Wombats are cuddly-looking, slow-moving Australian animals. Their favorite activities are eating, sleeping, and digging holes. Here, in the words o...
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reviews
Oct 06, 2008
Abigail
rated it: 
It's a difficult job getting humans trained properly, but our wombat heroine is equal to the challenge in this hilarious picture book. With its highly felicitous meeting of text and image, Diary of a Wombat gives the reader a wombat's view of her new neighbors, who provide her with the ideal dust-bath (their picnic area), the perfect place to dig holes (the garden), and plenty of oats and carrots. Jackie French's deadpan narrative, paired with Bruce Whatley's droll illustrations, will have chil
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3 comments
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(10 people liked it)
Oct 17, 2008
Lisa
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This is the week long diary of a wombat (an Australian animal that likes to dig holes, eat, and sleep.) As the week progresses and it attains its desires, the story just gets funnier and funnier; it really had me chortling. The pictures are hilarious as the wombat keeps her sleepy expression throughout all her many activities.
This is a book particularly good for anyone who has a companion animal because they will certainly recognize the training animals are adept at giving to humans. More...
This is a book particularly good for anyone who has a companion animal because they will certainly recognize the training animals are adept at giving to humans. More...
7 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Sep 07, 2009
Kathryn
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This is a delightful little story, amusing, with CUTE-as-can-be illustrations. Growing up on five acres in the country, I was used to deer coming by and asserting their rightful territory by eating our flowers, drinking our water, etc. Now, I want to spend some time at an Australian country house so I can see a wombat do the same! :-)
The story takes sunny approach to the pressing and troublesome issue of humans invading wildlife territory--I couldn't help but feel sorry for More...
3 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Oct 05, 2011
Lindsay
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I thoroughly enjoyed this playful, humorous, and interesting Australia book. Diary of a Wombat written by Australian, Jackie French, and illustrator, Bruce Whatley, is an excellent international read. This book is written in a diary format from a wombat's perspective of his life. A wombat is an Australian animal that is not present in North America. Young children are typically fascinated by animals and this book gives them an opportunity to expand their knowledge of animals in other parts o
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Mar 12, 2011
Sarah
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This is an adorable, humorous book that gives us the world of a wombat through the animal’s point of view. The wild wombat tells us in a sort of schedule/ date-book format what it does each day. Mostly it involves a lot of sleeping, eating, scratching, digging, and begging for food from its new human neighbors. My favorite parts are where it is battling a “flat, hairy creature invading my territory.” Then having won the battle, she demands a reward (and receives one in the form of tasty carro
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Jul 22, 2008
Jackie "the Librarian"
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A charming and very single-minded wombat finds a lovely home with some new neighbors, and teaches them to give him carrots. I think my cats may have read this book. Although they prefer kitty treats to carrots, of course.
2 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Aug 15, 2010
Shannon
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This is one of my favourite picture books, ever since it first came out, and it's taken me seven years to finally get a copy - but the wait is worth it.
Wombats are lazy animals - cousin to the koala, which is only awake for about 45 mins a day - and oh so adorable. When I was in Grade 6 I did an assignment on the hairy-nosed wombat, and learnt about their unique defence tactic: like koalas, wombats have a hard plate of bone on their lower back. Koalas use this for sleeping in the fo More...
Wombats are lazy animals - cousin to the koala, which is only awake for about 45 mins a day - and oh so adorable. When I was in Grade 6 I did an assignment on the hairy-nosed wombat, and learnt about their unique defence tactic: like koalas, wombats have a hard plate of bone on their lower back. Koalas use this for sleeping in the fo More...
5 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Feb 17, 2008
Alan
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I picked this up at Dymock's in the basement of the main store and had to have it. My children were too old for it, but so what. I gave it to friends, neighbors, my mother. Absolutely wonderful.
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 23, 2011
Luke
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Diary of a Wombat is a charming read. Wombats in general are incredibly cute, and Whatley does a superb job at capturing their lethargic nature. His illustrations are lovable, creating great detailed facial expressions. French uses the comedic format of an animals attempt to understand the human world. Luckily, she never takes it to ridiculous places. The text is simple, and it was hilarious to read the dialy musings of an animal that doesn't do that much. The wombat in question is actually quit
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Sep 12, 2008
Monica
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This is lovely, lovely book. Read it aloud the first day of school and then followed it with a bit of Terry Denton's charming WOMBAT AND FOX: TALES OF THE CITY.
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(1 person liked it)
May 24, 2008
Jackie
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A co-worker handed me this book and said "You MUST read this", and I'm very glad she did. This book is sweet, charming, hilarious and very well illustrated.
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 20, 2008
Infinite Playlist
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My wonderful sister gave it to me and I love it. The Wombat is so unbelievably cute and adorable. The story itself is funny and sweet.
7 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 17, 2009
Robert
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Possibly the most enjoyable children's book for adults. I love the story and the illustrations.
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(1 person liked it)
Sep 11, 2007
Molly
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Makes me giggle like a five-year-old every time. Everyone should read this book!
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(1 person liked it)
Dec 16, 2009
Laila
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This is quite possibly my all time favorite picture book!
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(1 person liked it)
Jun 25, 2011
Paula
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The wombat is keeping a diary of what happens during its day. She sleeps a lot and likes to scratch and than eats at night. It also likes to dig holes to sleep in. When a family moves close to the wombat it becomes more interesting for her because she discovers new places to scratch and a lot more food. It would be interesting to see how this works for story time because the story is funny but the pictures are not very colorful and clear.
Mar 03, 2011
Julia
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This book is so fun to read! Children who like the "Scaredy Squirrel" books will love "Diary of a Wombat". Wombats are slow-moving Australian animals who eat, sleep, and dig all day. This wombat is no different. His busy week consists of eating, digging, and sleeping. When he gets some new human neighbors, the wombat decides to train them into feeding him on demand. According to her website, the author, Jackie French, has had 48 wombats!
Jul 04, 2009
chbyoungreaders
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This touching story tells of a week in the life of a charming and rather demanding wombat. Wombat finds a lovely home with some new human neighbors and manages to very effectively (and destructively) train the humans to feed him carrots. The illustrations in this book are fantastic and the wombat’s adventures will have you on the floor laughing. I highly recommend it. Our family gives it six thumbs way up!
Dec 26, 2010
Ana
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I seem to be becoming a big fan of "diary" style books (in picture book, fiction, or non-fiction format) and this is no exception to that blossoming appreciation. Diary of a Wombat was incredibly adorable! I couldn't help but think of my little beagle, Hannah, who is also quite fond of making food demands (she probably also thinks that my husband and I make good pets and are easy to train.)
Feb 24, 2011
Renee
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I picked this one up solely because Amanda Palmer mentioned it in her blog entry from a few days ago. I have had it on a list of "To Read" picture books forever. I'm so glad I finally put it on Hold. It's ADORABLE. I absolutely want a wombat now! I will feed it carrots and oats and name it Sleepy. Adorable illustrations. Cute story. Can't wait to read to kids on Wednesday.
Sep 06, 2010
Leila
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This is a bit of a weird one. I read it yesterday to the 3.5-year-old who gifted it to me, and I read it in a VERY convincing Australian accent. He was easily distracted by other stuff that was going on in the same room as us, and looked like he didn't know what to make of it. Partially because it's a "diary", one develops the feeling that there will never be a climactic buildup.
Sep 14, 2009
I read this to the first graders on their first visits to the library of the school year. I asked if they had ever heard of a wombat. Some yes, mostly no. I asked them if they wanted to have a day like a wombat. Some said yes, and one girl said, "Because I love to sleep!" Some said no, too boring being a wombat. Some kids liked it and some thought it was weird.
Feb 19, 2009
Lynne
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Award-winning author, Jackie French, creates a hilarious tale of a wombat with an attitude. This quick read begs to be shared aloud while you will want to observe every detail in Bruce Whatley's simple but bold acrylic-created illustrations.
A true favorite of mine as well as The Children's Book Council of Australia.
A true favorite of mine as well as The Children's Book Council of Australia.
Feb 12, 2011
Susan
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This was a darling little book. Simple story: wombat lives in Australia, sleeps, eats, scratches. And then some humans move in, and the wombat discovers they're pretty trainable. Simple, sweet, and with adorable illustrations. The minimalist language could make it a great book for a child just learning to truly read on her own.
Jan 28, 2009
Andres
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Fun book that introduces children to an animal not many are familiar with. The short entries will generate giggles as the wombat makes its way in the world causing shenanigans, eating many carrots and sleeping an awefull lot. Additionally, the illustrations do a good job of complementing the text. Audience: K-3.
Jun 01, 2009
Jim
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i bought it after reading it, that's how good it is. a wombat likes carrots and "helps" the local human family. the book is from the wombat's point of view (it IS his diary) but the pictures are from the family's point of view, entirely different than the wombat's. and the illos are so much fun!
Apr 18, 2009
Elizabeth
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One of my actually-purchased-inside-Powell's books, and part of our eccentric animal book collection (wombats, armadillos, and meerkats). Will have to be on the lookout for more from this author/illustrator team since we stumbled on Josephine Wants To Dance and enjoyed that, too!
May 02, 2011
Heather
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We read this as part of our continuing Australia study. Sadly, we didn't learn much about wombats. This book is purely "cute", no real science involved. On cuteness though it earns 3 stars. My boys laughed a lot and the younger ones in particular thought it was "SO FUNNY."
May 26, 2009
Heidi
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Jackie French has a thing about wombats. They live in her garden and eat her doormats. So, being a writer, she wrote a book about them.
This is an utterly *gorgeous* picture book that just rings SO true. And the wombat is as adorable as she is simultaneously painful!
This is an utterly *gorgeous* picture book that just rings SO true. And the wombat is as adorable as she is simultaneously painful!
