Product Description

Customer Reviews (46)

Great Wombat Book
I'm so happy a friend recommended this book. It's popular with children and fun for adults too. It's humorous and the illustrations are great.

Great book
I really enjoy this book and have given it as a gift several times. It is funny and engaging and the pictures are great.

The importance of being a good neighbor...
Delightful little kids book, one that I will have to add to my collection at home of picture books. The only problem I see, the need to eat carrots every time you reread the book.

Diary of a wombat
I loved this book from an adult that has had the wonderful fortune to have cared,raised & released three of these unusual creatures of the Australian bush.
Jacki French describes so accurately the most important things that Australian wombats loves to do-Sleep,eat and to check out whats new in their backyard including humans. The illustrations are wonderful and the destruction of all things foreign is so typical of this creature and their love of carrots, sweet potato and a bowl of oats are like chocolate is to us.
I recommend this book to children and adults alike as it is entertaining and a great introduction to the world of the Australian wombat. If this small book makes you smile then follow it up with 'How to scratch a wombat' and read about Jacki's experiences, living amongst and raising these animals in the Australian bush.

A great book - my daughter loves it
This book is wonderfully written from wombats point of view of living near humans. My six year old read and re-reads this book because it is fun. It introduces an animal not common outside australia. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

How to scratch a wombat!
As an Australian I have found this book to be the best book ever written on wombats.The information enclosed within its pages are the most accurate description of wombats that I have ever found. We call them "Bulldozers of the Bush" here in Australia and if you ever have the opportunity to see them they are a fascinating creature.Farmers around Australia classify them as pests but as I have the opportunity to care,raise & release three, I have found they are a wonderful animals that are misunderstood through ignorance only.
Jacki French's book if used in schools would teach children around the world that wombats are fascinating Australian
animals.The stories she has written regarding their antics when playing is so true, watching them build their homes in places they probably shouldnt and the fact they bite your legs and you'd swear they find it funny.
The pictures in the book are spot on,the illustrations describe clearly what they look like, how to identify their
scats, footprints and where to find them here in Australia.
I believe that Jacki French has produced a book that when you read it you can better understand these strange but
very lovable creatures of the Australian Bush.
I would definitely recommend this book for children & adults alike. "5 star+"

Wombat book
This book was sent to my grandson at Christmas. He is four and still too young for the book but my daughter says she is enjoying it. I glanced at it before gift wrapping it and found it to be very detailed and informative, in a fun way. I thought my older grandson, age nine, might get something out of it. Like most boys, he'll probably get a kick out of the descriptions of the different kinds of poop!

How to scratch a Wombat
This is Jackie French's best book so far. I purchased 4 copies, have already given them all away and will buy more!
Anyone who likes Wombats and has read "Diary of a Wombat' will enjoy this book. It was wonderful to learn how she got the idea for the book 'Diary of a Wombat' and other books she has written.
The illustrations by Bruce Whatley are also wonderful.

What have we learned today?Beware the affectionate wombat.
I remember where I was the first time I read Jackie French's Diary of a Wombat. I was in a bookstore perusing the picture book titles when I was struck by the image of Bruce Whatley's ridiculously adorable wombat dead asleep on its side, a pile of carrots sitting nearby. Mind you, I did not know what a wombat was. The name was vaguely familiar. It's one of those Australian names for an animal I'd never seen before, right? The book turned out to be just as charming as the cover, and through it whole generations of American children have learned some basic facts about Vombatus ursinus. But at its heart, Diary of a Wombat is just a picture book. It isn't non-fiction (though many of the events in it are based on real life). What is non-fiction is French and Whatley's follow-up title, How to Scratch a Wombat. This 96-page book will answer most of your most basic questions about the world of wombats. What do they eat? What kinds are there? And can you really scratch one? A fascinating examination of a critter too little known on our side of the pond.

A wombat was responsible for Jackie French's career as a writer. Unemployed, alone, and in need of $106.44, Ms. French found a typewriter and proceeded to write a children's book in her shed. A nearby wombat named Smudge disliked the typewriter thoroughly though, and he let his disapproval be known in a rather messy manner. By the time she was done her manuscript was misspelled, yellowed, smudged with wombat-droppings, and every time she used the letter "E" it had to be written in by hand. The manuscript was so terrible looking, in fact, that it stood out amongst the other books in the slush pile (wannabe writers, do not attempt). Fortunately Ms. French is a superb writer, and through her ridiculous looking manuscript she was able to continue her career in writing. Because of this, or perhaps in spite of it, she has grown close to the wombat community, caring for the orphaned and injured ones, as well as the healthy and destructive. How to Scratch a Wombat explains every single aspect of a wombat existence. We learn about their burrows, intelligence, communication, aversion to direct sunlight, etc. Through observation, research, and personal recollections Ms. French also tells us about the wombats she has known. Everyone from Bad Bart the biter to Rikki, the wombat that couldn't quite figure out why biting through someone's wrist might be bad. Do not be surprised after reading this book if you find yourself in desperate need to see a wombat immediately. Ms. French will make you a convert. A list of Australian Words to Know with definitions alongside is available for easy reference.

When I was a child I remember watching a bluejay in a tree shouting a warning to the other birds in the neighborhood. My mother told me at the time that bluejays act as scouts for other creatures, but that surprisingly little is known about them. This fact stunned me. Until then I was fairly certain that all the animals that live beside humans have been studied, cataloged, and understood for years. It never occurred to me that there always has to be someone willing to sit down, observe, and get to know these animals before anything concrete can be written about them in books. And as authors go Jackie French is probably one of the foremost experts on all things wombat. It says a lot about a person when you consider the kinds of animals they choose to learn more about. And judging from the amount of wombat-related information in this book, Jackie French must be an infinitely interesting person.

There are many things your average American citizen does not know about wombats. For example, they are essentially little tanks of fur. Their heads are designed to butt up against objects so as to knock them down. They leave droppings at a rate that would make a Canadian goose jealous. They can be affectionate or hostile, depending on personalities. If you ate one, the wombat would, "taste disgusting - they are mostly bone and gristle - and their fur feels like a shaggy doormat." Also, wombats belie the human belief that animals are genetically predisposed to be good at what they do. Wombats, you see, are lamentable engineers. Really. They spend much of their lives creating or redesigning burrows for themselves and they are just awful at it. The burrows often collapse or fill with water in some fashion. The wombat could probably learn something from the beaver, but it undoubtedly wouldn't want to try.

Complementing Ms. French's text are illustrations by Bruce Whatley. Some of the pictures in this book look as though they were taken from Diary of a Wombat. The image of a wombat wrestling and destroying a welcome mat would belong in this category. Other illustrations provide some informative back-up to the text. There is the image of the ancient six and a half foot tall wombat ancestor the Diprotodon optatum. There are maps of wombat locations and images of the hairy-nosed verses the common wombat. There are also realistic renderings of wombats in the wild alongside the more cartoony images of the picture book. You would think this pairing would jar with the reader, but in fact they work together rather well. I guess wombats are cute, no matter what the medium is. And a cute realism alongside cute imaginative pictures blends together well.

Amusingly the only other children's book I know of that is wombat-centric is Elizabeth Honey's very funny Don't Pat the Wombat!. The title appears to be in direct opposition to Ms. French's new book, but I still think they'd pair mighty well together in a booktalk or display. Of course this title is ideal for those kids doing projects on Australian animals, but I think it's a great read in general. Who isn't going to get a kick out of hearing about the wombat so evil they named it Moriarty? Or the tale about the mother who evicted the baby in her pouch with no nonsense force? Even if the word "wombat" doesn't conjure up much of any image in your mind, you have to love a book that knows how to make juvenile literature interesting, engaging, and never ever dull. Kudos to Ms. French for thinking up such a book. Lucky are the kids who will check it out and read it. ... Read more

Product Description
Wombat loves everything about Christmas--especially the Nativity play. He's wanted to be in it for as long as he can remember. At last he's old enough to try out. But at the auditions, the first part goes to someone else. So does the next. And the next . . . Will there be a part left for Wombat?Amazon.com Review
Wombat is a cute and lovable character with a passion for thestage and a desire to be in the nativity play. The popularillustrations of Kerry Argent are well loved by children, and thisbook could easily become a Christmas classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Charming Children's Christmas Book
A sweet tale of love and exceptance centered around a traditional nativity play starring Australian's finest animals. Wonderful on many levels. A Christmas classic.

Divine Humor
Mem Fox has done it again!Fox uses the special animals of Australia to illustrate that eachof us has a special place in life that we're each suited for.Love the illustration and the possitive way the animals handled finding that special place for Wombat.It was a favorite of ours this last Christmas, but we also keep it out year round and visitors to our home love reading it.

Wombat Divine review
This Australian story about a young wombat wanting the lead in the school Christmas play, tugs at the heart strings of those who don't always get what they want. In the end the young wombat learns that all the parts in the Christmas play are important and together the actors create a wonderful experience for all in their animal rendition of the Christmas Story. Beautiful illustrations.

Australian Wildlife Christmas Nativity
Although not the best of Mem Fox's work Wombat Divine is a very good story about an enthusiastic main character who doesn't quite have the ability to be initially succeed where he wants but has his dream come through in the end.A wombat has always dreamed of being in a nativity play but each character he tries out for, he finds out he is unsuited for.

The great story though is let down by very average illustrations by Kerry Argent, which is a shame as those who have read the wombat tale Sebastian Lives in a Hat know she can do a very good job when she puts in the effort and can draw very realistic looking wombats.None of the Australian animals in Wombat Devine actually resemble the Australian wildlife they are supposed to be.Wombat looks like a bear, the emu for some reason has wings that can come out of the front of its body like arms which emus in real life no doubt wish for but don't have, the echidna is just the platypus with a lot of yellow triangles coming out of its body, the bilby looks like a rabbit (no wonder Mem Fox dumped this illustrator and went with Pamela Lofts for the sensational Hunwick's Egg where the bilby actually looks like a bilby.

Mem Fox
See my review for Time for Bed. This is another book from Mem Fox and an animal from Australia. ... Read more

Product Description
Early one morning when the sun came out, Six woolly wombats went walkabout.

This whimsical counting poem follows six brave little wombats on walkabout in the Australian outback. But the wilderness is bound to bring more excitement than an innocent counting game. Soon enough, the curious wombats learn to beware the hungry dingo! Aussie native Sophie BlackallÂ’s delicious illustrations set adorable wombats in a lush world of golden wattles, billabongs, kookaburras, and gum nuts. With marvelous wordplay and irresistible read-aloud phrases, this ingenious text is sure to become a well-worn favorite. Accompanied by a short, simple glossary of Australian terms and wildlife. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A whimsical counting book set in the Australian outback
Sophie Blackall provides engaging drawings for Carol Diggory Shields' WOMBAT WALKABOUT, a lively survey of six woolly wombats who go on a walkabout and miss seeing the dingo with the hungry eye. This whimsical counting book set in the Australian outback is a lovely presentation for any young math learner seeking an adventure story.

"Laugh, kookaburra! laugh kookaburra!". . .you're going to love to read this book with your child!
There were six chubby little wombats named Jen, Jack, Theodore, Pru, Clive and Lee.They "went walkabout," with Clive bringing up the rear.As they ambled along they didn't notice the hungry dingo who said to himself, "I've a hunch my lunch just walked on by."The wombats, walking in a single file, had no idea when Clive, who stopped to smell some flowers, was no longer in the back of the group.After they crossed the "bridge at the billabong" Theodore was missing.Hmmm, only four of the original group was still ambling along and they didn't even notice.

Next when Lee stopped to listen to the kookaburra. . .well, I bet you know he went missing too.Pru stopped to pick up a gum nut and then there were only two chubby wombats left.It was pretty darn quiet and they finally noticed something was wrong.Jen and Jack were alarmed when they noticed that big old dingo, his "tail a-wag, and on his back a big swag bag!"They knew their friends were in that bag and they had to think of an ingenious plan to get them out.Were the two remaining wombats going to end up as the dingo's lunch or would they save the day and rescue their pals?

The cheerful, adorable art work and the story mesh perfectly to bring the flavor of Australia to the young reader.In the front of the book there is a short glossary of words that appear in the book, many that are unfamiliar to most children (unless of course they live in Australia).This is a fun book to introduce a bit of Australia to children and, if you are so inclined, to burst into song when you see that kookaburra."Laugh, kookaburra! laugh kookaburra!". . .you're going to love to read this book with your child!

wombat walkabout
This is a delightful read for large and small.One of those picture books where the villain lurks somewhere... on every page.The wombats on their walkabout introduce us to the uniqueness of Australia. The language,the drawings great.I had a hard time packaging it up and sending it off to my niece's twins I was having so much fun reading it out loud. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (9)

I wish the color were more pleasant
I fell in love with "Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball".Then I received two more books by the same illustrator - "Swim, Little Wombat, Swim!" and "Where to, little Wombat?"The illustrations are brilliant as usual."Swim, Little Wombat, Swim!" has that unpleasant blue tone in it.I don't know if it is the printing company's fault, or the illustrator intentionally made it that way since it is about swimming in the water after all.The illustration is cute.I really wish the color were more pleasant, that is all I can say.
"Where to, Little Wombat" is super cute!I still like "Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball" the best.It is hard to top that.

My son loves Wombat
Fun story-my 2 year old love water and wombat, a perfect combination!His favorite new book.This is our second wombat book, he got his first from a relative in Australia.

Cute, but a no-brainer
I bought two more baby wombat books after finding "Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball" by the same author.The illustrations, as always, are wonderful, and the book is amusing, but what's missing is the message."Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball" and "Where to, Little Wombat?" both have a sweet (but subtle!) message for the kids (the first is about a mother's love; the second teaches that there's no place like home).There is no message to be found in this book, and I miss that.If you like pointless kid's books, buy this one - if not, look at the other two.

OK, But.....
Not as good as Sometimes I Like to Curl Up In a Ball.This was a favourite of mine and my wife's and we read it to our baby regularly.Swim Little Wombat, Swim is good.A good story about water safety and learning to swim.The illustrations are good, (more detail and vibrant compared to the classic Goodnight Moon or the fun and sketchy Boyton books, which we like as well) but the colours are not as good as in Sometimes I Like to Curl...The thing I didn't like (spoiler) was the page were the characters were resting, after eating.I don't think the image of shrimp remains and severed shrimp head was a good call.Sure, a baby doesn't know what this is, but still, wouldn't the author think, hmmmm... I should leave shrimp body parts out of the book?

Cute...
"Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball" was SOOOOO good, that this one doesn't really compare.I like the lesson that you can learn to swim and accomplish things, but the story is more narrated and longer...kind of wordy for a board book.Better for older child, not really for a 15-month old. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (6)

Super cute!
It is a cute book.My favorite is still "Sometimes I like to curl up in a ball."But I love this little Wombat so much that I'd collect all his cuteness I can find.:)

Not the best of the Wombat books
After purchasing Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball, I was anxious to introduce my children to more of the adventures of Little Wombat.So, I purchased this book.The illustrations were just as meticulous and detailed as in Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball, but it lacked the same charm.The text did not rhyme or flow in the same way.Author Vicki Churchill was noticeably absent; Charles Fuge both wrote and illustrated the book.

The story itself is sweet and simple.Little Wombat grows dissatisfied with his home, and tries to find better accommodations.He comes to the conclusion that his home is just right for him.It is a nice story about belonging, but it is missing the special touch that Vicki Churchill added to Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball.

Review
I like Fuge's stories. I bought the Little Wombat series for my niece a couple of years ago, and now that my nephew and two second cousins have been born, I've stockpiled same to gift to each of them during their formative years. Cute little stories- the fact that they are in durable board book form is a great plus. I hope they all like the books as much as I do!

Cute and imaginative
I bought this book for my nephews because they love "Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball" by the same author.This one is just as well illustrated, amusing, and has a good message (there's no place like home).The boys and I both love it.

Disappointing Adventure
I've bought all of the Little Wombat books so I was very keen to get a hold of this latest instalment of little Wombats adventures, I was most disappointed with this book however, Charles Fudge's illustrations do not have the same fun and joy found in his original three books, and worst of all is the lack of knowledge of Australian Animals, mainly the fact Mole appears again (there is no moles in Australia!!!), Wombat visits a Turtle but the illustration is of a Tortoise, Emus don't have nests like birds, and it's the male Emu that protects the eggs not Mrs. Emu.
I've mistakenly bought an American copy of the book also so Im stuck with American spelling also.
If it was the first Charles Fudge book I had bought I would not of minded too much but after seeing his previous books I expected much better. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A favorite of my daughter
My 2 year 8 month old daughter loves this book now.Even though she has only basic reading skills she can read out all 14 lines because she has asked me to read them so many times!

The rhythm and patterns of the writing, and the pictures all make it a great book for counting and reading.And having mastered numerals already, she loves learning the word forms (the book always uses "one", "two" etc, not 1, 2).

Learn to Count to 14 With The Help of a Wide Range of Australian Wildlife With this 1982 Classic Learning Tool
One Woolly Wombat certainly has no complicated storyline or even a basic one for that matter. Similar in style to say the 12 days of Christmas song but in numerical order the reader visits one woolly wombat sunning by the sea along with increasing numbers of other Australian wildlife with every even numbered group doing something that rhymes with the activity the odd number before it was doing.

The friends the reader will meet to help them count along with a wombat are, koalas, magpies, kangaroos, platypuses, possums, emus, echidnas. goannas, kookaburras, dingos, cockatoos, hopping mice and seals.Illustrations of these animals (with the exception of the wombat) are very realistic looking as well.

If more of an actual story you were after other great Australian wildlife fiction picture book classics that kids all over the world will love are out there.The best are Possum Magic and Hunwick's Egg by Mem Fox. Sebastian Lives in a Hat by Thelma Catterwell, Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan, the entire Steve Parish story book collection by Rebecca Johnson such as The Cranky Crocodile are also great reads. Olga the Brolga and Edward the Emu although not the best stories have some greatest drawn colourful illustrations of Australian wildlife you will ever see.

Every Kid Loves A Wombat!
Learning to count has never been this fun (or colorful!) My niece couldn't stop talking about wombats and magpies and koalas. The illustrations are vibrant, sometimes silly. You just can't go wrong with nine hungry goannas (look like alligators) in aprons and chefs hats.

Modern Australian classic
one woolly wombat sunning by the sea two cuddly koalas sipping gumnut tea

and so on to fourteen A now-classic Australian counting book, featuring native animals and other features of the Australian landscape and lifestyle (bush, lamingtons, and some flora)

A good choice for a countingbook (also going beyond the traditional 10) for Aussie and non-Aussie kidsalike.

A witty and colourful Australian childrens book
This book has been a favourite of my cousins.It is witty, colourful and incorporates Australian animals, which children always love.Lots of pictures, and easily read or sung. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (4)

We LOVE Little Wombat
Great stories and illustrations!It is very nice to all them all in one collection.Definitely one of our favorites!

My Son's Favorite
My son checked this book out at the library,and didn't want to return it until he had his own copy. It's a great story that will grab their attention with great pictures. I would recommend this book to everyone who has small children.

Inferior Print
Charles Fuge is one of the best illustrators of children's books that I have come across. My son is high energy and these pictures keep him sitting throughout the whole story.I have compared this book with the single print versions I have and it's obvious that the print is not right.It's a bit green.Also, the single printings have MUCH more depth.In the good printings, the illustrations come alive; in this one, they do not. I noticed the inferiority immediately, but decided to keep the book so I don't mind when my kids destroy it.I will take time and collect the others for when the kids are older and can appreciate the complexities in life.Please do not judge Charles Fuge's work by this printing.

Love love love
Adventures of Little Wombat
My daughter is so in love with Little Wombat.It is nice to have all of the stories in one place (although I wish there were more stories..)The pictures are bright and cheerful and the animals make her laugh as she points them out to us. ... Read more

Product Description
Published in Australia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Silly book for kids
This is a wonderful, fun book for young children that was popular in the 1980's, but which hasn't lost its charm!The humorous illustrations are well done and clearly show how the various animals try to save their wombat friend from the dingo's stew!Children love the catchy rhyme, and learn to say it on each page!My own children and my nephews and niece who are in their 30's fondly remember this story and can still recite the rhyme! This one is hard to find but is a real winner!

Great Showcase of Australian Wildlife to Introduce to Children
Wombat Stew is in print, just click on the separate product page link Wombat Stew for the 21st Anniversary (2005) edition.For some bizarre reason Amazon lists these re-released books as separate products but they are one and the same.At the time of this review they did have stock but if they too are now sold out rest assured Australian publishers like to celebrate anniversaries and constantly re-release children's picture books so no doubt there will be a 25th edition released in 2009 and probably a 30th in 2014 as well.Since Amazon is a bit slow on their product updates you may need to search Amazon (or even Australian merchant websites) for these books in the years ahead.

Originally published in Australia in 1984 this book has more than stood the test of time bringing joy to children throughout time. A basic but good storyline combined with great illustrations means this is going to be a constant request by children to be read to them again and again and again.This book is an excellent book to teach children about the different types of creatures in Australia.Although the book doesn't give information on them the drawings are so well done you can expand from the storyline to point out the platypus' duck like bill, echidna's spines and other fairly unique adaptations particular Australian animals have.

Just in case you're wondering the basic plot of wombat stew is a dingo catches a wombat and boasts to everyone (all types of Australian animals) that he is going to shortly be enjoying gooey, brewy, yummy, chewy, wombat stew.These other animals are friends with the wombat and have a cunning plan to save their friend by giving suggestions of other ingredients to add to the stew.For those parents who now how to play or whose kids are learning a musical instrument the final page has the music score to the Dingo's song so the notes can be followed and played by instruments of some kids and sung along by others.

The constant lack of availability and selling out of Wombat Stew is a good lesson to keep good children's books even when your kids have moved on to older reading level books.In the future if you have more kids, friends have kids, you have grandkids etc they will all be very grateful when you come to visit with this classic. For those who don't yet have a copy rest assured though, there will always be anniversary editions of great Australian classics such as this.

Other great Australian wildlife fiction classics for kids by other authors you should check out are Possum Magic, Olga the Brolga and Edward the Emu.

"It's the ooey-gooeyist treat"
My 9 year old and I love Wombat Stew! I am "reading mom" to several classes at my son's elementary school and without exception, the classes with whom I have shared this book also adore it. It's simple enough for the younger set, but so much fun that the older kids aren't embarrassed to get caught up in the rollicking, rhyming enchantment. The illustrations are simply fabulous and the cast of delightful, eccentric Aussie animals can't be beat. Even though we live in Florida, my son has been fascinated with all things Australian since he was a toddler-at 4 he loved announcing to everyone who would listen that echidnas and platypuses were monotremes and then giggled with delight when the response was "mono whats?". We have been fortunate enough to also find a very rare copy of the Wombat Stew Cookbook, which should definately be added to your library should you ever come across it. We haven't actually made any of the recipes yet, but if you don't have any trouble with converting ingredients from metric they sound like fun! Our sincere thanks to authors like Marcia Vaughan and Mem Fox as well as illustrators like Pamela Lofts for the lovely journeys of imagination they have provided for those of us who can't make the trip to Australia in person.

Recently released - 21st Anniversary edition
This wonderful classic has just been re-released in Australia for a short time - special limited edition 21st Anniversary by Scholastic (August, 2005).

Morgann's #1 Review!
I love this silly book! It's Eewie Gooey Yummie Chewy! I just wish I could have a copy of my own....:( ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent Writing, Excellent Story, Excellent Illustrations.
"Batter Up Wombat" by Helen Lester.Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger.Sandpiper Press, 2008.

We were at an Italian restaurant in Plymouth, Massachusetts, when Uncle Sean asked, "What is a wombat?"
Seven year-old Tabitha answered, "It's a marsupial".
"A marsupial?"
"Yes, an animal that keeps its babies in a pouch.Most of them are from Australia".

And that little conversation was the impetus for Grandma Barbara to purchase "Batter Up Wombat" for Tabitha. The book is brightly illustrated, even though I do not think that a wombat really wears clothes and is as big as he illustrated.The arrival of this Australian seemed, however, to be exactly what the "Champs" needed as these animals were at the bottom of The North American Animal League.Of course, they mistook the wombat's accent and thought he was a "Wham Bat", the hitter the team needed to get out of the League's cellar.
They begin to train the Australian Wombat for American baseball, and the play on words and the illustrations are hilarious. A homonym is a word that is often spelled the same way, perhaps pronounced the same, but with different meanings.In this book, the author plays with homonyms, with, for example, a foul ball being illustrated as a chicken ...a hen...which is, of course, a fowl. This confuses the Australian wombat, but is a learning opportunity for the young reader.True, home plate is sort of a china plate, but you rarely step on a plate, and this team seldom enough gets to tag home plate on a home run.All of this continues throughout the game, and then the wombat gets his turn to hit!And, the ending is entirely unexpected, but the wombat is the hero!

Great book!

Batter Up Wombat
Got it for grandson.Bought lots of booksfor 3 grandsons this Christmas.This one is the favorite.

Younger readers will wind Lynn Munsinger's drawings hilarious
It's a new baseball season and the Champs have new uniforms and new determination - even if they did finish last in the series last season. But when Wombat wanders onto the field on opening day, the Champs are in for a big surprise - and younger readers will wind Lynn Munsinger's drawings hilarious and engaging in this story of a wombat's participation. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Your right.His left.
The old don't-judge-a-book-by-its-cover rule. It gets me every time. Of course I judge books by their covers! I'm a children's librarian with a particular kind of taste in titles. I know what I like and I don't have time to read and review books that don't look like they're my cup of tea. How does this system work out for me? Most of the time it seems to work out just fine. If I'm passing on fabulous books then I never know it because I didn't read them. I came half a sliver of a hair away from missing Wombat and Fox too. Oh sure, I gave the cover a little half glance but the art wasn't my style so I didn't think much about it. Someone had to really talk it up to me to get me interested too. Fortunately, the key to Wombat an Fox is that once you read even so much as a sentence, you are sucked in wholly and completely without a hope or a prayer of escape. So it is that I am head over heels in love with this smart and snappy little early chapter book from Australia, in spite of my continuing cover prejudice.

In three short stories we follow the misadventures of good friends Wombat and Fox. In "Wombat's Lucky Dollar", Wombat locates a coin on the side of the road that he is convinced will bring him luck. Unfortunately a run in with an angry ice cream vendor, a water rat, the Hippo Sisters, and others leads to nothing but trouble. Fox is convinced that the dollar is unlucky, but one wombat's misfortune can be a bandicoot's lucky day. In "Golden Cleat Fox", Fox discovers that he has a miraculous inability to kick a soccer ball into its goal. When the local Five Monkeys come by and steal the ball, Fox finds a way to accomplish all his goals, both literally and figuratively. Finally in "A Hot Night in the City", Wombat and Fox must endure an escalating series of adventures before they find a way to beat the seemingly inescapable heat of the summer.

The same person who recommended this book to me in the first place had a very good point about it that I'd like to paraphrase here. She said that there are some early chapter books out there that you read to children. They make for excellent teacher reads or bedtime stories but they're not necessarily something a child would pick up on their own for fun. Sheep And Goat by Marleen Westra or Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins are excellent examples of this kind of book. Then there are stories like this one. Talk about readability. I could engage in long convoluted sentences to convince you as to why this book is so charming or I could merely reprint the book's first eight sentences instead. And since the first eight sentences were what convinced me to keep reading in the first place, it seems only fair to show them to you now:

"This is a story of what happened to Wombat on Tuesday. I could tell you about Monday, but nothing happened on Monday. So Tuesday it is. Wombat's phone was nearly out of minutes so he went to the mobile phone shop. He had never needed to get minutes before. He had no one much to phone. Except Fox. Only Fox always had his phone turned off to save the battery."

Part of the appeal here is that we are dealing with a story that feels as if it could be timeless, yet it contains some awfully contemporary ideas. It's a feeling not too dissimilar to the one I had when I read Paddington Here and Now by Michael Bond and watched the bear from darkest Peru travel in the London Eye. Sometimes a children's book will sabotage its timelessness by mentioning the hottest video games or coolest pop singers. That's bad. But like the Paddington book, Wombat and Fox contains modern references that do not date the book. Wombat has to buy cell phone minutes? That's almost quaint. And later, the water in a public fountain has been turned off because, "It had been a long hot summer, with water restrictions." Again it's a pretty contemporary note, but it works within the context of the narrative. So as it stands, this book is pretty darn timeless already.

Back to the writing; Denton has an almost off-hand style that suits the format particularly well. Breaking up his sentences with small pen-and-ink illustrations everywhere, one early section describes Wombat seeing something shining in the sunlight, "On the sidewalk, to his left. Your right. His left." And indeed the image accompanying these words shows Wombat facing the viewer with the coin on his left, your right. That is, until the next illustration switches the view so that you are behind him (clarifying how one person's right can be another person's left). It's small. It's understated. It fits.

Wombats are so perfectly situated to become the next big children's literary phenomenon (ousting the penguins from their chilly throne) that it's amazing to me that there aren't more wombat books out there. There is, of course, Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Don't Pat the Wombat! by Elizabeth Honey (which is a very funny, too little read book here in the States) but I'm fairly certain that average American joe schmoe/jill schmill isn't going to be able to tell you much about the furry little critters. At least Wombat and Fox gives you a couple facts to go on. Wombats clearly have a difficult time driving cars. They like to keep cool in the summer and they have problems with money matters in general. I don't think anyone is going to contest any of those points, so Terry Denton is on the ball as far as that goes. Foxes are a different matter entirely, and as this one is prone to wearing a mask and superhero cape I don't know how much we can trust him. Plus you have to feel a little bad for Croc who appears on the cover and in every story of this book alongside our two heroes but did not manage to get her name into the title. That's gotta hurt!

I mentioned before that Denton's artistic style, at least on the cover, was not my cup of tea. But his pictures grew on me. Inside the book the small details and brief two-page panoramas act as succinct little complements to every scene. Some kids who are reading early chapter books have the words down, sure, but they still need some pictures to help them along. In fact I get a lot of parents at my reference desk with children who will only read Captain Underpants. What can I recommend as the next step? I can recommend Wombat and Fox, a book with enough action and slapstick to amuse the Underpants fan but that also knows how to use a good plethora of pictures.

I don't expect Wombat and Fox hysteria to sweep the nation but I have dreams for this little book. I imagine it getting a small underground fan base. I imagine people thirty years from now reminiscing over reading it as small children, seeking it out at their local libraries. I imagine small Wombat and Fox online societies and maybe even Terry Denton's papers in a nice university collection. But even if only some of that happens, I can at least rest assured that no matter who I hand this book to, they will be instantly charmed. You cannot read this collection of three stories and dislike it. And how many books, honestly, can you say that about? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic read!
Even if you've never heard of the wombat (it's an Australian marsupial that looks like a little piggy, but isn't one), you'll still be captivated by this book. The author - who won a science writing prize in 2002 for this book - not only gives us the low-down on who wombats are and how wombats live, but does it in such a way that it's hard to put the book down.On the side we learn about Australian prehistory and the giant dinosaur wombats that used to roam Australia.We also hear about wombat research done by a young teenager from Geelong Grammer who spend his time climbing intothe narrow wombat burrows on a schoolcamp - mostly at night while the teachers and other students were asleep. It's an example of great non-fiction writing - a documentary, journalism and a terrific story all in one! ... Read more

Product Description
When the animals at the zoo learn that a wild wombat is coming, they let their vivid imaginations get the best of them. One misunderstanding leads to another, and before long the zoo animals are certain that the new arrival will be a ferocious and terrifying creature. The wild wombat surprises them all in the end, and everyone learns a lesson about jumping to conclusions! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fun book that keeps their interest!
After getting this at my local library for the second time, I decided to buy my own copy.It's the most requested story by my three year old and when he took it to story time at the school last week, the teacher and other kids in the class loved it!Nobody knew what a wombat was before that!I think all kids will enjoy this one.Great for further discussions on other animals that live in Australia. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Wombat and his inseparable friends - the motherly and practical Mouse, and Tabby Cat whose pride, along with his tabby coat, is always being ruffled - began their careers in a daily children's serial on ABC radio. Since then their delightful adventures in the popular series of Muddle-Headed Wombat books have entertained thousands of children in many parts of the world.

This paperback edition brings together four stories, "The Muddle-Headed Wombat", "The Muddle-Headed Wombat at School", "The Muddle-Headed Wombat on Holiday", and "The Muddle-Headed Wombat in the Treetops" all presented with Noela Young's lively illustrations.

To both parents and children, Wombat is an irresistible character and he and his mates will endure to bring pleasure to many generations more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of a kind
I was read this book as a child as my mother is Australian and brought it back from a trip there.I had such distinct and fond memories of just laughing hysterically at this book, and after I discovered I had lost it, I went on an all-out search for it a few years ago.It was actually very hard to find at the time, but I did get a copy and reading it as an adult is just as good as when I was young -- probably due to the excellent humor and writing as well as the nostalgia.

family treasure
Our children's grandfather brought this treasure home as a gift when he visited Australia almost 20 years ago. Our four kids are grown, but when we are all home for an occasion, we still can sit and read out-loud from this delightful book.We have been known to laugh until we truly cry at the antics of these very human and endearing characters.I rate it with Winnie-the-Pooh as the best ever, for children AND adults.

Buying a second copy
We originally bought this piece of classic Austrailian children's literature back in 1992.That book has worn out from use and we are purchasing a second at the request of the children.It is similar to Winnie-the-Pooh, although Wombat can get a little stubborn sometimes.We find it very humorous. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Too many editoral changes
I loved the original paperback version of this book and expected the board book edition to have the same text, But no!! The American editors of this edition thought they needed to change the text for some reason and now instead of counting flowers little wombat is seen as absent-minded, wondering off and getting lost. What happened to counting the ten flowers? The simplicity of language of the original is missing, replaced with a more wordy text.

Thankfully the pictures have not changed, I think this is one of the best illustrated books of Charles Fuge so far, it's only the editors changes I don't like. I have memorised the original book so I can still read this edition to my child, ignoring the new text. I highly recommend getting the original version from England or Australia.

Every night this year!
My son (born 05/00) ADORES this book. He gets four stories every night before bed if he's a good listener otherwise a story gets taken away.So far, FYLW (as we refer to it) has been *the* book to read, even if he's down to one!

More than any other story this tale has really sparked my son's imagination. We sometimes 'act out' the adventure during family playtime. During the reading, my son will 'help' little wombat along by saying things like, "It's okay, we're going to do *this*."

We as parents really like that you can build on the story as it's presented and there isn't any sort of rhyme scheme to get stuck in your head for the rest of the night.

Little kids will respond to the comforting message of being lost and found, having friends and family who love you, and being playful and fun little ones.

Highly recommended!

Illustrations: 9/10
Story: 8/10
Message: 9/10
Fun: 10/10
Educational value: N/A ... Read more