"She lumbered back
to the water hole
and got to work.
She dug
and dug
and dug.
and at long last,
she struck water."
I have read a few picture books about wombats in the past few years. All have to do with the devastation wrought by wildfires, brought on by drought and strong winds. Those bushfires have threatened many communities and humans, and have ravaged the animal population causing untold deaths in their wake. With the loss of their homes, many animals were left to try and find shelter while the fires raged on, the wombat proved to be an unusual hero for many.
In this tale, we learn that Wombat likes order in her home. Nothing is out of place. That was not true of her neighbors; Wombat was duly unimpressed. She left them to it. In the heat of the summer, while roaming outside her tunnel, she noticed that her neighbors were suffering. Their water hole was close to dry. Back home she went to get what she needed to dig a tunnel in search of water. Find it, she did. What a relief for everyone; they even brought gifts of thanks.
The heat remained; more animals sought relief at the water hole. Wombat set to work again. It took a deeper dig this time. The next day, trouble came to her door. The fires were spreading; the animals were in a panic. Orderly as ever, Wombat gave guidance to all to her tunnel entrance. It was crowded, but safe for all.
"The animals sat in silence, slowly
sipping the water Wombat gave
them and nibbling on the snacks
she shared."
Stepping outside to see that the fire has completely destroyed their neighborhood, Wombat and her friends set right to work!
Both author and illustrator add notes at the conclusion of their story. Christian Timmer provides additional facts about the wombat, while Rachel Gyan, whose digital artwork adds extra depth to the storytelling, lets readers know that she has seen bushfires and the harm they cause firsthand.
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