“Wombat shares his underground home and his resources with those fleeing a climate disaster. A beautifully illustrated lesson for kids and their parents about kindness and surviving catastrophes with our souls and hearts intact.”
—Linda Sherman-Nurick, Cellar Door Books, Riverside, CA
“Welcome is at the heart of Carmen Agra Deedy’s story for young children . . . Wombat reminds us that although it’s not always easy or comfortable to be generous, sharing has powerful (sometimes sticky) rewards. including the chance to transform lives––of those in need, and maybe also our own.” –– New York Times Book Review
A superb read-aloud balancing messages about the environment and generosity with humor and heart. –– Kirkus (Starred Review)
” . . when pocket-size Sugar Glider reveals having nowhere to go—a moment of pause in the otherwise rollicking telling—Wombat changes the critter’s status to full-time roommate. With unspoken but unmistakable reference to the ravages of climate change, the creators underscore the idea that hospitality is not always about politesse—it can be a matter of life and death.” –– Publishers Weekly
A kindhearted wombat offers refuge to a parade of animal friends during an Australian bushfire in a delightful new picture book from New York Times best-selling creators Carmen Agra Deedy and Brian Lies.
Australian bushfires roar above Wombat’s home. He is fortunate that his burrow is deep below ground and he is safe. He snuggles under his crazy quilt and drinks his tea.
Then, one by one, five uniquely Australian animals – Wallaby, Kookaburra, Platypus, Koala, and Sugar Glider – seek refuge from the fires, and Wombat welcomes them all.
When you have the heart of a wombat, there’s always room for one more!
Fellowship, empathy, and adorable Australian animals star in this delightfully heartwarming and funny story about help in the time of trouble from author Carmen Agra Deedy (14 Cows for America, The Library Dragon, The Rooster Who Would Not Stay Quiet) and Caldecott Honoree Brian Lies (The Rough Patch, Bats at the Beach).
The book will delight children with Deedy’s engaging story and Lies masterfully rendered animals. It is an ideal read-aloud for adults seeking a story with humor and heart. Generosity and kindness provide powerful SEL themes. Older readers will get a glimpse of the unique environmental challenges presented by the country’s annual bushfire season.