BIG RED BRUCE: THE KANGAROO WHO LOST HIS TAIL

Helping children understand differences with heart and humor

WHY THIS BOOK IS SPECIAL

This delightful children's book introduces readers to Big Red Bruce, a kangaroo who faces a unique challenge—he's lost his tail! Through Bruce's adventures and the support of his animal friends, children learn valuable lessons about acceptance, adaptation, and finding strength in differences.

Big Red Bruce is the first in a series designed to help children ages 3-9 learn about and deal with social, physical, and emotional issues, using the engaging world of weird and wonderful animals.

As a double amputee himself due to a shark attack, author Paul de Gelder brings authentic understanding and gentle wisdom to the topic of limb loss. The story approaches this sensitive subject with warmth, humor, and practical insights that help children understand physical differences in others—or even in themselves.

This uniquely positioned book:

  • Makes conversations about physical differences natural and positive

  • Encourages empathy and understanding in young readers

  • Builds resilience by showing how challenges can be overcome

  • Delivers serious messages through entertaining animal adventures

"Parents—This book works best if all the characters' voices are done with an Australian accent. Don't worry if you're not Australian, just do your best. Trust me, your kids will love it!"

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING

"I love this for my nieces and nephews. It's an engaging story full of fun characters, with a unique message for kids about staying positive and embracing adversity. Excited to check out the next one in the series!" — Dan"This book will dissolve your fear, turn it into fascination, and truly make you LOVE sharks. They are magnificent creatures, vital to our ecosystems and the survival of every living being on the planet. This may be one of the most important, and most captivating reads of our time!" — Rhiannon Bresnitz

A NOTE FROM PAUL

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul de Gelder is a former Australian Army Paratrooper and Navy Clearance Diver who survived a brutal shark attack that claimed his hand and leg. Rather than surrendering to limitation, Paul transformed this life-altering event into a platform for global impact as a speaker, environmentalist, television personality, and advocate.

His remarkable evolution from troubled youth to military elite to global inspiration demonstrates how the right mindset transforms setbacks into platforms for extraordinary impact.