Batter Up Wombat
Written by: Helen Lester
Illustrated by: Lynn Munsinger
Recommended for ages: 4-8
Walter Lorraine Books $7.95

With the characters we have come to love in Helen Lester’s other books, Batter Up Wombat is a fun summer read about the game of baseball.

When Wombat happens upon the field, the Champs are preparing for their opening game of the season. Given his great size and affable manner, the team thought they had struck gold when Wombat agreed to play with them. The problem was poor Wombat had never heard of baseball. He was a star on the rugby pitch back in his home country of Australia, so he felt somewhat confident that he could contribute to the team. How hard could it be? Well, it wouldn’t be so hard if the language of the game wasn’t so confusing. When the teammates told Wombat he would need a bat, he immediately thought of a flying rodent and when they told him to “run home”, he thought that was asking a lot to run all the way home to Australia. In fact, he got out his map to describe the length of such a journey.

After so many mix-ups, Wombat was feeling sad and like a real outsider. The clouds grew dark and before the mates knew it, a tornado was gathering speed. There was no dugout to hide in. Wombat thought quickly and discovered that his true talent was in digging holes. So in true Lester fashion, Wombat saves the day by digging a hole big enough for both teams and the fans, saving them all in from the trembling tornado.

Children who enjoy the antics and literal nature of Amelia Bedelia books will revel in this darling picture book.