Happy Holidays Week, Day 3: Hello, everybody! Today’s book is Wombat Divine, written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Kerry Argent, a very sweet tale of a wombat, a nativity play, and a dream.

Of all the holidays, Wombat loves Christmas most of all! He especially loves the Nativity play, and wants more than anything to be part of it this year. But when he goes to audition, he just doesn’t seem to be right for any of the parts, no matter how hard he tries, nor the encouragement of his friends. Can Wombat find the part that will be right for him?

Choosing this book based on the cover and title alone (and, really, how could I resist?), I was so pleasantly surprised by what a cool Christmas story this was! Wombat’s perseverance in the face of disappointment, the earnest support and kindness of his friends, and the adorable resolution are all great. Plus, in the spirit of exploring the way other cultures celebrate their holidays, this is a decidedly Aussie holiday book: every character is an indigenous Australian animal, and it features a bright and sunny summer Christmas. The length is just fine for baby bookworms, the illustrations are charming, and JJ had a great time reading it. Baby Bookworm approved!