WOMBATS! GO CAMPING

A tale of two different ideas of camping leads to an adventure full of surprises.

Wombat BFFs Albert and Pickles are headed on a camping trip. Albert is the more practical-minded and outdoorsy type, while Pickles is more about modern comforts. Their different expectations lead to some mild disagreement until Pickles stumbles across a baby koala in the woods. The wombats also come across their platypus friend Platters, who is in the woods looking for a legendary and dangerous Woolly Moon Beast. This adventure is gentle and light, both in exploring the divergent interests of its central duo and in the search for the koala’s mother. Pickles has an exaggerated, reactionary personality that will elicit the most laughs. This graphic novel is rife with humor, from Pickles’ hilariously over-the-top fear of the unknown to the baby koala’s frequent mispronunciations to characters randomly popping up out of the scenery. Layouts are clearly arranged and easy to follow. Both Albert and Pickles are winsome protagonists—mature, self-reliant Albert is clearly at home in nature, explaining how to read a compass and describing the wonders of nature, while Pickles shows a willingness to try new things despite trepidation. The protagonists respectfully acknowledge each other’s preferences and value their friendship.

The virtues of seeking and leaving one’s comfort zone are both on display during this amusing outdoor trip.