Selfsufficientish.com

... and it has absolutely nothing to do with self sufficiency! It does have something to do with pets, in a way.

Title: Diary of a wombat. Author: Jackie French; illustrated by Bruce Whatley.

It's a picture book; but, as the guy at the checkout of Waterstone's said - adults love it - he doesn't know, what kids make of it. The illustrations are quite clear and always get it just right, be it the expressions of the typically Australian couple and two kids being covered with dust at the barbie (wombat is taking a dustbath), or wombat's fight with "flat, hairy creature" (doormat). Sat in the bookshop and couldn't stop laughing while I was reading it, I had to buy it... (One of their half-price offers at the moment, so it didn't hurt too much!)

An example of the style of the diary:

Monday

Morning: Slept.
Afternoon: Slept.
Evening: Ate grass.
Scratched.
Night: Ate grass.
Slept.

Oh, and the pets this book deals with are the humans - wombat tries to train them up properly, and more or less succeeds.

I know that this book is going to stay in my possession - no way am I giving that away!

(Wombat - do you recognise yourself in that diary???)

Ina

Ina

Please let me see the book next time we meet lol!! It sounds very amusing.

Just remembered - when I was very young...I used to have a cuddly toy that I used to call Wombat!!

Will do - at the moment I'm so excited by the book that I am showing it to everybody!

So what happenend to your Wombat?

Ina

Ina... I don't know!!

I'm hoping that my mum still has him.... going to ask her to look for him.

Are there any farmer's markets in your neck of the woods for February??

Thanks Ina,

I know Jackies' works very well, but not that particular one. The diary does reflect my priorities (except the grass bit) pretty well, and I suppose there are times when I wish I was a wombat!

Nev

We found that one a couple of months ago, too, I had to read it about 5 nights in a row. Great book!

Well, I better find myself a copy!

Nev

Magpie wrote:We found that one a couple of months ago, too, I had to read it about 5 nights in a row. Great book!

Did you just read it to yourself , or were there any kids involved? And what ages are they? I'm just trying to find out which of the kids amongst my acquaintances might enjoy it!

Ina

I need to see that book on Wombats Ina! I will have to go to my bookshop for a snout at it.

I saw some Wombats when I was in Oz, they looked so cute, so fat and round with their little noses snuffiling about! I even took a picture of them and had a picture of me with them too. Oh how sad I am.

Probably not as sad as me in photos with a koala!!

When I crossed the Nullabor in a greyhound bus the driver stopped and said "Anyone want to see a wombat?" "Yes, me!!" pipped up a few of us - so off he took us in the absolute middle of bloody nowhere to see a whole load of wombat holes which we all dutifully photographed - but not a wombat in sight.

I didn't realise that I was so popular with the ladies...........

Nev

Wombat wrote:I didn't realise that I was so popular with the ladies...........

Nev

Oh yes mate you are the site Peter Stringfellow

(Do you think I can get away with that as Nev wont have heard of him )

Your right you know..........

Who?

Nev

Oooooh yes, I can see the resemblance. Especially when he is wearing his thongs!!! (I think I can get away with that one too given it means something else down under! ) LOL

Sorry, another ignoramus here - who is Peter whatsit???

Ina