An amazing cook, pianist and skipping rope jumper, she just stuffs all sorts of STUFF in Alexander''s pocket. Phone.

fair enough, but loose change, a stone, a stick, smelly shorts, the school newsletter from sister Elly''s school. Alexander is fed up, and even his fantastic filing system can''t keep on top of all the stuff. One Wednesday it''s really bad, cookbook, toothpaste, keys, felt tip pen, and HALF A BANANA!! Alexander has really had enough. The is a beautiful tale of Mums and real life, and will resonate with us all. Perfect''. -- It''s All About Stories ''Delightful illustrations bring the kangaroos to life and there''s a lovely lesson about the inevitability of growing up - but not being as scary as you think. A quirky tale to enjoy throughout the year!'' -- The Book Activist ''This one tugged all my maternal heartstrings as it explores an adorable mother-child relationship and the pushing of boundaries towards independence. Disclaimer: Daniel Gray-Barnett is one of my very fave illustrators so I basically love anything he does''.

-- Oh Creative Day ''With themes of growing up and independence, even though this story is about Kangaroos, I think there are many aspects of the story that adults and children will connect with - I''ve definitely got pockets full of kirby grips and can sympathise with a messy mum! The illustrations are bright, clear and convey the meaning of the text really well. The story is entertaining, well written and just generally very enjoyable! In school or childcare settings, this is a good book for talking about growing up and how things change. The attitude of Alexander''s big sister Elly towards him, would be a great tool in PSHE for talking about how we can be kinder to younger children/siblings too. This book would make a lovely gift too!'' -- Reading Zone review ''We love THE POCKET CHAOTIC! Written by Cigalle Hanaor and illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett (Grandma Z), it''s a sweet story of mother and son navigating difference, independence, and how to keep a pouch tidy! It''s especially perfect for children who are experiencing a transition whether it be moving house or moving beds.'' -- The Younger Sun Bookshop ''Alexander lives in his Mother''s pouch, it is warm, cosy and has a reassuring smell. However, Mum Nancy is rather messy and keeps all manner of things in there from change to receipts to cookbooks. Alexander is finding it hard to keep it all tidy and organised and it soon becomes too much. Finding the confidence to finally move into his own bedroom, Alexander can keep it just the way he wants.

A timely tale of the journey to finding your own feet and your own space. Adore this story and the wonderful use of bold colours''. -- My Shelves Are Full.