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Wombat
The Secret World Of Wombats
Jackie French loves wombats, She's been living with and studying them for over 30 years, and they have been featured characters in many of her books.
Now her beloved wombats take center stage, as Jackie reveals everything you have ever wanted to know about them - from their zoological history to habitation and habits.
Jackie also shares some personal stories from her experiences living with these wonderful creatures. There are also wombat Q&As and wombat jokes sprinkled throughout the book.
Now her beloved wombats take center stage, as Jackie reveals everything you have ever wanted to know about them - from their zoological history to habitation and habits.
Jackie also shares some personal stories from her experiences living with these wonderful creatures. There are also wombat Q&As and wombat jokes sprinkled throughout the book.
175 pages, Paperback
First published July 27, 2005
11 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Jackie French
320 books865 followersJackie is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator and the Australian Children’s Laureate for 2014-2015. She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres - from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction. In her capacity as Australian Children’s Laureate, ‘Share a Story’ will be the primary philosophy behind Jackie’s two-year term.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 17, 2016
Ten Second Synopsis:
A concise and amusing foray into the unexpectedly engaging world of wombats.
This is an extremely amusing and light-hearted look at the things you never suspected about wombats’ behaviour. This book is marketed as being for seven to twelve year olds as a companion tome to the wildly successful Diary of a Wombat series by the same author and illustrator team, but as an adult reader I found it the perfect introductory tome about the wild and wacky world of wombats. The text doesn’t speak down to the reader by any means, so I never got the sense that it was specifically written for kids. Also, the book is full of unexpectedly hilarious anecdotes about the wombats that Jackie French has personally known, through sharing her outdoor living space with the furry little guys. Every time I recall her story about hearing sneezing coming from underground, I have a bit of a chuckle. Similarly, who knew that wombats had a penchant for biting bums (wombat bums and others), or indeed any other parts of the anatomy that aren’t kept out of the way of wombat teeth? Amazing.
If you have any interest at all in wombats and their lives, I would recommend picking this book up and having a flick through. The information bits are engaging and surprising and combined with French’s anecdotal evidence about wombats she has known, provide a light, fun, nonfiction break for youngsters interested in the natural world and adult readers who just really like wombats.
A concise and amusing foray into the unexpectedly engaging world of wombats.
This is an extremely amusing and light-hearted look at the things you never suspected about wombats’ behaviour. This book is marketed as being for seven to twelve year olds as a companion tome to the wildly successful Diary of a Wombat series by the same author and illustrator team, but as an adult reader I found it the perfect introductory tome about the wild and wacky world of wombats. The text doesn’t speak down to the reader by any means, so I never got the sense that it was specifically written for kids. Also, the book is full of unexpectedly hilarious anecdotes about the wombats that Jackie French has personally known, through sharing her outdoor living space with the furry little guys. Every time I recall her story about hearing sneezing coming from underground, I have a bit of a chuckle. Similarly, who knew that wombats had a penchant for biting bums (wombat bums and others), or indeed any other parts of the anatomy that aren’t kept out of the way of wombat teeth? Amazing.
If you have any interest at all in wombats and their lives, I would recommend picking this book up and having a flick through. The information bits are engaging and surprising and combined with French’s anecdotal evidence about wombats she has known, provide a light, fun, nonfiction break for youngsters interested in the natural world and adult readers who just really like wombats.
February 17, 2010
It turns out that author Jackie French didn't just make up the story in her much-loved picture book, Diary of a Wombat. She based much of it on her life with and around wombats in the Australian bush. In this book she again builds on her years of experience with my favorite marsupials, this time providing us with a non-fiction chapter book describing wombat life and behavior.
The book is interesting and fun. French includes many amusing and touching anecdotes about the wombats in her life. She also addresses many questions that will interest her younger readers: "Can you pet a wombat?" "What is it like having a wombat in your house?" "What do you do if you meet a wombat?" The last question, of course, is of little practical value to an American reader, but this is an Australian book, so most of her readers might have better luck...
French's collaborator Bruce Whatley returns here, providing more of the adorable wombat illustrations we all fell in love with in Diary of a Wombat.
The book is interesting and fun. French includes many amusing and touching anecdotes about the wombats in her life. She also addresses many questions that will interest her younger readers: "Can you pet a wombat?" "What is it like having a wombat in your house?" "What do you do if you meet a wombat?" The last question, of course, is of little practical value to an American reader, but this is an Australian book, so most of her readers might have better luck...
French's collaborator Bruce Whatley returns here, providing more of the adorable wombat illustrations we all fell in love with in Diary of a Wombat.
January 21, 2017
All books about animals should be written like this. I love Australian humor. This book was a fast and easy read, and it was engaging and funny and well organized. I love the illustrations and the person stories from the author. It wasn't long winded or too scientific. Absolute perfection.
And geez, wombats are WEIRD and DIFFICULT. I thought taking care of dogs was hard!
And geez, wombats are WEIRD and DIFFICULT. I thought taking care of dogs was hard!
December 26, 2024
Jackie French obviously knows wombats, and this is her sharing several decades of wisdom. It is fun, informative, adorable, and enjoyable to read. If you love wombats, or want to know why other people do, and/or if you want to care for them, this is such a fun read. It's a sort of in between, in terms of age level and audience, between the Secret Life of Wombats by James Woodford, and Jackie's beloved children's books. Highly recommended for adults and children alike. Their resolve and obstinance come through in her tales of specific wombats she has known comes through, and it makes me love them even more.
February 26, 2016
All about wombats, you gotta love it! Jackie French, also the author of Diary of a Wombat, shared her experiences with living and raising wombats.
Wombats are very mysterious. All I learnt is that they all have their own personalities and just a little bit stubborn.
An easy and fun read if you are interested in wombats.
Wombats are very mysterious. All I learnt is that they all have their own personalities and just a little bit stubborn.
An easy and fun read if you are interested in wombats.
May 10, 2008
How can one NOT love a book about wombats? The drawings are great!! The writing is a bit lacking---but the book is written for a younger crowd. There are some great facts about wombats...and if I lived in Australia, I would open my garden to any passing wombat.
January 17, 2020
A charming book about the world of wombats, how and where they like to sleep, what they like to eat, how they 'see' and even how they mate and anything and everything else you might want to know about wombats. Funny and well worth a read with beautiful line drawings illustrating it.
October 29, 2012
How could anyone noy enjoy a book about wombats? Interesting and fun!
November 15, 2013
Fun little book. Best if you really like animals.
May 23, 2020
A cute book with lots of wombat facts.
November 13, 2023
Pretty boring. Even for kids
January 22, 2024
I enjoy these books by Jackie French about wombats! She describes them in a realistic way, but I can easily visualize how she and the wombats look as they interact! Recommended for all ages!
January 1, 2025
What an amazing and beautiful story , I learnt heap about wombat , it’s very determined, thank you for looking after those wombats, looking forward to read some more books 😊😊
January 13, 2022
For kids but a nice intro to wombats for any reader I guess and the illustrations are delightful.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews