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Diary of a Wombat (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)) Hardcover – August 18, 2003

by Jackie French (Author), Bruce Whatley (Illustrator)

146 customer reviews

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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.

Diary of a Wombat (Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards))

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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.

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.

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Product details

Age Range: 4 - 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Lexile Measure: 170L (What's this?)

Series: Ala Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers (Awards)
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books; American ed edition (August 18, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618381368
ISBN-13: 978-0618381364
Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 11.8 x 8.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (146 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #69,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #33 in Books > Children's Books > Geography & Cultures > Explore the World > Australia & Oceania
- #121 in Books > Children's Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Health > Personal Hygiene
- #131 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals

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Customer Reviews

146

4.8 out of 5 stars

5 star		89%
4 star		7%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		0%

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Top Customer Reviews

WOMBATS!

ByYuhan H.on March 3, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

*****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!

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Precious illustrations, laugh-out-loud story

ByShelley GammonVINE VOICEon June 27, 2004

Format: 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.

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For grandson

ByIsabelon March 11, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Gave this to my 17-year-old grandson, whom I nicknamed "Wombat" years ago. He enjoys all things wombat. It's a kid's book but darned cute, and he finds it highly amusing.

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Great Book!

ByAlison K.on June 26, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I bought this book to read to my 3 year old preschool class and they loved it, but the person who loved it even more was my 9 year old daughter. She ended up becomming so interested in wombats that she spent several hours doing research about them. The book itself is the funniest thing ever, and the illustrations are wonderful! I would higly recomend this book for kids 3-99!

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Not a Wombat

ByAmazon Customeron March 24, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Diary of a Wombat is the best book that explains how wombats act. I thought it was an excellent lesson on how to treat wombats and not to treat wombats. Very humorous.

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Lovely Little Book

ByGlenna R. Boldrickon May 9, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Saw this book in Australia, was so happy to find it at Amazon. Purchased it for my granddaughter. She loves it. Very sweet little story and the illustrations are very nice.

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Nice story, and funny

ByNomdeplumeon February 8, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Nice story, and funny. Problem is it looks as if the publisher cut and pasted the illustrations in: they seem as if floating on the page rather than part of the page. Bad photoshop job, seemingly. The illustrator did the illustrations in accrylic paints and they are very cute. Do the "look inside" before you buy.

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Don't pat the wombat!

ByE. R. BirdHALL OF FAMETOP 1000 REVIEWERon June 1, 2004

Format: 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".

0Comment 27 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Wonderful Book

Playful, whimsical, lovely story! A must have for every child's library.

Published 1 month ago by Avid Reader

Fun with cute illustrations plus: wombat*!

*Not written by an actual wombat but the ghostwriter did a pretty good job capturing his personality.

Published 2 months ago by catsandlassos

... as a gift and it was well received and enjoyed by parents and their 4 year old

I bot it as a gift and it was well received and enjoyed by parents and their 4 year old.

Published 2 months ago by Krich

Adorable!

This story is charming and adorable! After reading it to our 8-year old we just HAD to YouTube Wombats and --of course-- now she wants one.Read more

Published 3 months ago by Candy

Five Stars

Gave this to my 3 year old nephew...now he eats carrots at every meal...

Published 3 months ago by Katherine

GET THIS BOOK if you want to smile A LOT

I bought this as a guilty pleasure for myself. I keep it sitting out in my studio. It amuses me way more than it should. =) Great book.

Published 5 months ago by Kim B.

... and illustrated by Bruce Whatley is laugh out loud fun to read

This picture book written by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley is laugh out loud fun to read.Read more

Published 5 months ago by Traci Bold

Five Stars

Super cute book, bought for a present

Published 5 months ago by Awesome shopper

Five Stars

Love this book! Such great illustrations and gets a lot of laughs

Published 5 months ago by LEWK91209

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