Wombat Stew

Well, it's sort of too bad that the Dingo was spoiled out of his meal, as carnivores are part of nature's web, but really this is just like all the European stories in which fox, wolf, or coyote, or even lion or tiger, are tricked out of theirs. What makes this special is the Australian setting, as (by definition) most readers haven't grown up to be familiar with these critters. What makes it extra special are the appealing illustrations that are lively, expressive, and humorous, and not cartoony at all. And I can't forget to tell you that the rhyme is successful, and both story and art are funny.

This is a story about a group of animals that pretend to work together to help a Dingo make a Wombat stew. The animals bring items to add to the stew and convince the Dingo to leave the Wombat for last. But the animals have made the stew taste terrible! So the Dingo never adds the Wombat. He thinks he has been poisoned. I like the way the animals use a cooperative strategy to save the Wombat.

An inverted trickster tale, in which all the other animals trick dingo. There's a catchy little song, although we always sing it to a tune I made up because I'd already sung it 10 times by the time we got to the end of the book and I discovered a tune was provided. This is a good repetitive book and the only unusual Australian terminology is names of animals and plants that are pictured on the same page.

A classic childrens story with a wonderful plot, beautiful illustrations and a lovely rhythym.

Vaughan, M. (1986). Wombat Stew. New Jersey: Silver Burdett Press.
This book is most appropriate for preschoolers. The book is about a dingo that gets advice from multiple animals in order to make his wombat stew. The animals cleverly tell the dingo to add ingredients into the stew that will poison the dingo so that he doesn’t eat the wombat. In the end the dingo runs away after eating the stew and the wombat is free to go. The book includes clever rhyming sequences as well as a song at the end.

A classic Australian picture book. When dingo catches a wombat and wants to cook him in a gooey, brewy, yummy, chewy stew he doesn't factor in the other bush animals and their plan to save their friend wombat.

One of my favourite books when I was younger. Wonderful Australian Book.