Published: 21st March 2023
Publisher: Macmillan
Illustrator: Rachel Gyan
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ – 3 Stars
Wombat liked her things just so. Everything had its place, and nothing was out of order.
She couldn’t say the same about her neighbours. But that was their business, and Wombat didn’t concern herself with others’ business.
When a very hot, dry summer causes dangerous fires in their neighbourhood, a group of animals are desperate to find water and shelter. It will take the quiet heroism of a neighbour to provide resources and a cosy, cool, and safe burrow—a reluctant wombat who demonstrates the inspiring power of community.
According to the author note this story is based on true events witnessed during the 2019/20 bushfires also known as Black Summer. As someone who lived through that time it was a real reminder of how bleak and dangerous that time was, and how no one really had a chance to process it before we were then thrown into a world wide pandemic. Reading this book made me a bit emotional towards to end, mainly because I am known to be a sucker for sweet stories, but also because I was reminded of my own experiences during that time which foolishly wasn’t something I thought would happen.
I was perplexed by wombat’s grumpy face on the cover, but having finished the book I am putting that look down to her determination. It isn’t that she is grumpy, she is tired sure, but she is determined. And that is the face of a determined wombat. There is no malice like I thought there’d be – no wombat getting tired of helping all the time and dismissing her neighbours, she stays helpful even though it’s hard work, and when they really need her she is once again ready to help no questions asked.
Gyan does do a great job on the illustrations. The animals are lifelike but personified, and wombat looks adorable in her clothes and pottering around her little house. The images of the bush and the animals are gorgeous – natural while still having some picture book-eque behaviour. The colours are stunning and I love the natural look, even within wombat’s burrow which looks very Hundred Acre Wood in terms of homeliness.
It was a surprising read, and one that unexpectedly brought back some bad memories from those fires that summer. But as weird as it was that it’s not written by an Australian, I’m glad an American author was touched by our plight to write this book and give the animal’s story a voice – even if it is fictionalised. Having said that, I would have liked some more Australianness to the story, even the token stereotypical stuff would have sufficed. Having Wombat drink a flavoured seltzer? Which is not a common drink here, one I didn’t even think we had till I checked, and one I’ve only ever heard about from Americans. I dunno, it felt off that so much effort was made to tell our story and there was so much of another culture through it. Even a fictionalised gumnut tea would have been better.
You can purchase Wombat, the Reluctant Hero via the following
Blackwell’s | Dymocks | Wordery | Angus & Robertson
Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust
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