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Wombat and Fox: Tales of the City is an illustrated chapter book for early readers that follows the many misadventures of good friends Wombat and Fox in the big city.
In “Wombat’s Lucky Dollar,” Wombat finds a shiny coin in the gutter - a lucky coin. But the lucky coin brings luck to everyone but Wombat and Fox, who have run-ins with an ice cream vendor, a Water Rat, the Hippo Sisters and their tandem bike, and Bandicoot and his shiny red sports car during their adventure.
In “Golden Cleat Fox,” Fox learns that he is utterly unable to kick a soccer ball. Perhaps his feet are crooked? When the Five Monkeys run off with Fox’s ball, Fox accidentally destroys a bird’s nest in trying to retrieve the ball. But Fox’s efforts to replace the nest bring good karma in the form of golden cleats and a newfound ability to make the goal. The final story in the collection, “A Hot Night in the City,” features the friends attempting to keep cool on a very hot day.
Terry Denton’s Aussie story Wombat and Fox: Tales of the City has oodles of offbeat charm. The modern, urban setting (the story begins with Wombat trying to add minutes to his cell phone, for instance) makes for a nice surprise in a story featuring animals. The art was originally not to my taste, but eventually grew on me; it actually suits the plot and style of the book quite well. The many line drawings, the casual dialogue, and the goofy appeal of the main characters should appeal to beginning readers who will want to be eager to learn more of Wombat and Fox’s adventures.
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Usha Reynolds/2009 for curled up with a good kid's book |
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Wombat and Fox: Tales of the City