Happy Birthday, Little Wombat by Charles Fuge

It's Little Wombat's birthday and it is going to be a great day. Koala gives him an explorer's stick "for bashing through the undergrowth" and Bilby has made him his very own flag to "stick in the ground when you discover somewhere new."

And that's just what they did as they made their way to the river where Mum has made a special surprise picnic. But not only did Little Wombat discover his other friends waiting for him, but also an even better use for his new presents!!

Little Wombat and his friends are fast becoming a preschool favourite series as not only are the creatures familiar and seemingly the same age as they are, they do the sorts of things that little ones do while there is always a subtle message to gently absorb as they read - this one about being safe when messing about on boats. But even if they haven't spent a birthday on a boat, nevertheless young readers will have plenty of stories to share about their own birthday celebrations and wishes while there is also the opportunity to learn about calendars, months and making a graph of who celebrates when with each creating a candle or a cupcake to add to the relevant column.

Themes: Birthdays, Wombats.

Barbara Braxton