Book Review – Terry Denton Wombat & Fox Series
Fun Chapter Books for Young Readers by Australian Author/Illustrator
With the third installment in the Wombat & Fox series, Wombat & Fox: Thrillseekers (Allen & Unwin, 2009), well-known Australian author/illustrator Terry Denton offers young readers another helping of humour, fun and daring adventure.
Wombat & Fox: Thrillseekers
It is Wombat’s birthday and he wants to celebrate by taking some risks and living life on the edge for the day. He and Fox each write out a list of wild and dangerous deeds. While the hesitant Fox lists only 12 things like running with scissors and rocking back on his chair, Wombat’s list of 101 deeds includes demolishing a building, jumping from a plane without a parachute and putting his head in a bear’s mouth.
Wombat and Fox come to a compromise and find three deeds from Wombat’s list that aren’t too extreme. Thrillseekers features three short stories as Wombat and Fox scooter down Bandicoot’s hill and stop before the duck pond, dive off the high dive tower at the swimming pool and ride the roller-coaster at the fun park.
Thrillseekers features a collection of amusing characters including Wombat and Fox, the Five Monkeys, the Hippo Sisters, Croc, Bandicoot and Tasmanian Devil. Previous Wombat & Fox titles include Wombat & Fox: Summer in the City (Allen & Unwin, 2007) and Wombat & Fox: Tales in the City (Allen & Unwin, 2006).
Terry Denton
Melbourne-based author/illustrator Terry Denton is well known to primary school aged readers for both his own books and his collaborations with other authors, particularly the Just Books (Just Crazy!, Just Annoying!, Just Tricking! etc) written by Andy Griffiths.
While Denton’s most easily-recognised work are the familiar amusing cartoon-style characters and creatures, his talent extends to much more subtle and detailed drawings and watercolours, some of which feature on his website.
Denton has received a number of awards for his work, including CBC, Bilby, Koala and Yabba awards.
Fun Books for Confident Young Readers
With the text liberally interspersed with Denton’s humorous line-drawings and the repetition of phrases and concepts, the Wombat and Fox books are ideal for children aged 7 – 11. The friendship between Wombat and Fox and the humorous adventures and mishaps shared by the main characters and their friends ensure that the books will appeal to both confident readers at the younger end of the range and older children through to late primary school ages.
The Wombat and Fox stories contain a sense of action and drama and children will enjoying reading to find out what adventure the determined Wombat will draw his reluctant friend into next.
Wombat & Fox: Thrillseekers (ISBN: 978-1-74175-131-4, 121 pages)
Readers who enjoy Wombat & Fox might also enjoy the Roland Wright series by Tony Davis
Wombat & Fox: Thrillseekers by Terry Denton
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles