Wally the World's Greatest Piano-Playing Wombat by Ratha Tep and Camilla Pintonato - ADVISABLE

Wally the World's Greatest Piano-Playing Wombat by Ratha Tep illustrated by Camilla Pintonato PICTURE BOOK Princeton Architectural Press, 2022. $19 9781648961809 

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Everyone wants to be the best at something, and Wally and Wylie are no exception. This is a clever, colorful story about some ambitious wombats who play the piano (among other impressive skills) but who let competitiveness get in the way of pursuing their passions. 

I really liked the way the story worked through the relatable experience of quitting something because of feeling inadequate, and then finding a way to just enjoy activities without the pressure of comparison. It also touches on the importance of practicing skills to improve them. This would be a great read aloud in a home or classroom with young readers who are frustrated by not being "the best" or not learning a skill easily. 

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian