[.uk] Wombat Divine (ISBN 0152014160)

Amazon.com Review:
Wombat is a cute and lovable character with a passion for the stage and a desire to be in the nativity play. The popular illustrations of Kerry Argent are well loved by children, and this book could easily become a Christmas classic.

A lovely Christmas tale with an Australian flavour:
Wombat Divine is an Australian Classic and in my opinion one of Mem Fox's best. My family now own hundreds of childrens' picture books, but this was the first one I ever bought my son. It still remains a firm favourite with us. The illustrations are delightful, as is the story. It's a must have for the Christmas book collection - something a little different and makes a great gift. You can't help but fall in love with Wombat.

Wombat Divine review:
This Australian story about a young wombat wanting the lead in the school Christmas play, tugs at the heart strings of those who don't always get what they want. In the end the young wombat learns that all the parts in the Christmas play are important and together the actors create a wonderful experience for all in their animal rendition of the Christmas Story. Beautiful illustrations.

Mem Fox:
See my review for Time for Bed. This is another book from Mem Fox and an animal from Australia.

Divine Humor:
Mem Fox has done it again! Fox uses the special animals of Australia to illustrate that eachof us has a special place in life that we're each suited for. Love the illustration and the possitive way the animals handled finding that special place for Wombat. It was a favorite of ours this last Christmas, but we also keep it out year round and visitors to our home love reading it.

Australian Wildlife Christmas Nativity:
Although not the best of Mem Fox's work Wombat Divine is a very good story about an enthusiastic main character who doesn't quite have the ability to be initially succeed where he wants but has his dream come through in the end. A wombat has always dreamed of being in a nativity play but each character he tries out for, he finds out he is unsuited for. The great story though is let down by very average illustrations by Kerry Argent, which is a shame as those who have read the wombat tale Sebastian Lives in a Hat know she can do a very good job when she puts in the effort and can draw very realistic looking wombats. None of the Australian animals in Wombat Devine actually resemble the Australian wildlife they are supposed to be. Wombat looks like a bear, the emu for some reason has wings that can come out of the front of its body like arms which emus in real life no doubt wish for but don't have, the echidna is just the platypus with a lot of yellow triangles coming out of its body, the bilby looks like a rabbit (no wonder Mem Fox dumped this illustrator and went with Pamela Lofts for the sensational Hunwick's Egg where the bilby actually looks like a bilby.