Review by Booklist Review
Wally the wombat is so talented that he is considered the world's best piano-playing wombat--until competition appears on the scene. Wally still wants be the best, so he develops a new routine: he'll be the world's greatest tap-dancing piano-playing wombat. But then the other wombat, Wylie, learns, too! Wally continues to add elements to his repertoire, only to be easily matched. A sullen Wally decides that if he can't be the best, it's not worth playing at all. Wally eventually confronts Wylie, but Wally's not prepared to be confronted in return--with kindness. Wylie notes that Wally pushed Wylie to get better and made playing entertaining. Realizing that having fun is more important than being the best, the new friends prepare the most epic joint performance of their lives. The softly textured and brightly hued illustrations are a joy, and the energetic depictions of increasingly frenzied performances are sure to elicit laughter. A hilarious and wholehearted reminder that pleasure is more important than prestige.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
One-upmanship has never been so over-the-top. How can Wally Wombat keep up with Wylie Wombat? Play the piano? Done that. Tap dance--while playing the piano? Done THAT. Twirling a ball on a furry snout--while tap dancing and playing the piano? DONE THAT! Ferociously sweating Wally Wombat has had "ENOUGH!" Wylie Wombat can do everything he can, and maybe even better. If Wally can't be the best, he won't play at all. So there. Wally quickly realizes that a quiet life in his burrow, while nice, isn't what he wishes for most of all. Wylie offers up a truce and chocolate chip cookies on a picnic blanket--playing alone isn't quite as much fun as having a friendly competitor. Wally and Wylie set up their dueling pianos. Soon the overachieving marsupials unicycle and flamethrow to stardom under the eucalyptus tree. They are the best--until they aren't….Tep's encouraging message about doing what you love despite not being the greatest of all time will spur children to explore life's joys just for the pleasure it brings. (Regardless of cheeky parachuting wombats.) Pintonato's vividly detailed illustrations comically highlight the myriad emotions clashing across put-upon Wally's face. The unifying motif of the picnic blanket--patterned endpapers cleverly foreshadows the conflict resolution to come. The illustrator's skillful use of negative space emphasizes the escalating mayhem to hilarious effect. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This rollicking fable will resonate with aficionados, dilettantes, and prodigies everywhere. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
