Waiting at Woy Woy

by Robin George

The courage of a town’s local dog teaches a valuable Don’t Let Life Pass You By. Waiting at Woy Woy’s playful rhymes and water-color illustrations create a theatrical world that will have Young Readers cheer for the animal characters who help this town how to be a little less… sleepy.

In the Australian seaside town of Woy Woy, the locals seem stuck waiting for their lives to begin. A man waits for the lake to be stocked with fish, a child waits for his grandmother to join at the bus stop, a newscaster waits for a big news break, and a romantic waits for a glimpse of her love while walking to their date.

All this waiting keeps life sleepily dull in Woy Woy. One community member that brings joy is a small, piano-playing mouse named Mordy. It seems that life drones on, when a sudden storm floods the town and poor Mordy is washed away! All the people wait to act, assuming it will be another individual that takes up the cause to save Mordy.

It takes the courage of a local dog, Tyrone, who leaps into action and becomes the hero of this stagnant town. Tyrone teaches a valuable lesson about not letting life pass by.

Told in playful rhymes and illustrated in soft, inviting watercolors , Waiting at Woy Woy will encourage little ones and their parents to seize the day.

32 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[Lynsaroo]

In the town of Woy Woy people spend their days waiting ⌚ around for something to happen. Waiting for the weather 🪁 to change, waiting on someone else, waiting for a frog to move, always waiting. Rainpour 🌧️ triggers a chain reaction in Woy Woy, sending the beloved musician 🐁 Mordy the mouse’s fedora down the sewer drain. As he peers in to recover it, he is quickly swept in and down to the lake. The townsfolk stand by, worried 😨 and waiting for Mordy to erupt, for someone to jump in and save him, too scared to act. Without hesitation 🐶 Tyrone the dog does the unthinkable, diving in to save the drowning mouse. Tyrone becomes an instant hero 🦸and the catalyst that triggers a much-needed change in the people of Woy Woy.
I love a book about humans that has an unconventional hero: the carefree and brave dog. The rhythm and rhyme make it flow so delicately. I hate to spoil the ending, but how vital it is to the story and to our lives every day. Life is short. There is no time for waiting. No more thoughts and prayers. We need action. What are we waiting for?

[Sarah]

the sing-songy rhyming got really annoying, the story didn't quite make sense, the pictures were odd, and the message got lost in all of that. soo, yeah.

[Jane Raleigh]

A charming and skilfully-written story with a great message. My 5-year old loved it. Strongly recommend!