Diary of a Wombat [Paperback]

Jackie French (Author), Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What, exactly, do wombats do all day? One enterprising wombat answers that question and a few others in diary form in French's (No Such Thing) tongue-in-cheek picture book. After explaining his unique Australian heritage, the star of this volume paints a funny, if rather dull, picture of his daily routine. "Monday Morning: Slept./Afternoon: Slept./ Evening: Ate grass./ Scratched./ Night: Ate grass." Things begin to perk up, however, when the wombat discovers its new human neighbors. Before long, the always-hungry creature is at their door begging for food (preferably carrots or oats), digging in their garden ("Began new hole in soft dirt") and turning his neighbors' belongings into scratching posts. Happily, the human family appears to take the antics of their adopted wild "pet" in stride (though the wombat sees things a bit differently "Have decided that humans are easily trained and make quite good pets"). Whatley (the Detective Donut books) appears to relish this character study; he paints the chocolate-brown wombat in numerous poses and expressions--rolling, scratching, sleeping, chewing--on an ample white background. The artist gives the star expressive eyes without anthropomorphizing her. The often cuddly looking wombat may leave some readers envious of its languid lifestyle. And those curious about other animals' activities can explore Diary of a Worm, Ages 4-7. (Aug.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Through simple sentences and hilarious yet realistic acrylic illustrations, readers are treated to a week of observations made by a young female wombat who becomes chummy with a human family. The diarist's obsessions with sleep and carrots allow a rest from heavier chuckles over a confrontation with a welcome mat: "Discovered flat, hairy creature invading my territory. Fought major battle with flat, hairy creature. Won battle. Neighbors should be pleased. Demanded a reward." French's text, in Kid's Stuff Plain font, also indirectly informs on habitat and wombats' nocturnal lifestyle. Whatley gives a sublime balance of the adorable charm of the creature, along with its drawbacks as an acquaintance. This title will team nicely with Margaret Spurling's Bilby Moon (Kane/Miller, 2001) for studies of Australian wildlife.
Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sandpiper; Reprint edition (March 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 054707669X
• ISBN-13: 978-0547076690
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 11.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,424 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Children's Books > Travel & Cultures > Explore the World > Australia & Oceania
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals > Fiction
  • #52 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Precious illustrations, laugh-out-loud story, June 27, 2004

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Wombat (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) (Hardcover)

This is an extremely short and easy read, but what a hoot. The illustrations are to die for. The artist really nailed it with the Wombat illustrations, and while wombats are adorable without the help of people, the illustrations really bring out the personality of this Australian native.

Behaving much like a spoiled dog, Wombat gets in all sorts of messes trying to get his new human neighbors to accommodate him. In a very subtle way, the book indicates that these are wild animals - no one pets the wombat... but food magically appears for him.

I literally laughed out loud while reading by myself. You could almost just reach right in the book and pinch the cheeks on that little fur ball.

Children (and adults) will love looking at the illustrations of the contented, sleeping wombat, as well as those that depict him as sometimes curious and innocently mischievious.

This is also a great way to introduce an animal that a lot of kids may never see (unless they live Down Under) in a zoo or even on TV, and a good way to open a discussion on how animals (wild animals, and even household pets) have their own unique personalities and different behaviors than people.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute delight, September 30, 2004

By 

Chen Jialin (Western Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Wombat (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) (Hardcover)

I bought this book for a friend's son. He's seven, and reads at a higher level than is normal for his age, so this book didn't pose much of a literary challenge for him. He totally loved the book! At last count, he'd read it six times aloud, to everyone. (I don't know if they're contemplating sending it back. ;))

It's a really adorable book, and Bruce Whatley's drawings really bring Mothball (the wombat) to life, with her little rolled up tummy rats when she curls up and her little wombat eyes.

This book is sure to bring a smile to any reader's face.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't pat the wombat!, June 1, 2004

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Diary of a Wombat (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) (Hardcover)

Until I read this book I had never seen a dedication in a picture book in which the illustrator thanked the author. Yet lo and behold, at the beginning of "Diary of a Wombat" read the words, "Thanks for letting me play, Jackie. This was fun", signed by illustrator Bruce Whatley. He's not wrong either. The book is a heaping helpful of fun, starring a cuddly adorable little wombat and her low key adventures. Having been published at the same time as the similarly titled (and, in my humble opinion, less impressive) book, "Diary of a Worm", "Diary of a Wombat" never really received the praise and adoration it so rightly deserved. To me, this book is the perfect balance of cute and sly (a difficult mixture indeed).

We follow our heroine, a rolly-polly little unnamed wombat as she goes about her days. For a wombat, life doesn't consist of much more than sleeping, munching on some grass, and sleeping again. The first few days we spend with the wombat proceed at about this pace. All that changes when the wombat acquires some new human neighbors. A family of wide-eyed Australians first meet the little creature when she decided to use their picnic area as her own personal dustbath. Please note the shocked lovebirds perched on a nearby birdbath. As the days go by the wombat slowly but surely teaches her humans to feed her carrots as well as oats. By the end, she comes to the undeniable conclusion that, "humans are easily trained and make quite good pets".

I can't imagine a single objection that could be successfully lobbied against this tale. Let us consider, first of all, the wombat herself. Think of a teddy bear with a slightly larger nose and I think you'll have a rough idea of what I'm describing here. The wombat is incapable, it seems, of anger or malicious intent. All the damage she does comes from a self-absorbed sense of what is best for herself. Wet laundry in the way? Get rid of it. Humans not feeding you lately? Make a ruckus with their metal garbage can. She is drawn particularly realistically, which of course makes her all the funnier. It is a relief that the humans have not yet taken steps to rid themselves of this particularly intense and likable little pest. Who can resist her half-closed eyes as she chews contentedly on a freshly grown carrot?

Not only does Jackie French tell her tale with just the right amount of humor and timing but Bruce Whatley outdoes himself with his whimsical illustrations. Wombats never had it so good. If you're looking for something cute but witty, that treads between the humorous and the tragic with fantastic results (not to mention being more than a little kid-friendly), then I present for your reading enjoyment, and the enjoyment of your peers/children, "Diary of a Wombat".