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Diary of a Wombat Paperback – Picture Book, March 23, 2009
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Wombats are cuddly-looking, slow-moving Australian animals. Their favorite activities are eating, sleeping, and digging holes. Here, in the words of one unusually articulate wombat, is the tongue-in-cheek account of a busy week; eating, sleeping, digging holes . . . and training its new neighbors, a family of humans, to produce treats on demand. This entertaining book, with its brief, humorous text and hilarious illustrations, will endear the wombat to young children, who may recognize in the determined furry creature some qualities that they share.
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelPreschool - 3
- Lexile measure390L
- Dimensions11.25 x 0.12 x 8.25 inches
- PublisherClarion Books
- Publication dateMarch 23, 2009
- ISBN-10054707669X
- ISBN-13978-0547076690
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"hilarious yet realistic...a sumblime balance of the adorable charm of the creature, along with its drawbacks as an acquaintance." SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL School Library Journal
"Whatley's acrylic vignettes...provide the perfect counterpoint to French's deadpan narration...readers...will laugh out loud at the wombat's antics." KIRKUS REVIEWS Kirkus Reviews
"tongue-in-cheek picture book...the often cuddly looking wombat may leave some readers envious of its languid lifestyle." PUBLISHERS WEEKLY Publishers Weekly
"The sweet yet deadpan humor...will tickle youngsters...amusing...look at clever (and awfully cute) garden infiltrators." THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER OF CHILDREN'S BOOKS, Starred Review The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred
"An affectionate, believable wombat self-portrait....very accessible and funny...." THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW The New York Times Book Review —
About the Author
Jackie French is a highly esteemed writer for children and adults with more than 100 books to her credit. She lives in Australia with her family and usually one or more wombats.
Bruce Whatley was born in Wales and now lives with his family in Australia. He has illustrated more than 50 children's books, some of which he also wrote.
Product details
- Publisher : Clarion Books; First Edition (March 23, 2009)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 054707669X
- ISBN-13 : 978-0547076690
- Reading age : 2 - 9 years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 390L
- Grade level : Preschool - 3
- Item Weight : 5.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 11.25 x 0.12 x 8.25 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #45,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6 in Children's Australia & Oceania Books
- #72 in Children's Mammal Books (Books)
- #1,259 in Children's Humor
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Jackie French is a highly esteemed writer for children and adults with more than 100 books to her credit. She lives in Australia with her family and usually one or more wombats. Her web site is www.jackiefrench.com.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book charming and endearing. They describe the humor as funny and entertaining, with a simple story that kids love. The book is described as engaging and informative, providing a great introduction to wombats and their habitat. It's considered a good gift for all ages.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the illustrations charming, cute, and endearing. The text and illustrations are of equal quality and complement each other well. Readers appreciate the link between the narration and drawings. They find the book funny and well-written.
"...The book combines straightforward yet expressive illustrations with the wombat's sharp-witted observations, providing an entertaining glimpse into a..." Read more
"Cute book! As advertised. Good price." Read more
"The sweet and funny wombat sure made his way to the hearts of my grandkids...." Read more
"...The illustrations are top notch and give the wombat a personality of its own. It shows how destructive they can be - but it's not malicious...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's humor. They find it entertaining for children and adults alike. The wombat's adventures and competition with humans are praised as fun and cheeky.
"...As students read along, they will find themselves chuckling at the wombat's amusing escapades, all while engaging in valuable exercises of making..." Read more
"Such a funny delightful story for children and adults alike." Read more
"...They seemed very pleased with the book and enjoyed the wombat adventures and competition with human neighbors to eat every carrot in their house and..." Read more
"*****SPOILERS READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL***** One of the funniest stories about the life of a wombat, beginning with the easy life cycle of..." Read more
Customers enjoy the story and illustrations. They find the tale simple and humorous, making it suitable for children. The book is described as a classic and a delightful tale.
"...from the witty perspective of a highly intelligent wombat, this delightful tale offers a humorous account of the wombat's comical encounters with..." Read more
"...Cute story and nice illustrations. We loved it." Read more
"...to one of the world's most unique animals and makes for a good story for kids." Read more
"...The art was cute. The story was hilarious. I could’t help but laugh at the story. I recommend it!" Read more
Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They say it's a good introduction to the world and informative. The simple sentences are great for new readers, helping them develop observation and thinking skills. It's a perfect addition to their school library and a nice read for elementary students.
"...at the wombat's amusing escapades, all while engaging in valuable exercises of making connections, posing inquiries, and drawing inferences to..." Read more
"...You can't go wrong with this book. It's a great introduction to one of the world's most unique animals and makes for a good story for kids." Read more
"...the link between the narration and the drawings -- they complement each other in clever and wonderful ways...." Read more
"...book to children and adults alike as it is entertaining and a great introduction to the world of the Australian wombat...." Read more
Customers find the book suitable for all ages. They say it's a classic children's book that introduces young children to Australia and its animals. The book is described as non-gender-charged and a great way to introduce young children to Australia and it's animals.
"Such a funny delightful story for children and adults alike." Read more
"...This book is great for both children and adults...." Read more
"This is one of the most delightful childrens' books I have seen in a long time...." Read more
"...give this book as a present at baby showers as it's a great non-gender-charged children's book about a cute wombat...." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's animal information and cute illustrations. They find it entertaining and informative, with witty humor and an engaging depiction of wombats as characters. The book introduces an animal not common outside Australia and explains how wombats behave. It is a good companion for a stuffed wombat.
"The wombat is such a character, but still represented as an animal...." Read more
"...We read it over and over. Sweet sentiment about animals just being animals." Read more
"Diary of a Wombat is the best book that explains how wombats act...." Read more
"Cute children’s book written with humor. Some information about the creature but mostly entertaining." Read more
Customers find the book a good gift and souvenir. They say it's funny and can be added to gift bags.
"...It’s perfect to add to gift bags. It’s a fun story and nice to include something Australian." Read more
"...simply show a wombat doing what wombats do -- it's a great purchase as a souvenir because it can introduce a child to this funny animal...." Read more
"Lovely gift for a 61yr old woman who wants to find, retire, then move to- a WOMBAT SANCTUARY !..." Read more
"...This book along with an actual stuffed wombat is the perfect baby gift!" Read more
Customers enjoy the wombat's personality. They identify with the cheeky and intelligent creature.
"Narrated from the witty perspective of a highly intelligent wombat, this delightful tale offers a humorous account of the wombat's comical..." Read more
"...The illustrations are top notch and give the wombat a personality of its own. It shows how destructive they can be - but it's not malicious...." Read more
"The wombat is such a character, but still represented as an animal...." Read more
"...The Wombat character is adorable, and his determination to have his needs met is utterly charming." Read more
Reviews with images
Sweet, charming, hilarious
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2023Narrated from the witty perspective of a highly intelligent wombat, this delightful tale offers a humorous account of the wombat's comical encounters with humans and her relentless pursuit of sustenance. The book combines straightforward yet expressive illustrations with the wombat's sharp-witted observations, providing an entertaining glimpse into a world where animals train humans. As students read along, they will find themselves chuckling at the wombat's amusing escapades, all while engaging in valuable exercises of making connections, posing inquiries, and drawing inferences to unravel the intricacies of the wombat's everyday existence.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024Cute book! As advertised. Good price.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2024Such a funny delightful story for children and adults alike.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2024This is a charming book about an animal most Americans don't know much about.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023The sweet and funny wombat sure made his way to the hearts of my grandkids. They seemed very pleased with the book and enjoyed the wombat adventures and competition with human neighbors to eat every carrot in their house and garden.
Cute story and nice illustrations. We loved it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, charming, hilariousThe sweet and funny wombat sure made his way to the hearts of my grandkids. They seemed very pleased with the book and enjoyed the wombat adventures and competition with human neighbors to eat every carrot in their house and garden.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2023
Cute story and nice illustrations. We loved it.
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2009When I tell people about trips to Australia, it will somehow involve my favorite animal in the entire world, the wombat. It's a wild animal, despite it looking like it'd be a great pet. They're not malicious nor aware that what they do is "bad" and they're so darn cute so you can't be angry with them.
The wombat's story takes place over a week, and starts out with the wombat sleeping, eating and scratching. Eventually, it discovers humans, and as every pet owner knows, humans are great sources of food for cute and cuddly things. Jackie French is a good author - making the wombat less like an annoyance but instead, a cute cuddly animal that can't help itself.
The illustrations are top notch and give the wombat a personality of its own. It shows how destructive they can be - but it's not malicious. They see food, and go after it.
You can't go wrong with this book. It's a great introduction to one of the world's most unique animals and makes for a good story for kids.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2017*****SPOILERS READ AT YOUR OWN PERIL*****
One of the funniest stories about the life of a wombat, beginning with the easy life cycle of the wombat. Then the Wombat realizes that there are humans that are living near by, then proceeds to show the destructive nature of the wombat. But from the Wombat’s point of view it isn’t being destructive, it is merely requesting things and not understanding the difference between the human world and the wombat world. The wombat receives carrots from the humans, and since then have been terrorizing the humans to get the carrots. That was the first mistake they made, as they continue to give the wombat carrots, and when the wombat is tired of carrots, the humans then feed it oats. The wombat considers everything he or she is doing as just part of his life, and some of the things he is doing he considers as a help to the humans. I felt it was an innocent way to describe the different perspective that animals and humans have. What we consider as an animal being destructive, animals are merely looking for food. They do not understand the difference. It is also a lesson of not feeding wild animals. they become too comfortable with humans and messes with their natural life. At the end the wombat decided that humans are easy to train and make good pets and decided to live under the house of the humans.
The art was cute. The story was hilarious. I could’t help but laugh at the story. I recommend it!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2013Best humorous book I've found about this Australian marsupial. (I love working with teens, and volunteer at a detention center. Many of them have lots of stuff going on and need all the help they can get to find a comfortable place for themselves in the world) At first none of them would do more than glance at the cover, apparently too afraid that the others would think them childish) It is beautifully illustrated and looks like a young child's read-aloud book, but once the kids here had the story read aloud to them, several have asked for the book to read it again to themselves. They even recommend the book to new kids coming in. (there's a lot of turnover here.) When I bought the book I also bought a small stuffed version of the animal, which has been very popular with the kids. (See my review about "Batty".)I copied an encyclopedia article with picture of a real wombat, which not really surprisingly, many have read that, too. They are very curious about wombats and often ask questions, which I'm happy to answer. I'm always thrilled when they show interest in something that has nothing to do with their own very real difficulties. I don't know what I'll do next, but this will be hard to beat!
Top reviews from other countries
- StephanieReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 1, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars What a lovely message
The book has a lovely message about being different/autistic.
It even have quotes in the back and a page for you to explain why you're a daisy what's good about you. And a word search
-
davidReviewed in Spain on March 27, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Nice
Muy chulo e instructivo para los peques
- Kindle CustomerReviewed in Canada on March 4, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars fun
Awesome for kids and adults!
-
Juan Carlos ArcosReviewed in Mexico on February 7, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Inesperadamente divertido para una niña de 5 años
Cuando lo recibi y lo hojee me parecio bastante aburrido y hasta dude en dejarlo bajo el árbol en Navidad, sin embargo, ha sido un exito inesperado, mi hija de 5 años muere de risa con el libro y pide leerlo una y otra vez!
- Swapan mukhopadhyYReviewed in India on June 25, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Fantastic