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Wombat Warriors
From the beloved author of Mister Cassowary, Smooch & Rose and Spud & Charli comes another thrilling adventure about Australia's endangered animals. Mouse is not prepared for her last-minute stay at Aunt Evie's. How will she cope at a new school without her parents around? But before Mouse has even unpacked her suitcase, she makes a new friend - a wombat called Miss Pearl! Suddenly, being in a strange cottage doesn't seem so bad, especially when she can snuggle up with a wombat. Mouse soon learns that not everyone in the area loves wombats, including Aunt Evie's landlord, a sheep farmer who destroys them on sight. Can Mouse find her voice in time to keep her furry friends safe?
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Published March 29, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 10, 2017
FROM MINIATURE MOUSE TO WORSHIPPED WARRIOR: My daughter's review of Samantha Wheeler's new book Wombat Warriors (UQP 2017) by Niamh Moriarty (age 10).
I have only now finished reading Sam Wheeler's new book Wombat Warriors and I already think that if someone asked me to include details about what I DIDN'T like about this book, I wouldn't have anything in my mind.
Something about this book that I like is how Mouse, the main character, was originally from Brisbane. This is because lots of books are set in different countries, and it's good to have one set in my home town.
I love animals and I love reading books about them, too. I love how all Sam's books are about native and endangered Australian animals. My favourite character in this book would probably be the cheeky wombat called Miss Pearl.
The descriptive words in this book make it seem like you're really there, in the outback of Australia.
Somehow, Sam has managed to include art and drawing in this novel - I love that because not a lot of books I've read have a character who is so passionate about art like I am, and I like that in this book, art is used to solve a problem.
Some of the amazing ideas in her plot are: Mouse, the main character, a little 10-year-old girl who finds it hard to express herself, has to move to South Australia, leaving her parents behind. She stays with her aunt who loves wombats with all her heart. In the small farming town, she meets one friend, Harry, a nearby farm boy who is one year above her grade. He too is passionate about wombats, like Mouse and her aunt. But the wombats they are trying to save always seem to be getting into new and complicated troubles each day. Harry's mum though, Mrs Campbell, makes it terribly hard for the two kids to send their message to the farmers as she is against wombats and wild animals coming into her farm. Therefore, Mouse and her Aunt Evie have to hide their animals and they appear to be dragging Harry along with them in their adventures.
Mouse doesn't get involved in just one adventure, every second she's facing a new catastrophe eg:
'"Miss Pearl!" I called in one last desperate attempt. The dimming light was making it impossible to see. Darts of rain stung my face and made dark patches where they pelted the dust.
Miss Pearl could be anywhere by now.'
This is just one example of some of her problems.
I learnt a few lessons from the novel, such as how deep the deepest wombat burrow was. I love how at the end of each of her books, Sam writes some dot points and facts about the Australian animal that she has written about in her story.
The book would certainly suit people who love wildlife and are interested to learn about native Australian animals. I would certainly say that this book would be good for any ages, even adults, or for parents to read out loud to their children.
This book was worth reading. It was very well written and all in all, I can safely say that this book is exhilarating and fascinating. I think many people will benefit from reading Samantha Wheeler's book. I encourage Sam to continue to write about Australian animals. I loved her past three books and still have them on my bookshelf ready to read again.
I have only now finished reading Sam Wheeler's new book Wombat Warriors and I already think that if someone asked me to include details about what I DIDN'T like about this book, I wouldn't have anything in my mind.
Something about this book that I like is how Mouse, the main character, was originally from Brisbane. This is because lots of books are set in different countries, and it's good to have one set in my home town.
I love animals and I love reading books about them, too. I love how all Sam's books are about native and endangered Australian animals. My favourite character in this book would probably be the cheeky wombat called Miss Pearl.
The descriptive words in this book make it seem like you're really there, in the outback of Australia.
Somehow, Sam has managed to include art and drawing in this novel - I love that because not a lot of books I've read have a character who is so passionate about art like I am, and I like that in this book, art is used to solve a problem.
Some of the amazing ideas in her plot are: Mouse, the main character, a little 10-year-old girl who finds it hard to express herself, has to move to South Australia, leaving her parents behind. She stays with her aunt who loves wombats with all her heart. In the small farming town, she meets one friend, Harry, a nearby farm boy who is one year above her grade. He too is passionate about wombats, like Mouse and her aunt. But the wombats they are trying to save always seem to be getting into new and complicated troubles each day. Harry's mum though, Mrs Campbell, makes it terribly hard for the two kids to send their message to the farmers as she is against wombats and wild animals coming into her farm. Therefore, Mouse and her Aunt Evie have to hide their animals and they appear to be dragging Harry along with them in their adventures.
Mouse doesn't get involved in just one adventure, every second she's facing a new catastrophe eg:
'"Miss Pearl!" I called in one last desperate attempt. The dimming light was making it impossible to see. Darts of rain stung my face and made dark patches where they pelted the dust.
Miss Pearl could be anywhere by now.'
This is just one example of some of her problems.
I learnt a few lessons from the novel, such as how deep the deepest wombat burrow was. I love how at the end of each of her books, Sam writes some dot points and facts about the Australian animal that she has written about in her story.
The book would certainly suit people who love wildlife and are interested to learn about native Australian animals. I would certainly say that this book would be good for any ages, even adults, or for parents to read out loud to their children.
This book was worth reading. It was very well written and all in all, I can safely say that this book is exhilarating and fascinating. I think many people will benefit from reading Samantha Wheeler's book. I encourage Sam to continue to write about Australian animals. I loved her past three books and still have them on my bookshelf ready to read again.
April 21, 2017
Samantha Wheeler has a wonderful ability to write books that deal with a variety of ecological and environmental issues such as the plight of koalas, the Hendra Virus, cassowaries and now the dangers to wombat habitats, but her style is never didactic. Readers learn an incredible number of facts about certain species through her novels without even realising that they are absorbing all this data. In all her novels, and Wombat Warriors is no exception, she presents characters who are passionate about their issue but who also have some problems or challenges of their own to face. There is always great personal growth for her characters. Mouse is truly thrown into an uncomfortable situation when her parents have to go overseas; she moves in with an unknown aunt, has to attend a new school and for the first time has to be independent and take some responsibility for herself and her actions. How she makes friends, learns to live in a new environment and save some wombats as well makes for a heart-warming and enriching story.
Suitable for 7+ moving to new school, separation from parents, some anxious moments when concerned for wombat’s safety.
Teacher notes provided by UQP: www.uqp.uq.edu.au/store/images/Hi-RES...
Suitable for 7+ moving to new school, separation from parents, some anxious moments when concerned for wombat’s safety.
Teacher notes provided by UQP: www.uqp.uq.edu.au/store/images/Hi-RES...
July 21, 2017
Samantha Wheeler’s latest novel for younger readers, Wombat Warriors, follows on from the conservation theme she introduced in her last book Mister Cassowary. Set in regional South Australia, Mouse is a reserved girl from Brisbane who comes to stay with her Aunt Evie when a family emergency forces her parents to take an unexpected trip overseas. Life down south is a change for Mouse who must not only contend with the colder climate but with her somewhat eccentric Aunt whose household includes a duck and a wombat! While she is initially threatened by the idea of sharing her home with a wombat, the pair form a special bond that challenges Mouse to find her voice.
As a proud South Aussie, I was somewhat horrified (and a little confronted) to read about the plight wombats in this part of the country. I must confess that prior to reading this story I had no idea about the environmental challenges facing our state emblem. Indeed, particularly for children in this part of the country, this story has a wonderful relevance that will make it a valuable addition to the classroom environment. With accessible language, children in the lower to middle years of primary school will enjoy reading this story independently. Similarly, it could be shared with a class group as part of the HASS curriculum. I did feel that the immaturity of the protagonist may alienate a few slightly older readers who might have otherwise appreciated the conservation theme of the book.
Wombat Warriors will sit neatly alongside Mister Cassowary as an engaging story that will inspire children across to find their voice and work actively for the conservation of threatened species.
Tanya Grech Welden
As a proud South Aussie, I was somewhat horrified (and a little confronted) to read about the plight wombats in this part of the country. I must confess that prior to reading this story I had no idea about the environmental challenges facing our state emblem. Indeed, particularly for children in this part of the country, this story has a wonderful relevance that will make it a valuable addition to the classroom environment. With accessible language, children in the lower to middle years of primary school will enjoy reading this story independently. Similarly, it could be shared with a class group as part of the HASS curriculum. I did feel that the immaturity of the protagonist may alienate a few slightly older readers who might have otherwise appreciated the conservation theme of the book.
Wombat Warriors will sit neatly alongside Mister Cassowary as an engaging story that will inspire children across to find their voice and work actively for the conservation of threatened species.
Tanya Grech Welden
August 10, 2020
I have read a few of Samantha Wheeler's books now. Her stories are always educational and promote a greater understanding of conservation issues affecting our unique Australian wildlife. While I admired Mouse's determination to save her beloved wombat friends, Mister Cassowary remains my favourite novel by this author.
March 30, 2019
My six year old daughter really enjoyed this book.
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April 2, 2017Review for Magpies
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews