He loves Christmas and carols and presents, but most of all, he loves the Nativity play. In her humorous and understated watercolors, Argent’s beguiling bunch of Australian animals embodies a refreshing all-for-one Christmas spirit.” ♦ Publishers Weekly When fussy director Emu brilliantly suggests that Wombat accept the important role of baby Jesus, the play is finally ready for opening night. Wombat eagerly auditions for every part in the production, only to find that he’s not quite suited for any of them. “The show must go on and the annual Nativity play is no exception. ♦ Appointed by Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark as one of five Australian ambassadors of Hans Christian Andersen in celebration of the author’s 200th anniversary, 2005 ♦ Advance Australia Award for an outstanding contribution to Australian literature, 1991 ♦ The Dromkeen Medal for distinguished services to children’s literature ,1990 To see photographs of the real Australian animals from the book, go to.Read more books illustrated by Kerry Argent such as One Woolly Wombat and Sleepy Bears.Have the students learn about Mem Fox at her website by watching the Green Sheep video and reading her biography that is filled with pictures of her throughout her life.The food is distinctively Australian with dark Christmas pudding and hot tea. The dryness of the climate is shown in the illustrations where Wombat is running across a field of dry grass and when the friends are eating their Christmas meal outside. December occurs during the hot, dry summer in Australia. The illustrations, coupled with the Australian animals, also create the setting of Australia rather than the text. However, the book is not sad, but humorous through the use of funny expressions on the animals, including Wombat’s expression when he reads the flyer for the auditions. Her watercolors add humor to a plot that could drown in sadness because of Wombat’s plight. Kerry Argent, a native Aussie, makes the story come alive through the illustrations. Another underlying theme is that friends encourage each other even if they are competing for the same thing. The theme of never giving up develops as Wombat continues to try for parts that do not suit him. The plot and the theme of the book are woven together seamlessly. Handling rejection is common with children and frequently found in the plot of a children’s story. The plot is believable to young children, especially those who do not fit in with the crowd. The characters are engaging and encourage Wombat to continue to try out for parts even though he is rejected for one after another. These native animals include an emu, a wombat, a koala, kangaroos, a platypus, a dingo, and a bilby. First, the animals are indigenous to Australia. Since she lives in Australia, that influence is seen throughout the book. Mem Fox has written an engaging Christmas picture book filled with Australian animals as the characters. Even though Wombat is old enough to play a part, he struggles to find one that fits him with his big size and limited capabilities. Wombat and his friends are excited as they audition for the parts in the play. The animal characters are putting on a production of the Nativity play to be held on Christmas Eve.
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