WOMBAT & FOX
Tales of the City
by Terry Denton & illustrated by Terry Denton
This Australian buddy book featuring the titular Wombat and Fox as well as Croc, millionaire Bandicoot, the Hippo Sisters and the naughty, naughty Five Monkeys is sure to please new readers with a wacky sense of humor. Three short stories tell the tales of Wombat and his lucky dollar coin, Fox and his questionable soccer skills and all the friends as they struggle through a witheringly hot, humid summer night. Lively black-and-white illustrations reminiscent of Quentin Blake pepper each page, breaking the text into manageable pieces. The tiny, expressive spot drawings couple with frequent bursts of bold font to encourage readers to slow down and enjoy the story. Though some accommodations have been made for the American reader (e.g., Fahrenheit temperatures), it’s nice to see that many Australian words and phrases remain (pram, give us a go, ringing me up). Fans of Dav Pilkey who are ready for something different will chuckle at the wild antics of this jolly band of animal friends. (Fantasy. 6-10)