Wombat Divine
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 21st anniversary edition cover of Wombat Divine | |
| Author | Mem Fox |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Kerry Argent |
| Cover artist | Kerry Argent |
| Genre | Children's illustrated fiction |
| Set in | Australia |
| Publisher | Omnibus Books |
Publication date | 1995 |
| Publication place | Australia |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 9780152020965 |
Wombat Divine is a 1995 Christmas-themed children's fiction book written by Australian author Mem Fox and illustrated by Kerry Argent. The book, written for children aged three years and above, tells the story of a young wombat who fears he will not be given a part in this year's Nativity play, but is delighted in the end to be chosen for the part of the Christ Child. A 21st anniversary edition of the book was published in 2016.
Characters
Wombat has long dreamed of being in the annual Nativity play.[1] When he is finally old enough to participate,[2] he enters every audition, only to be rejected each time on the grounds that he is "too big for some parts, too small for others, too short, too clumsy..."[1] until he fears that his dream will go unfulfilled.[1] Fortunately, "wise Emu"[3] has an idea—a sleepy Wombat would be well suited to the part of baby Jesus.[3] Wombat accepts the part and ends up stealing the show as he falls asleep during the performance, just as a real baby might.[4]
In addition to Wombat, the story features a host of native Australian animals as characters including kangaroos, koalas, numbats, emus, bilbies and platypuses.[1]