School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--Visually arresting illustrations of the Australian wilderness capture the story of a wombat and four other animals as they face the predicament of a wildfire in their habitat. With the wombat's natural tendency to burrow saves a skink, echidna, and a wallaby and her baby. The beauty of the wilderness is captured from a variety of perspectives and the details of fire season and its impact are not only told through the narrative but also through informative back matter. This title could be useful in multiple areas of the curriculum including environmental units as well as units on animal habitats and cooperation. VERDICT Bringing the impact of wildfires to a young audience through this angle, this title does an admirable job of capturing realistic details along with a "hero saves the day" story. Recommended.--John Scott
Publisher's Weekly Review
In this dramatic tale set in Australia, a wombat's underground burrow shelters other wild animals trying to escape a wildfire. Starting before lightning ignites the bush, cutaway views show a wombat tunneling down into the cool earth. Thomson (The Story of Neil Armstrong) builds suspense, writing about animals relaxing above ground ("Skink dozes and dreams") as the sun parches the earth: "Echidna's grass/ turns to rustling tinder." Digital illustrations by Santoso (Watch Out for Wolf!), naturalistically rendered and vivid with detail, capture the wombat's sturdy claws, the wallaby's reddish fur, the echidna's spines, and the skink's dry, reptilian skin. When tongues of flame leap from tree to tree and smoke billows, it confuses the animals, who stumble upon the entrance to the wombat's burrow. At first the animal resists: "No stranger will enter/ into the cave/ he carved to be his own." But the animals push forward, the wombat retreats, and they are safe. An author's note supplies more information about Australian wildlife, wombat burrows as refuge, and the science of wildfires. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. Illustrator's agency: Shannon Assoc. (Jan.)
Kirkus Review
An Australian bushfire wreaks havoc on wildlife. The plight of creatures native to Australia--a wombat, a skink, a wallaby, and an echidna--is dramatically told in this story of a raging fire. Ignited by a lightning flash, the fire endangers the animals' lives and their habitats. Expressed through richly poetic language, the story captures the ways in which the blaze upends the animals' lives, forcing them to flee and seek shelter. This is a tale rooted in fact, and children will learn some basic information about the animals' habits and the climatic factors that generate life-threatening flames, emphasized by a tempestuous spread featuring the "Ka-Boom!" of the lightning strike. A gentle fictional component, arising from Wombat's digging prowess and the cozy burrow it digs for itself, leads to a sweet denouement in which its neighbors find a safe haven. Thus, readers will also discover a welcome message about kindness. The warmly colored illustrations are splendid, providing realistic depictions of the animals and the landscapes surrounding them. Wombat is presented as a cuddly, endearing animal; throughout, the artwork focuses readers' close attention on how Wombat shelters inside its underground lair. An author's note explains that Australia has an annual fire season and references the particularly calamitous bushfires that occurred there in 2019-2020, exacerbated by global warming and drought. Additional facts about the animals are included. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A charming introduction to creatures native to Australia and a wake-up call to care for our planet. (bibliography, including websites) (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
A plump wombat digs his den while other Australian animals linger above ground, enjoying the abundant vegetation and temperate weather. The season changes, the water dries up, and the dried grass rustles underfoot. A sudden storm grows, and lightning strikes, setting the dried-out land alight. The wombat snoozes safely underground while the others flee, and when the cozy critter finally blinks awake, he peers out of his burrow entrance to find a wallaby, skink, and echidna desperately hoping for entrance and safety. Though initially reluctant, the wombat relents, and the unlikely group huddles together in the snug den, safe from the fire raging above. Thomson's spare text is lyrical and elegant, and Santoso's gorgeous illustrations enhance the story, capturing detailed textures while providing an emotional sense of the scenes, from the terror of the all-encompassing fire to the silence of a surprising safe haven. Back matter includes more information on wildfires and the Australian animals, along with suggested reading. A gentle and compassionate introduction to an extraordinary group of animals and an increasingly relevant topic.
