Wombat Dreaming

Wombat Dreaming by Caz Goodwin and Zoe Bennett (Affirm Press) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9781923046603

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Everyone has something they are good at: sometimes it just takes a while to find that something. What might a wombat be good at?

Wombats are round and roly-poly. They are not known for their ability to balance or contort their bodies into different stretches, so why would Lil want to do yoga? It’s simple – all the other animals gather together every Sunday, down by the creek, to do yoga and Lil wants to join in.

It seems that each of the animals has their own signature yoga pose – from standing on one leg to an elegant downward dog. But Lil can’t do any of them.

Wombat Dreaming, by Caz Goodwin and Zoe Bennett is, first and foremost, a heartwarming story told with a rolling rhyme and accompanied by rich illustrations that radiate the Australian bush and landscape. Hidden beneath the story, the themes of resilience, individuality and inclusion are subtle, yet strong.

Caz Goodwin has taken a classic storyline – putting the main character in an unlikely situation that doesn’t fit their expected skillset – and made it her own. We love Lil straight away, feel for her when she thinks she’s failed and then celebrate when she succeeds.

Illustrator Zoe Bennett’s gorgeous pictures individualise the animals, ensuring they are all endearing as they demonstrate the tolerance and friendliness we so desperately need in our society.

And a yoga-loving wombat with her own signature pose? Who’d have thought it possible?

Wombat Dreaming is perfectly targeted at children aged from 3 to 7 years of age – and what better way to introduce a young generation to the benefits of mindfulness and yoga?