Wombat Walkabout

by Carol Diggory Shields, Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)

Early one morning when the sun came out, Six woolly wombats went walkabout. This whimsical counting poem follows six brave little wombats on walkabout in the Australian outback. But the wilderness is bound to bring more excitement than an innocent counting game. Soon enough, the curious wombats learn to beware the hungry dingo! Aussie native Sophie BlackallÂ’s delicious illustrations set adorable wombats in a lush world of golden wattles, billabongs, kookaburras, and gum nuts. With marvelous wordplay and irresistible read-aloud phrases, this ingenious text is sure to become a well-worn favorite. Accompanied by a short, simple glossary of Australian terms and wildlife.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Australia, Childrens, Storytime, Counting, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2009

About the author

Carol Diggory Shields was inspired to write Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp after "being called a Nagosaurus by my five-year-old," she admits. "I started playing with the idea of partying dinosaurs who were scientifically accurate (more or less), and somehow in the prehistoric ooze of my brain, Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp took shape." Her rocking prehistoric party proved a hit with both young readers and critics. "Witty and imaginative, the poem has a rhythm that makes cumbersome multisyllable dinosaur names roll off the tongue," said Kirkus Reviews.
Currently a children's librarian, Carol Diggory Shields has also worked with children as a recreational therapist and at one time was a designer of stuffed toys. Her years of being around children have no doubt helped her get a feel for the fun-but-factual stories that kids love, told in animated verse with an infectious beat. After successfully collaborating with illustrator Scott Nash on Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp, she teamed up with him for Martian Rock, "the true story of how a meteorite from Mars arrived on Earth," she quips.
More recently, the pair worked together again on The Bugliest Bug, a wacky tale of an insect talent contest threatened by hungry spiders (disguised as judges) and a brave little Damselfy who saves the day. "Insects are awesome!," the author enthuses. "Every human invention, from catapults to jet propulsion, had already been invented and used by bugs for millions of years. And that's why to be 'bugly' is the ultimate compliment."
The author of several books for children, Carol Diggory Shields lives in northern California.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Six woolly wombats, walking one by one, / Passed a golden wattle blooming in the sun. / The last little wombat, whose name was Clive, / Stopped to smell the flowers... then there were FIVE." And so it goes as six wombats go walkabout in this Australian-themed rhyming counting book, finding their numbers thinned by a hungry dingo. Eventually the last two wombats realize what is going on, and manage to cleverly turn the tables on their canine adversary...

Winsome words - the rollicking rhythm makes the text here just roll off the tongue - are paired with adorable artwork in Wombat Walkabout, making this picture-book a wonderful story-hour selection for younger children. Part counting book, part poetry selection, part story of prey turning the tables on their predator, it is an entertaining book with plenty of humor, both textual and visual. As always, Sophie Blackall's artwork is immensely appealing, capturing the chubby charm of its phascolomian cast perfectly. As someone who loved Jackie French's Diary of a Wombat , I was probably always going to enjoy Shields and Blackall's work here, but I was surprised by just how adorable I found it! Recommended to fellow wombat lovers, as well as to anyone looking for fun counting books and/or humorous rhyming texts.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read aloud for preschoolers/kindergardeners!! 6 little wombats have to outsmart the dingo - I've used it with 9 classes who came for a tour of the library where I work and each one has really enjoyed it!

[Laura Madsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute story and illustrations. (I heart wombats!)

It starts out like a counting story and the poor tired parent reading aloud thinks, "Oh no, not another inane counting book," but then the wombats turn it all around. They are cute, chubby, clever and courageous.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've read this three times in less than 24 hours and my kid has proclaimed it his "New favorite book."

That's an automatic five star for me.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the lyrical way this cute little story reads. It's so fun to get into and I think the sing-song cadence appeals to little ones.

[The Reading Evenstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

a masterpiece.

[Joanna Marple · Rating 3 out of 5]

This fun journey into the Australian outback is written in rhyme, with an excellent meter, making it a joy to read aloud. Six woolly wombats go on a walkabout, and a passing ravenous dingo dingo decides this lunch is too good to miss. One by one, a wombat strays from the others intrigued by all that one can see in the bush (golden wattle, kookaburras, gum trees, a billabong – all explained in a glossary). Suddenly Jen and Jack realize the others are no longer following. Hiding by the trail, they spy the dingo with a large sack that’s squirming on his back. The two, worried about their four playmates, come up with a cunning pit plan to thwart the hungry canine. Four thankful wombats escape and six happy wombats walk back home two by two for tea. The illustrations are in warm colours, focusing on flora and fauna. Since the wooly wombats look pretty similar, Blackall has given each Wombat its own accessory (paper hat, string skirt…) to give them some individuality. 2-5 year olds will enjoy the rhyming text and the round wooly wombats!

[Ashlyn Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since my two-year-old son obtained his first library card recently, we've been eagerly embarking on weekly visits and barrowing toddler books by the truck-loads. There are many book lists available on the web by authors and celebs of your picking. Having only one child, and a little one at that, I'm a smidge out of touch with popular children books of the day. This particular book was recommended by Oprah.

I love the creative Australian take on the classic "numbers" nursery rhyme, "At first there was four now there are three..." There is some educational facts present on native Australian wildlife and landscape, too. My son loves the book, and I'm considering purchasing for his personal library. And the illustrations are beautiful. I recommend it for children learning to count - it's very affective. ~ AH

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Subject:
Wombats -- Juvenile fiction.
Animals -- Juvenile fiction
Counting -- Juvenile fiction

Early one morning when the sun came out, Six woolly wombats went walkabout. This whimsical counting poem follows six brave little wombats on walkabout in the Australian outback. But the wilderness is bound to bring more excitement than an innocent counting game. Soon enough, the curious wombats learn to beware the hungry dingo! Aussie native Sophie Blackall?s delicious illustrations set adorable wombats in a lush world of golden wattles, billabongs, kookaburras, and gum nuts. With marvelous wordplay and irresistible read-aloud phrases, this ingenious text is sure to become a well-worn favorite. Accompanied by a short, simple glossary of Australian terms and wildlife.

[Jean-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six little wombats explore the Australian outback while a hungry, lip-licking dingo looks on. One by one the wombats stop to enjoy the outback and they never return to the pack. Finally the last two wombats Jen and Jack notice that the dingo who now has a large, lumpy, jumpy sack on his back. They must come up with a plan to save their mates. This rhyming counting book is a fun read aloud, especially if you can summon up your best Australian accent. And the illustrations (of the cutest wombats ever) are by one of our favorite illustrators Sophie Blackall (Ivy + Bean and Big Reg Lollipop)

[Shaina Cade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hullo there let’s take a look
At a wonderfully wobbly wombat covered book
There’s one-two-three four-five-and-six
Lovely little ramblers not out looking for tricks
They just want to explore the Aussie countryside
Dropping some fun vocab far and wide
Who’s that slinking not far behind?
A ratty lil weasel fox, but pay no mind
Jen and Jack got this in the bag
And rescue all their wombus friends that just had to lag
All-in-all, from the art style to the rhymes,
This picture book is lovely and good for all… climes!
What’s that I hear? Oh that's just the thunderous pitter-patter
Of a wisdom of wombats come to silence my chatter :D

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six charming wombats go on a walkabout. Along the way, a dingo snatches them off one by one. Fortunately, Jen and Jack come up with a plan to save their wombat friends. Carol Diggory Shields' rhymes incorporate Australian vocabulary and capture that Down Under feel. Sophie Blackall's illustrations are, as always, very cute. I especially like the Australian vocabulary section at the beginning of the story and the helpful guide for telling the wombats apart. Definitely recommended as a read aloud for K - 1.

[Print Teach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I - and my Grade 2 class - really enjoyed this. They got the hang of the repetition really quickly, and joined in. They loved predicting what was going to happen, including the 'twist in the tale' - and they adored spotting the Dingo on each page. It's a great story with a really easy rhythm and fab rhymes. Some of the vocabulary is very Australian: I explained the words we didn't know to the class, but labels on the illustrations would have helped. A great book, and one that I guess slightly younger readers would enjoy over and over again.

[Emily Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was little and I LOVED it. It was my first ever birthday book club book and I read it to my little sisters and they love it too. It's about a family of 6 wombats going on a walk and learning that the wild is more dangerous than they thought. It teaches little kids to stay with their group otherwise they might get eaten by a dingo, or lost in the woods. This book is phenomenal and does an amazing job of teaching little kids lessons and is a favorite of many little ones that read it. I would give this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was awesome.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Christiane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Early one morning when the sun came out, SIX woolly wombats went walkabout. They didn't see the dingo with the hungry eye, 'I've a hunch my lunch just walked on by!'"

I can't wait to read this for story time! Big, beautiful illustrations, fun, rhyming text, and cool Australian setting (with unfamiliar words---wattle tree, billabong, swag---defined at the beginning. This will make a nice pairing with Mabela the Clever by Margaret Read MacDonald.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey mates, do you want to go on a walkabout? Great book that's a mix of 8 Little Monkeys turned Billy Goats Gruff (or something like that).

For teachers, this book is a gem! It could easily be used for numerous lessons. It uses words from Australia which is a customs lessons as well as context clues. It discusses predators and prey (in a friendly way). Then there is the less one pattern for Math. Besides, it's just a cute book.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute, and the rhymes flow just right for reading aloud. Can be used for storytimes with themes of counting, Australian animals, or wolves (in this case--dingoes; you could tell the kids that in this book, because it's Australian, there's a dingo as the villian instead of the standard American wolf!).

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a picture book reader/listener make sure not to miss this author. I need to add her other books.


Rhyming and counting book. With fun pictures. What more could you ask for?

Also, if you are studying animals or habitats or Australia. Then also a must read.


Check out all of her stuff!

[Charmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wombat Walkabout Is a cute story about a six wombats and dingo taking a walk. As the wombats walk down the trail the dingo snatches a wombat one by one. The remanding wombats come up with a plan to catch the dingo. I would use this story to help students with writing poems and building awareness for rhyming words.

[Tirzah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides the wombats being adorable, this book is is a great story for many reasons:

*it teaches counting
*it teaches friendship and teamwork
*introduces Australian words

When you read it, make sure you and the children spot the dingo hiding on certain pages!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this for toddler/pre-school story time. The older kids drew the parallel to the big bad wolf in the 3 Little Pigs. The younger kids loved counting the wombats. Rhymes were wonderful. Kids guessed what they bought a wombat might look like before we read it.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a spin off a popular backwards counting rhyme - only using wombats and Australian terminology.

The wombats Sophie Blackall draws are so adorable - wombat fans will ❤️ them.

The kids loved how the wombats tricked the dingo too.

[Rachael Knudsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever and entertaining - a real thrill when read with an Australian accent. Love those wombats and their cute names. Reminds me of another counting rhyme we do, five little speckled frogs. A great book for learning numbers.

[Annica Duffner · Rating 5 out of 5]

a good book to integrate math. A good book to get kids started with reading

[Alida · Rating 3 out of 5]

Counting books are a genre in their own and it's hard to stand out. This one did it for me. Their mischievous little eyes is worth the book alone. Love the illustrations!!

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun introduction to some of Australia's nature. The rhyming pattern works well. Might be a little scary for younger audiences.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, playful book that expands kids' vocabulary with the introduction of Australian terns as well as rare American words.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will always wonder about the dingo, though.

[Kitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Toddler loved this one. Or maybe it was my terrible Australian accent. Great rhymes, unusual counting, and adorable wombat characters made this one a big win for both of us.

[Hope Cordell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. I would use it in my classroom and teach them how to draw the aninmals.