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Wombat
How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It . . . What to Feed It . . . Why It Sleeps All Day
What's the best way to scratch a wombat? Well, if it's a wombat that's familiar with humans, says author Jackie French, you rub the bony ridge along its back or behind its ears. And the harder you scratch, the better the wombat likes it. For more than thirty years, Jackie French has lived in the Australian bush, coexisting with wild wombats. In this cross between memoir and natural history, Jackie shares her often hilarious adventures with her wombats neighbors and describes their physiology, history, and habits. Bruce Whatley adds pencil drawings in both comic and realistic styles. It's a book that's perfect for the budding naturalist. It's an easy read. It's full of funny stories. It's science with a heart.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
3 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
310 books854 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 4, 2021
outstanding! i was laughing so hard at these stubborn, willful little creatures it was hurting me. after i read frosty: a raccoon to remember, i wanted a raccoon really badly. now i require a wombat. and a red panda. but back to what i learned: wombats sleep on their backs, with their little legs sticking straight up in the air. wombats are clever enough to use a stick as a lever to move a boulder that stands between it and a garden patch. wombats will destroy everything you own if you don't give them a carrot when they want a carrot. wombats like having their heads scratched. there used to be marsupial lions in australia. that might not be about wombats, but it is super-cool. so - birthday. august. wombat. get to it!
ahem.
come to my blog!
ahem.
come to my blog!
September 25, 2019
Wombats?
A wombat is a mythical creature
I know this because, well,
I have never seen one
It is claimed that they live in Australia,
Way down under
But I think that they are just pulling my leg.
A wombat looks like a bear
but has a flat head that can be used
As a battering ram.
It will beg at your door for food,
And if you don’t feed it,
It can knock your door down.
A wombat is said to have stiff brown fur
Or hair, four legs, and maybe a tail
Its back ones look like a human’s
The front, like a dog’s
Now you know why I think it is a mythical creature.
They burrow in your back yard
Making your walking impossible,
But so do my ground hogs
And I just think that it is so cute
But worse of all
They will make holes in your fences.
They make cute little sounds
That have many different meanings
But they can’t understanda humans
Not like a dog or cat can
Yet, you must know the sound that says,
“Scratch my back, please.”
A wombat is a mythical creature
I know this because, well,
I have never seen one
It is claimed that they live in Australia,
Way down under
But I think that they are just pulling my leg.
A wombat looks like a bear
but has a flat head that can be used
As a battering ram.
It will beg at your door for food,
And if you don’t feed it,
It can knock your door down.
A wombat is said to have stiff brown fur
Or hair, four legs, and maybe a tail
Its back ones look like a human’s
The front, like a dog’s
Now you know why I think it is a mythical creature.
They burrow in your back yard
Making your walking impossible,
But so do my ground hogs
And I just think that it is so cute
But worse of all
They will make holes in your fences.
They make cute little sounds
That have many different meanings
But they can’t understanda humans
Not like a dog or cat can
Yet, you must know the sound that says,
“Scratch my back, please.”
March 25, 2015
French settled in a wildish section of Australia many years ago, putting her in a fabulous position to observe wombats. Since then she's devoted some time to rehabilitating wildlife as well as observing and writing about it.
Fun nonfiction for the critter-lover; a good interim book for kids who aren't yet ready for Herriot, but are past primarily picture books. Wombats are adorable and troublesome, and her anecdotes are well delivered and engaging on a level suitable for elementary school kids as well as older fans of the species.
Library copy
Fun nonfiction for the critter-lover; a good interim book for kids who aren't yet ready for Herriot, but are past primarily picture books. Wombats are adorable and troublesome, and her anecdotes are well delivered and engaging on a level suitable for elementary school kids as well as older fans of the species.
Library copy
January 24, 2009
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.
Ages 6-10.
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.
Ages 6-10.
April 19, 2011
This book is illustrated but it’s not a picture book. This book is amusing but it’s a factual book about wombats. I loved this author’s children’s picture book Diary of a Wombat and I have her new picture book Diary of a BABY Wombat on a reserve hold at the library.
This is an entirely different type of book. It’s a nature book about wombats. There are no photos, unfortunately, but it is illustrated and the illustrations are cute and informative.
This author obviously is extremely fond of wombats. She dedicated this book to a bunch of them. She stresses that they’re wild animals and not suitable pets. She has a chapter on how to care for orphaned wombats (including how to return them to the wild) and another chapter on how to protect them. She covers all aspects of wombat life including mating/going into heat. She writes about living alongside wild animals, including wombats, and she obviously gets great joy from that.
Maybe I was more in the mood for a cute picture book. I enjoy nature books about animals, particularly wolves and marine animals, and because of the Diary of a Wombat I was interested in learning about these creatures, but despite the attempt to be entertaining whilst educating about wombats, I found my interest flagging at times while reading this book. It reminded me of the books I used to read to do research for an elementary school paper. But, it’s a useful resource for readers that want to find out about Australian wombats.
This is an entirely different type of book. It’s a nature book about wombats. There are no photos, unfortunately, but it is illustrated and the illustrations are cute and informative.
This author obviously is extremely fond of wombats. She dedicated this book to a bunch of them. She stresses that they’re wild animals and not suitable pets. She has a chapter on how to care for orphaned wombats (including how to return them to the wild) and another chapter on how to protect them. She covers all aspects of wombat life including mating/going into heat. She writes about living alongside wild animals, including wombats, and she obviously gets great joy from that.
Maybe I was more in the mood for a cute picture book. I enjoy nature books about animals, particularly wolves and marine animals, and because of the Diary of a Wombat I was interested in learning about these creatures, but despite the attempt to be entertaining whilst educating about wombats, I found my interest flagging at times while reading this book. It reminded me of the books I used to read to do research for an elementary school paper. But, it’s a useful resource for readers that want to find out about Australian wombats.
March 8, 2009
Jackie French has been living among wombats in the near-wilds of Australia for over 30 years. She’s made friends with her neighborhood wombats and has cared for orphaned and injured wombats. Wombats are curious creatures, marsupials, which like to dig. They experience the world primarily through their large nostrils and have a highly evolved sense of smell. They spend their days underground in comfortable burrows and their evenings above ground munching on lush green grass (when they can get it), and other vegetation (when they can’t). They’re rather stubborn and set in their ways – untrainable, as Jackie puts it, but not unintelligent. You can learn all sorts of wonderful wombat facts in How to Scratch a Wombat (and take her quiz to see if *you* are a wombat!). Her writing is very friendly, easy to follow, and full of stories about the wombats she has personally known. The illustrations are (as in her other book Diary of a Wombat) delightful – depicting the stocky, smiling, dozy-looking bear-like creatures in all of their activities (drawn by Bruce Whatley). I would love to meet some of these creatures in person some day.
September 25, 2009
I really enjoyed this book, even though it sometimes lacked official scientific explanation ("Sometimes a wombat meets another wombat as they wander through the bush, and they stop, nose to nose. They may stay like that for ten minutes or half an hour. I have no idea what they are doing. Gossiping? Exchanging smells?" This couldn't have been further researched??) But all in all, this is a great non-fiction title for readers interested in learning about wombats. The author has spent a lot of time living with and near them and shares some very amusing anecdotes.
June 9, 2012
I asked the librarian to help me find a non-fiction book that I could read to my kids that would not bore me to tears. And this was the fix!
So funny! So informative! So perfect for my knowledge craving son. Written in an easy style for young readers. But packed with enough personality to keep the whole family engaged.
One week ago, we knew nothing about wombats. In fact Isaac's first question was: What IS a wombat?! But now we know all these little stories and fun facts about wombats. It's our new favorite animal.
Love love love.
So funny! So informative! So perfect for my knowledge craving son. Written in an easy style for young readers. But packed with enough personality to keep the whole family engaged.
One week ago, we knew nothing about wombats. In fact Isaac's first question was: What IS a wombat?! But now we know all these little stories and fun facts about wombats. It's our new favorite animal.
Love love love.
April 8, 2013
Although we read Diary of a Wombat several years ago, we only recently returned to the series. We read Christmas Wombat and Diary of a BABY Wombat in the beginning of the year and then put this book on hold, too.
I wasn't sure what to expect, but we were all pleasantly surprised at how informative, humorous and charming this book is. It's a fairly long book, especially compared to the picture books, so we read just a couple of chapters at a time. I thought the illustrations were quite charming and complemented the narrative nicely. And we loved Jackie's story...so much so that now my oldest is in love with wombats. She insists that she's a wombat and needs to eat carrots all of the time.
The book is a mixture of autobiographical information about Jackie French, along with a scientific explanation about wombats. But her anecdotal explanations about wombat behavior, drawn from her thirty-plus years of living with, caring for and studying wombats, are what really make this book shine. Her stories are so fascinating, it makes me want to go to the Australian Outback and find a wombat. Maybe just our local zoo...
Overall, we really enjoyed reading this book together and we all learned something about wombats. This is the kind of nonfiction book that really inspires children to learn more and become passionate about a topic. Yay!
I wasn't sure what to expect, but we were all pleasantly surprised at how informative, humorous and charming this book is. It's a fairly long book, especially compared to the picture books, so we read just a couple of chapters at a time. I thought the illustrations were quite charming and complemented the narrative nicely. And we loved Jackie's story...so much so that now my oldest is in love with wombats. She insists that she's a wombat and needs to eat carrots all of the time.
The book is a mixture of autobiographical information about Jackie French, along with a scientific explanation about wombats. But her anecdotal explanations about wombat behavior, drawn from her thirty-plus years of living with, caring for and studying wombats, are what really make this book shine. Her stories are so fascinating, it makes me want to go to the Australian Outback and find a wombat. Maybe just our local zoo...
Overall, we really enjoyed reading this book together and we all learned something about wombats. This is the kind of nonfiction book that really inspires children to learn more and become passionate about a topic. Yay!
January 19, 2016
Already a fan of Jackie French for her "Read-and-Wonder" science books from Candlewick Press, after discovering Diary of a Wombat, I searched for more of her work at the public library. And found, Ta-Dah!, a second wombat book, this one non-fiction.
Better than the usual perspective of "wombats are. . ." or "wombats have. . ." of standard factual work, this wonderful book is in the voice of her first-hand experience. She uses vignettes about various individuals to illuminate the habits, talents and behaviors that test those who might include that marsupial in their lives.
We meet Moriarty, the stroppiest (bad tempered) of her acquaintance. In her determination to get inside a garden fence, French saw her using a tomato stake as a lever to push aside rocks too heavy to move unaided.
There is also Pudge who French cites as the cleverest wombat of all. She recounts that Pudge expected two carrots every night. But one night there was only one left. Pudge ate it and then "bashed up the garbage bin" for a half hour in protest. The following night, French cut one carrot into two. Pudge ate and didn't protest. French realized it was the "two" that mattered--not the amount--so how high could Pudge count?
More attractions: Additional wombat characters, a Words to Know for non-Australians, and helpful illustrations by Bruce Whatley, illustrator of the Diary of a Wombat.
In addition to the humor, I found the factual information so easy to remember, having been embedded in the context of behavior French recounted. To my mind, it is the best--most accessible--way to learn.
Highly recommended for third-fifth grade readers. It would also make a good read-aloud at bedtime. (86 p.)
December 10, 2014
French, J. & Whatley, B. (2005). How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It...What to Feed It...Why It Sleeps All Day. New York: Clarion.
Starred review Kirkus 2008
Informational
After spending decades living near wombats, Jackie French knows quite a bit about them. She combines facts about wombats with anecdotes about her real life wombat ���friends��� and their distinct personalities. The text is very engaging and enjoyable to read, written in a somewhat conversational tone. There are funny inserts with questions and answers, a glossary of Australian lingo at the start of the book where it can be easily seen before reading, and wonderful drawings by illustrator Bruce Whatley. Whatley���s drawings wonderfully convey the personalities and behaviors of the animals, but after so many stories about specific wombats I do wish there were photographs as well. There is no index or bibliography. French does not cite scholarly sources and she is not a biologist. She presents the information just as it is: her own observations collected over many years of living near these creatures. In the classroom I would use this fun book as a supplement to more scholarly informational books about wombats. Ages 7-11.
Starred review Kirkus 2008
Informational
After spending decades living near wombats, Jackie French knows quite a bit about them. She combines facts about wombats with anecdotes about her real life wombat ���friends��� and their distinct personalities. The text is very engaging and enjoyable to read, written in a somewhat conversational tone. There are funny inserts with questions and answers, a glossary of Australian lingo at the start of the book where it can be easily seen before reading, and wonderful drawings by illustrator Bruce Whatley. Whatley���s drawings wonderfully convey the personalities and behaviors of the animals, but after so many stories about specific wombats I do wish there were photographs as well. There is no index or bibliography. French does not cite scholarly sources and she is not a biologist. She presents the information just as it is: her own observations collected over many years of living near these creatures. In the classroom I would use this fun book as a supplement to more scholarly informational books about wombats. Ages 7-11.
November 12, 2014
French, J. & Whatley, B. (2005). How to Scratch a Wombat: Where to Find It...What to Feed It...Why It Sleeps All Day. New York: Clarion.
Starred review Kirkus 2008
Informational
After spending decades living near wombats, Jackie French knows quite a bit about them. She combines facts about wombats with anecdotes about her real life wombat “friends” and their distinct personalities. The text is very engaging and enjoyable to read, written in a somewhat conversational tone. There are funny inserts with questions and answers, a glossary of Australian lingo at the start of the book where it can be easily seen before reading, and wonderful drawings by illustrator Bruce Whatley. Whatley’s drawings wonderfully convey the personalities and behaviors of the animals, but after so many stories about specific wombats I do wish there were photographs as well. There is no index or bibliography. French does not cite scholarly sources and she is not a biologist. She presents the information just as it is: her own observations collected over many years of living near these creatures. In the classroom I would use this fun book as a supplement to more scholarly informational books about wombats. Ages 7-11.
Starred review Kirkus 2008
Informational
After spending decades living near wombats, Jackie French knows quite a bit about them. She combines facts about wombats with anecdotes about her real life wombat “friends” and their distinct personalities. The text is very engaging and enjoyable to read, written in a somewhat conversational tone. There are funny inserts with questions and answers, a glossary of Australian lingo at the start of the book where it can be easily seen before reading, and wonderful drawings by illustrator Bruce Whatley. Whatley’s drawings wonderfully convey the personalities and behaviors of the animals, but after so many stories about specific wombats I do wish there were photographs as well. There is no index or bibliography. French does not cite scholarly sources and she is not a biologist. She presents the information just as it is: her own observations collected over many years of living near these creatures. In the classroom I would use this fun book as a supplement to more scholarly informational books about wombats. Ages 7-11.
December 2, 2013
Everything you never knew you wanted to know about wombats. The book opens with a brief tale about the authors beginnings as a farmer and writer, leading into how she became an expert on wombats. You will find out about the history of wombats, what they are and look like, how they’re built, what sort of behaviour they have, and how to meet, take care of, and protect wombats in the wild. At the very end, Jackie French leaves us all with what she has learnt from wombats, and what we may use that knowledge for.
Throughout the book, you will find little tales about well over a dozen different wombats Jackie has known and named. The accompanying illustrations by Bruce Whatley are extremely helpful, providing a better understanding in some areas while other areas they simply work with the humorous writing and stories within. From the illustrations and way the book is written, it sounds like living with wombats is non-stop shenanigan time.
Originally published in Australia as: The Secret World of Wombats
Shortlisted – NSW Premier’s Awards: Patricia Wrightson Prize
Shortlisted for the Wilderness Society’s non-fiction award
Throughout the book, you will find little tales about well over a dozen different wombats Jackie has known and named. The accompanying illustrations by Bruce Whatley are extremely helpful, providing a better understanding in some areas while other areas they simply work with the humorous writing and stories within. From the illustrations and way the book is written, it sounds like living with wombats is non-stop shenanigan time.
Originally published in Australia as: The Secret World of Wombats
Shortlisted – NSW Premier’s Awards: Patricia Wrightson Prize
Shortlisted for the Wilderness Society’s non-fiction award
September 15, 2009
So I came upon this book sort of the wrong way 'round. The author wrote a picture book, Diary of a Wombat, in which a wombat records his daily activities which mostly include sleeping, scratching and making mischief to get carrots, or just for the heck of it. The delight is in the illustrations.
This book is kind of a companion book to the Diary of a Wombat. It's shelved in nonfiction and though it reads like fiction, it gives all sorts of useful information about the creatures known as wombats. The author, Jackie French, lives in Australia where wombats are found. She cares for orphaned wombats, lives peacefully with them (though that seems to be a challenge) and obviously has much first-hand experience. I enjoyed reading about these small, bear-ish creatures, but unless a child had a specific interest in wombats, it might be a hard "sell." There are abundant black and white drawings throughout the book.
This book is kind of a companion book to the Diary of a Wombat. It's shelved in nonfiction and though it reads like fiction, it gives all sorts of useful information about the creatures known as wombats. The author, Jackie French, lives in Australia where wombats are found. She cares for orphaned wombats, lives peacefully with them (though that seems to be a challenge) and obviously has much first-hand experience. I enjoyed reading about these small, bear-ish creatures, but unless a child had a specific interest in wombats, it might be a hard "sell." There are abundant black and white drawings throughout the book.
November 3, 2015
Originally rated G+ by Suzanna M. Couch
Jackie French introduces the wombat in a special way. For more than thirty years she lived in Australia observing the wombat in their habitat. She attempts to answer questions as to why the wombat does what they do. She is so close to these creatures, that she has first names for them. She describes daily experiences of the wombat since the live so close to her home. Information includes behavior, physical appearance, living quarters, and how they take care of their young and more.
She tells how humans can be helpful to help them survive in their desert habitat. She includes specific vocabulary for these creatures. These experiences are part of her first book. Her information goes back in history to tell how they evolved. There are attractive line drawings of these creatures illustrated throughout the book.
Jackie French introduces the wombat in a special way. For more than thirty years she lived in Australia observing the wombat in their habitat. She attempts to answer questions as to why the wombat does what they do. She is so close to these creatures, that she has first names for them. She describes daily experiences of the wombat since the live so close to her home. Information includes behavior, physical appearance, living quarters, and how they take care of their young and more.
She tells how humans can be helpful to help them survive in their desert habitat. She includes specific vocabulary for these creatures. These experiences are part of her first book. Her information goes back in history to tell how they evolved. There are attractive line drawings of these creatures illustrated throughout the book.
October 1, 2009
From the creators of the fabulous Diary of a Wombat comes this non-fiction book about the actual lives of wombats, discussing everything from how the author fell in love with wombats in the first place, their history, their body, daily routine, eating and mating habits, friends, lifespan, communication, and caring for orphan wombats. Kids will enjoy the silly humor and stories and end-of-chapter “quizzes” such as how to tell if you are a wombat or what a wombat is not (a bear, a badger, allowed on the sofa, or a pet!), but unfortunately there is no index or listing of sources or other resources.
March 1, 2022
This is one of my comfort books, along with the author and illustrator's Diary of A Wombat, so I read it over and over again when I feel the need of some cheering up. I'm not Australian, I don't have any kids, but I do love wombats and I love this book about them.
The illustrations are wonderful, line drawings that brilliantly bring the personalities of their subjects to life. The book provides lots of interesting information about wombats and their lives, but most of all shows that they each have their own quirks and personalities.
A fantastic book!
The illustrations are wonderful, line drawings that brilliantly bring the personalities of their subjects to life. The book provides lots of interesting information about wombats and their lives, but most of all shows that they each have their own quirks and personalities.
A fantastic book!
March 16, 2009
This may attract kids who loved Diary of a Wombat or the sort of kid who still reads Sterling North's Rascal. But beyond that I doubt if this is going to fly off the shelves.
Yes, it's very entertaining. But how many American kids are going need to know how to rear an orphaned wombat?
Yes, it's very entertaining. But how many American kids are going need to know how to rear an orphaned wombat?
Read
May 6, 2009Since reading the webcomic Digger, I have found a new affection for wombats. They are ridiculously adorable creatures. This book, nonfiction companion to Diary of a Wombat, gives an overview of the nature and habits of wombats from the perspective of an author who has lived closely with these creatures. Enjoyable for kids who like animals and would be a great source for a first research project.
February 22, 2012
We read the first few chapters of this then had to return it to the library. We have it again and will write up a review when we're done. We all loved the first part - it's laugh-out-loud funny while still being informational. If all science were this interesting we'd have a hard time studying anything else.
The boys really enjoyed this book. There were a few slow parts, but overall it continued to teach and entertain. We learned a lot and had some funny stories to talk about afterward.
The boys really enjoyed this book. There were a few slow parts, but overall it continued to teach and entertain. We learned a lot and had some funny stories to talk about afterward.
August 20, 2014
Once you've read Diary of a Wombat, you are probably primed to love "How to Scratch a Wombat," which is non-fiction expanding on the nature of wombats, from the perspective of an experienced wombat-rehabber. If you've been entranced by the videos of baby wombats interacting with their rehabbers, you'll enjoy this witty but short (and easy reading level) book. Original released, I believe, as "The Secret World of Wombats" in Australia...
June 27, 2015
This has been the perfect birthday present for my six-year-old who is inexplicably obsessed with wombats. And I don't really blame him after reading this fascinating book. They really are amazing mammals. In this book, French describes her experience over the years sharing a habitat with several wombats of various ages and personalities. She infuses just the right mix of humor and information to make this a great read-aloud book for a young animal-lover.
July 26, 2009
Funny book about the author's personal experience with the wombats that live under her house. Wombats are sort of like smart groundhogs in the US-- they like to dig under foundations and raid gardens. In the author's case, the wombats would actually get into her house and leave "presents" on her keyboard. Great reading for kids who enjoy animal facts and stories. Grades 2-6.
August 13, 2011
Loved it! This would be perfect to use as a nonfiction source for wombat research, although there is no index. A glossary is included at the beginning of the book. Jackie French's style of writing draws the reader in; it's almost as if she's sharing her "secrets" (ok, really observations) about wombats.
June 28, 2017
This book is so cute and fun. I've been reading it to my kids (6 & 8) at bedtime. I'm as amused and intrigued as are they. I looked up this book to buy a copy (we're reading library copy) and to find similar recommendations. I can't believe it's out of print! I'm going to buy a used copy and hope that people find this gem and they do a reprint. Fun, informative read. Thoroughly enjoying!!!
April 27, 2009
Who'd have thought that an informational book about wombats could be so much fun? I loved getting to know the individual wombats through Jackie French's stories.
Now I want a wombat! Well, maybe not. There is that issue of PONG to consider....
Now I want a wombat! Well, maybe not. There is that issue of PONG to consider....
March 7, 2009
Recommend for: grades 3-6
From the author of Diary of a Wombat, this book is filled with information about wombats found in Australia. Gives some history of how she got the idea for her picture books. Drawings are cute.
From the author of Diary of a Wombat, this book is filled with information about wombats found in Australia. Gives some history of how she got the idea for her picture books. Drawings are cute.
August 29, 2010
Cute, amusing, and surprisingly informative about my favorite animals of all time, WOMBATS. It won't exactly share a shelf with children's classics, but find me some competing books for kids about wombats, eh?
June 18, 2011
Wonderful book! I learned a lot about wombats that I never knew. The author's writing style was terrific. I have searched for other books by her that are as good as this one without success. My sister read it, too, and she loved it as well. 2 thumbs up!
February 6, 2017
Incredible non-fiction read. So heartwarming and enjoyable. I learned so much about wombats. I hope Jackie decides to write more books. My co-worker recommended this to me after I told her how much I love Diary of a Wombat.
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