Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields

Wombat Walkabout features six furry siblings outwitting a hungry dingo.

Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Shields. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Dutton Children’s Books, 2009, 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8.

Recommended for: Ages 3-7

(A guest post by Sarah Hartman)

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

Thus begins an adorable rhyming tale of six wombat siblings and their attempt at a morning walk. Unfortunately they are spotted by a dingo (wild dog) almost immediately, who proceeds to follow them through the pages while the wombat’s number mysteriously diminishes over time. (*Spoiler Alert* – no wombats are harmed in the telling of this story!) Themes of sacrifice and courage and using one’s talents clearly emerge.

The story is set in Australia, and full of local flora and fauna and slang (with a lovely explanatory page of terms for non-Aussies). This is a must-read for any families who love a classic Good versus Evil, Three-Little-Pigs-meets-Red-Riding-Hood-on-vacation-Down-Under type of book. It’s so well done that you won’t even mind having to read it over and over and over again to your toddler. 

Overall Rating: 4.25 (out of 5)

• Worldview Rating: 4.5
• Artistic/Literary Rating: 4

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