This month’s PB review is by Ryan G. Van Cleave (Owner/​Operator of Only Picture Books) and longtime OPB friend (and Ringling College of Art and Design Illustration Professor) John Herzog.

–Ryan’s Review of the Writing–

I’m a sucker for a picture book cover that screams READ ME and wow, this one does that. The title is silly and full of alliteration, and Wally himself just seems like the type of wombat I want to spend 32 pages with. And yes, it’s partially due to the blue tuxedo tailcoat.

This debut picture book by frequent The New York Times contributor Ratha Tep starts fast. By the third spread, we know that while Wally wants to be the world’s best piano-​playing wombat, he’s not–a wombat in a red tuxedo tailcoat does it better. Wally isn’t daunted by that realization, however. He adds more and more to his act until he’s tap dancing, ball twirling, AND playing the piano. Surely he’s the greatest at all of that?

At that realization,Wally quits. But like anyone with a dream, he finds it’s hard to give it up completely. He keeps thinking about that piano, and when the other wombat is “lurking around Wally’s piano,” Wally takes action.

The other wombat (Wylie), though, offers a cookie. Then he says that he missed Wally’s playing because it made playing the piano fun, and it made him try harder and play better. Wally realizes that Wylie’s playing made HIM play better, too. Over a chocolate chip cookies and milk snack, the two new wombat friends create a plan. Not just any plan, but the WORLD’S GREATEST plan.

The two perform on stage as the “World’s greatest blindfolded, unicycling, flamethrowing, hula-​hooping, piano-​playing wombats ever!” And it’s amazing. Until they realize someone else can do it better.

Even though Wally is discouraged at times, the book showcases the power of healthy competition and the delicious joy of doing what one loves. In an interview at Picture Book Builders, Tep discusses how, as a child, she had experiences similar to Wally’s but that “things also exponentially improved for me once I started accepting that there would always be someone better. I don’t mean this in a defeatist way; if anything I find it a liberating frame of thought. It frees you up to do what you really love.”

I think that affirmative, empowering focus comes through effectively in this story. Even when Wally has his minor eruption, he immediately comes around after the simple kind act of Wylie offering him a cookie.

Even though this is Tep’s debut picture book, I have to note that she did an admirable job keeping the text tight and focused. I think that’s partially why the artwork is so effective–she purposefully left a lot of room for Pintonato to play with, explore, and spotlight.

In sum, while this is a debut author at work and the publisher isn’t one I’ve encountered before, the product is memorable, amusing, and well worth reading again. Highly recommended.

4.75 out of 5 pencils

–John’s Review of the Illustrations–