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The Wombles #1
The Wombles
The Wombles is the first ever Wombles book and introduces the stern but kindly Great Uncle Bulgaria; Orinoco, who is particularly fond of his food and a subsequent forty winks; general handyman extraordinaire Tobermory, who can turn almost anything that the Wombles retrieve from Wimbledon Common into something useful; Madame Cholet, who cooks the most delicious and natural foods to keep the Wombles happy and contented; and last but not least, Bungo, one of the youngest and cheekiest Wombles of all, who has much to learn and is due to venture out on to the Common on his own for the very first time . . .
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1968
41 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Beresford
139 books22 followersElisabeth "Liza" Beresford MBE was a British author of children's books, best known for creating The Wombles. Born into a family with many literary connections, she worked as a journalist but struggled for success until she created the Wombles in the 1960s. The strong theme of recycling was particularly notable, and the Wombles became very popular with children across the world. While Beresford produced many other literary works, the Wombles remained her most well known creation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
November 11, 2025
This book is really sweet! I'm amazed that it's got so few ratings. I've listened to The Wombles (1968) on audible and read my mum's battered old copy for years and years.
It's a hidden literary gem, in my opinion.
We meet our protagonist, Bungo womble, who is starting his first day as a "working womble," picking up litter that is left by people on the common.
Bungo has quite a big ego for such a little womble, but makes friends with Orinocco, who likes to take “forty winks” with his carry bag, instead of filling it with rubbish and has an affinity for food.
He also makes friends with cheeky little Alderney, the womble who helps Madame Cholet with cooking and serving hot beverages & snacks, such as acorn juice, to the working wombles.
There's also Tomsk (one of my favourite characters), who is a “night watch womble” who guards the main door to the burrow and enjoys reading Tarzan of the apes and playing golf (or as Bungo calls it, “goluff”) in his spare time.
I almost forgot Great Uncle Bulgaria and Tobermory!
Great uncle Bulgaria runs the burrow with Tobermory as his right-hand womble.
Great uncle Bulgaria enjoys reading The times newspaper and wearing his McWomble tartan shawl while he tries to wrangle the younger wombles.
Tobermory runs the womble workshop and is always tinkering away with bits and bobs, and almost always has a screwdriver or a pencil behind one ear.
This group of wombles (and more) all go on many adventures and expeditions involving, but not limited to; dalmatian dogs, black umbrellas, midsummer parties, concrete mixers, the London underground, Wimbledon tennis tournaments, unexpected visits from cousins in America, bicycles, landslides, a very realistic looking snow man and the “silver womble” that Tobermory builds.
This extract from this article describes the Wombles book as ”It’s nice in a very twee, innocent sort of way – the wombles are unfailingly polite, they have bracken and berry pie for tea, play Wombles & Ladders at weekends and do The Times crossword (apart from the female wombles who work in the kitchens – this is the 1960s after all!)”
And that's basically The Wombles in a nutshell!
⭐4.5
9+
cws: some old-fashioned beliefs around parenting (such as being harsher), light sexist attitudes, violence/”punishment” towards children when they misbehave.
It's a hidden literary gem, in my opinion.
We meet our protagonist, Bungo womble, who is starting his first day as a "working womble," picking up litter that is left by people on the common.
Bungo has quite a big ego for such a little womble, but makes friends with Orinocco, who likes to take “forty winks” with his carry bag, instead of filling it with rubbish and has an affinity for food.
He also makes friends with cheeky little Alderney, the womble who helps Madame Cholet with cooking and serving hot beverages & snacks, such as acorn juice, to the working wombles.
There's also Tomsk (one of my favourite characters), who is a “night watch womble” who guards the main door to the burrow and enjoys reading Tarzan of the apes and playing golf (or as Bungo calls it, “goluff”) in his spare time.
I almost forgot Great Uncle Bulgaria and Tobermory!
Great uncle Bulgaria runs the burrow with Tobermory as his right-hand womble.
Great uncle Bulgaria enjoys reading The times newspaper and wearing his McWomble tartan shawl while he tries to wrangle the younger wombles.
Tobermory runs the womble workshop and is always tinkering away with bits and bobs, and almost always has a screwdriver or a pencil behind one ear.
This group of wombles (and more) all go on many adventures and expeditions involving, but not limited to; dalmatian dogs, black umbrellas, midsummer parties, concrete mixers, the London underground, Wimbledon tennis tournaments, unexpected visits from cousins in America, bicycles, landslides, a very realistic looking snow man and the “silver womble” that Tobermory builds.
This extract from this article describes the Wombles book as ”It’s nice in a very twee, innocent sort of way – the wombles are unfailingly polite, they have bracken and berry pie for tea, play Wombles & Ladders at weekends and do The Times crossword (apart from the female wombles who work in the kitchens – this is the 1960s after all!)”
And that's basically The Wombles in a nutshell!
⭐4.5
9+
cws: some old-fashioned beliefs around parenting (such as being harsher), light sexist attitudes, violence/”punishment” towards children when they misbehave.
November 29, 2015
Ahhhhhh. What a satisfying bedtime read.
I never heard of the Wombles until I ran across them 15 yrs ago or so on Nick at Nite. The charming short films were cute without being twee, funny without being obvious, and I loved them immediately. Only recently did I find out there were books!! And the books came first!!
The first volume introduces our friends, and tells us a bit more about Wombledom. Turns out there are far more Wombles than we know even in the local burrow--about 250 to be exact--and Great Uncle Bulgaria (great in both senses of the word) is about 300 years old!
Though first written in 1970 or so, the text doesn't feel all that "dated." An excellent read-aloud for all ages.
I never heard of the Wombles until I ran across them 15 yrs ago or so on Nick at Nite. The charming short films were cute without being twee, funny without being obvious, and I loved them immediately. Only recently did I find out there were books!! And the books came first!!
The first volume introduces our friends, and tells us a bit more about Wombledom. Turns out there are far more Wombles than we know even in the local burrow--about 250 to be exact--and Great Uncle Bulgaria (great in both senses of the word) is about 300 years old!
Though first written in 1970 or so, the text doesn't feel all that "dated." An excellent read-aloud for all ages.
August 3, 2022
Reflections and lessons learned:
“…as Great Uncle Bulgaria, helped by the others, pushed the door wide…”
The Wombles bring back huge childhood nostalgia for me, but they weren’t a comfortable like. I always preferred the albums and music, and can still recite many random lyrics (oh my word - just unbelievably found Spotify!! May we all bless Mike Batt and 70s family pop), but there was something about watching the programmes - was the scary part that we knew they weren’t animals but neither were they humans (ignoring the staging), and had to accept this in a time of outer space being/do they walk amongst us paranoia? But ignoring this, they were fabulous inspirational stories - live in and look after nature, look after each other, be productive and you’ll find meaning - all rolled around a societal structure based around family named characters that weren’t actually family (eponymous uncle!). And the use of the word Womble in so many contexts was genius… did I litter pick as I had a crush on a boy also doing it, or did the Wombles make me do it? Wombles are organised and work as a team… what more do we need?
As a consequence, when I started listening to this it felt happy to remember the names and stories, but from a very gone by era… of course though, like an old, slightly battered coat, this soon became very familiar, and the narration was as lovely as Cribbins always will sound to me. As I write this I’m currently listening to a book about the tv show the Sopranos… not all that different from the Wombles weirdly! People looking after people, and finding a reason to live and enjoy each day - if only they would have used to Soprano as a verb, but I don’t think it would have been as friendly as recycling somehow…
“…and very slowly, and with aching limbs but contented hearts, the two old Wombles made for their beds”
“…as Great Uncle Bulgaria, helped by the others, pushed the door wide…”
The Wombles bring back huge childhood nostalgia for me, but they weren’t a comfortable like. I always preferred the albums and music, and can still recite many random lyrics (oh my word - just unbelievably found Spotify!! May we all bless Mike Batt and 70s family pop), but there was something about watching the programmes - was the scary part that we knew they weren’t animals but neither were they humans (ignoring the staging), and had to accept this in a time of outer space being/do they walk amongst us paranoia? But ignoring this, they were fabulous inspirational stories - live in and look after nature, look after each other, be productive and you’ll find meaning - all rolled around a societal structure based around family named characters that weren’t actually family (eponymous uncle!). And the use of the word Womble in so many contexts was genius… did I litter pick as I had a crush on a boy also doing it, or did the Wombles make me do it? Wombles are organised and work as a team… what more do we need?
As a consequence, when I started listening to this it felt happy to remember the names and stories, but from a very gone by era… of course though, like an old, slightly battered coat, this soon became very familiar, and the narration was as lovely as Cribbins always will sound to me. As I write this I’m currently listening to a book about the tv show the Sopranos… not all that different from the Wombles weirdly! People looking after people, and finding a reason to live and enjoy each day - if only they would have used to Soprano as a verb, but I don’t think it would have been as friendly as recycling somehow…
“…and very slowly, and with aching limbs but contented hearts, the two old Wombles made for their beds”
April 3, 2023
This book took me right back!
... way, way back to the days of watching The Wombles on the TV and first reading the book.
... back about 15 years, when our school's reward stickers had The Wombles on them, so reward time began with The Song
And it was still as memorable as ever!!!
A children's classic that can and should be revived!
... way, way back to the days of watching The Wombles on the TV and first reading the book.
... back about 15 years, when our school's reward stickers had The Wombles on them, so reward time began with The Song
And it was still as memorable as ever!!!
A children's classic that can and should be revived!
August 28, 2025
I have to admit that this is a huge nostalgia rush for me - as I remember watching the animated series as I grew up many years ago. Now I know that ever since the books came out (which I didn't realise at the time) their stories have been popular and kept alive ever since.
So when I stumbled across the first book I had to give it a go and yes all the old memories came flooding back - trust some of the characters were not quite as I remember them but there were so many other reminders I soon forgot them.
The book is separated in to chapters which although read as individual stories actually all connect together - so yes I loved it and will in all honesty read the rest as I come across them
So when I stumbled across the first book I had to give it a go and yes all the old memories came flooding back - trust some of the characters were not quite as I remember them but there were so many other reminders I soon forgot them.
The book is separated in to chapters which although read as individual stories actually all connect together - so yes I loved it and will in all honesty read the rest as I come across them
April 15, 2018
What I'd describe as an amalgamation of The Moomins and the make-do-and-mend post-war Britishness, Beresford's Wombles are a delight. I loved each little story which connect to those told previously. Those endearing, if not slightly scary, characters from the 70s are all there and I give full credit to Bernard Cribbens for setting the tone just right, in my opinion.
When they reach a working age, all Wombles are allowed to choose their name from an old atlas and so, much to the consternation of Great Uncle Bulgaria, we meet our first Womble, Bungo whose adventures and friendships guide us through many of the stories. I had a particular love for Orinoco who has an impressive penchant for catching 40 winks as much as possible whilst eating as much as he can whilst on and off duty. A lovely collection which I read with a smile on my face throughout.
When they reach a working age, all Wombles are allowed to choose their name from an old atlas and so, much to the consternation of Great Uncle Bulgaria, we meet our first Womble, Bungo whose adventures and friendships guide us through many of the stories. I had a particular love for Orinoco who has an impressive penchant for catching 40 winks as much as possible whilst eating as much as he can whilst on and off duty. A lovely collection which I read with a smile on my face throughout.
June 19, 2019
A proper nostalgia trip revisiting the world of the Wombles of Wimbledon Common.
I used to love watching the tv series as a child but had never read the books. Now I get the chance to read them, to my son, who is just as enthralled with these tales of the adorably eccentric creatures.
I used to love watching the tv series as a child but had never read the books. Now I get the chance to read them, to my son, who is just as enthralled with these tales of the adorably eccentric creatures.
July 9, 2023
Very good. I wish I were a Womble. Although the female ones just help out in the kitchen so maybe not...
July 19, 2023
I read this as a child and have just read aloud (from my copy) to my 8 year old son. He enjoyed the stories, and Bungo was his favourite Womble. He asked for it every night and is also listening to it on Audible with the wonderful Bernard Cribbens reading it. Some out dated references to shillings etc, and some calling of Orinocho 'too fat', which may bother some, not many female characters (Alderney and Madame Cholet who both work in the kitchen) but the stories have a gentle humour and memorable characters who care for the environment and also for each other, loving and supporting each other in their differences and difficulties.
March 25, 2021
I re-read this book this year as a comfort read and I loved it! The characters are adorable and so sweet- I very much wish they were real!
This book was so ahead of its time and is very clever. If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would probably be this one.
This book was so ahead of its time and is very clever. If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, it would probably be this one.
April 16, 2020
Read this aloud to Ben. Five stars because he was completely hooked and it was a pleasure to read out loud. Beautiful use of the English language, appropriately very British. Lovely, subtle humor (again, so understated-British) and loveable characters. It’s a shame there are no Wombles living in PA...
August 29, 2012
Living under Wimbledon common and keeping the greens clean and tidy are a family of Wombles. For years it has been their duty to collect, clear and recycle any and all manner of things we messy humans leave behind. Form scarves and umbrellas to buses and cement trucks, the Wombles have managed to reuse and borrow all that they need. But it's not just at Wimbledon where Wombles can be found.
The Wombles introduces these much loved creatures to a new generation of young readers. With their mini adventures, various foods and capacity for finding the lost and discarded, these delightful Wombles will have you laughing along with them in their various antics. A much loved story that children of all ages will adore.
The Wombles introduces these much loved creatures to a new generation of young readers. With their mini adventures, various foods and capacity for finding the lost and discarded, these delightful Wombles will have you laughing along with them in their various antics. A much loved story that children of all ages will adore.
March 31, 2022
Sometimes you go back to a childhood favourite and are disappointed but not this time! The characters are perhaps a bit stereotypical (the jock, the fat lazy kid etc.) but they are all treated with affection and respect and allowed to stretch their boundaries. The stories are funny and surprising absorbing and of course you know that nothing too dreadful will happen! The upcycling message seems very up to date.
September 9, 2023
#skaitaugarsiai serijoje po trijų metų pakartoti "Vombliai". Patiko ir keturmečiui, ir dabar septynmečiui. Šįkart giliau diskutavome apie žmonių daiktų ir šiukšlių keliamas problemas.
Labai gera idėja ir smagi istorija, ir nuoširdžiai gaila, kad lietuvių kalba daugiau vomblių pasakojimų nepasirodė.
Labai gera idėja ir smagi istorija, ir nuoširdžiai gaila, kad lietuvių kalba daugiau vomblių pasakojimų nepasirodė.
July 23, 2021
Overground, underground – wombling free!
Now I've forgotten what I wanted to look up, because arriving on the Lexico website their Word of the Day took me straight back to childhood: Womble.
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we.
Now I've forgotten what I wanted to look up, because arriving on the Lexico website their Word of the Day took me straight back to childhood: Womble.
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we.
June 7, 2020
I know, okay I am a child - lol. I laughed so much there were tears in my eyes at one of these stories.
Loved having Bernard Cribbens read it to me - superlative performance.
Loved having Bernard Cribbens read it to me - superlative performance.
June 14, 2020
Nice read taking me back to my teens!
May 23, 2025
A cute children's book that was thoroughly enjoyed both by my 6yo and by myself. We learned about this book by watching football: the Wimbledon FC mascot is a "womble" which I initially assumed is an actual animal (not being a native English language speaker). The wombles are cute and smart and thrifty and friendy, and they just want to live a good life and to help everyone around them. Ah and I forgot: we had to have the book, once we realised one of the characters is called Great Uncle Bulgaria. Long live Bulgaria!
May 5, 2024
Loved this show as a kid now just read the book and I love it.Wombles are such quiet,happy,curious creatures and they make tiding up so much fun
October 10, 2013
Author: Elisabeth Beresford
Illustrator: Nick Price
First Published: 1968
I didn't read the books when I was younger. My exposure to the Wombles was via the TV series (which I enjoyed). I don't think I even knew Womble books existed.
It was a very pleasant surprise to find that they did.
And even nicer to be able to share them with the 7yo.
We really enjoyed this, the first book in the Womble series. My daughter came in knowing nothing about them, and so was left with her imagination and limited book illustrations to fill in the details.
Which was more than enough.
Of course, I spent the time with a Womble refrain ear-worming itself...
"Underground, overground, wombling free
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we
Making good use of the things that we find
Things that the everyday folks leave behind"
It was a fun read. Very light morals of caring for our environment and each other, but filled with laugh-out-loud imagery that had the 7yo rolling.
A great find, and a wonderful republishing. The 7yo is putting the rest of the series on her Christmas Wish List.
Can't really ask for more.
Series:
The Wombles
The Wandering Wombles
The Wombles At Work
The Wombles to the Rescue
The Wombles Go Round the World
The Invisible Womble (short story collection)
Age:
Read aloud: 5+ (The book is lengthy. Chapters are reasonably long. It will require a reasonable attention.)
Read yourself: 8+
References:
Official Wombles books website: http://www.thewomblesbooks.com/
(ISBN 9781408808375)
-CR-
Illustrator: Nick Price
First Published: 1968
I didn't read the books when I was younger. My exposure to the Wombles was via the TV series (which I enjoyed). I don't think I even knew Womble books existed.
It was a very pleasant surprise to find that they did.
And even nicer to be able to share them with the 7yo.
We really enjoyed this, the first book in the Womble series. My daughter came in knowing nothing about them, and so was left with her imagination and limited book illustrations to fill in the details.
Which was more than enough.
Of course, I spent the time with a Womble refrain ear-worming itself...
"Underground, overground, wombling free
The Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we
Making good use of the things that we find
Things that the everyday folks leave behind"
It was a fun read. Very light morals of caring for our environment and each other, but filled with laugh-out-loud imagery that had the 7yo rolling.
A great find, and a wonderful republishing. The 7yo is putting the rest of the series on her Christmas Wish List.
Can't really ask for more.
Series:
The Wombles
The Wandering Wombles
The Wombles At Work
The Wombles to the Rescue
The Wombles Go Round the World
The Invisible Womble (short story collection)
Age:
Read aloud: 5+ (The book is lengthy. Chapters are reasonably long. It will require a reasonable attention.)
Read yourself: 8+
References:
Official Wombles books website: http://www.thewomblesbooks.com/
(ISBN 9781408808375)
-CR-
January 10, 2022
I adore the Wombles and everything they stand for. Genuinely think every 10 year old in the country should be given this book! It is adorable and wonderful and it instils just the most wonderful morals. A 5 star book for little people.
April 7, 2024
A Children's classic that still has so much to offer for modern kids. This book has so much charm, humour and heart. I'm almost in my thirties but I was chuckling away reading this.
Other than a few too many comments about certain wombles being too fat, this is ahead of its time. The themes about protecting the enviroment and avoiding wastefulness are more relevant than ever.
If you're thinking of checking this out as an adult or introducing it to a young person I would say go for it. It will make you smile.
Other than a few too many comments about certain wombles being too fat, this is ahead of its time. The themes about protecting the enviroment and avoiding wastefulness are more relevant than ever.
If you're thinking of checking this out as an adult or introducing it to a young person I would say go for it. It will make you smile.
November 23, 2015
Loved this as a child, and thanks to the TV series Bungo, Orinoco and all the rest have become furry national icons up there with those from the Hundred Acre Wood. The book is a little different from the TV series (I never hear the wonderful Bernard Cribbins' voice when I read it) but it's certainly worth reading.
The idea of creatures living alongside us, largely unseen, with their own social structure and work activities is not a new one, of course, but the Wombles are entirely benign and appealing, and very modern. And it's a good story. One could, of course, bang on about gender stereotyping, but it was written a long time ago, and I think its forward-thinking environmental message more than makes up for this.
The idea of creatures living alongside us, largely unseen, with their own social structure and work activities is not a new one, of course, but the Wombles are entirely benign and appealing, and very modern. And it's a good story. One could, of course, bang on about gender stereotyping, but it was written a long time ago, and I think its forward-thinking environmental message more than makes up for this.
December 19, 2022
I reread this in English, one of the books I loved when I was a kid. Then I read it in Finnish of course. I loved this as an adult too though, which makes me think it's a great book for everyone. Need to read all of them now. Only 3/6 was translated to Finnish so I'm excited to get to unfamiliar ground. Although this book also had things I didn't remember like the American guest Yellowstone Womble...
September 14, 2023
I wonder if this is like The Borrowers....
---
It is, sort of. Wombles are nearly the size of humans, and can be mistaken for them if they're discreet. But they do live off our leavings and are clever & 'cute.'
I'm not interested in the sequels. I probably would have been when I was a child, though.
They have been reissued as ebooks; if you're interested, check your library.
---
It is, sort of. Wombles are nearly the size of humans, and can be mistaken for them if they're discreet. But they do live off our leavings and are clever & 'cute.'
I'm not interested in the sequels. I probably would have been when I was a child, though.
They have been reissued as ebooks; if you're interested, check your library.
January 21, 2022
A charming first adventure for the Wombles, with lots of humour and touching moments. I really enjoyed reading about their adventures and will be reading the rest of the series in due course.
My favourite characters were Great Uncle Bulgaria, Orinoco and Tobermory. I would highly recommend to anyone (young or old) as a relaxing way of spending a few hours.
My favourite characters were Great Uncle Bulgaria, Orinoco and Tobermory. I would highly recommend to anyone (young or old) as a relaxing way of spending a few hours.
January 11, 2023
A super fun story about little bear-mouse creatures that live under the Wimbledon Common (and choose their names from the Atlas) and pick up the abandoned belongings of the Human Beings. (A non-human reimagining of the Borrowers, if you will.)
Notes: promotes good values, is clean, and quaint.
July 24, 2024
The world is a beautiful picture book, with beautiful illustrations and amazing funny characters.
I read this book when I was younger and I loved it then. Reading it again now I still found it such a cute beautiful story even though I’m a lot older.
I read this book when I was younger and I loved it then. Reading it again now I still found it such a cute beautiful story even though I’m a lot older.
May 22, 2024
so cute.
March 5, 2021
i would die for these wombles. i would fight in their wars, should they ask me to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews