Jackie French writes such a wide array of stories for all age groups. Yet, there is hope in the form of the brave, little wombat, whose courage reminds us all that we can all do something to help and make a change, however small, within our means and capabilities. You can smell the fire and smoke and feel the fear that we all felt – the mark of a powerful story. The images and the words work beautifully together to evoke a sense of terror. Jackie French, Australian Children’s Laureate, witnessed much of this destruction and terror around her property, but she also witnessed something beautiful: a wombat leading other animals to the safety of her burrow. So many were on high alert to evacuate if the fire breached their defences, and we watched as animals lost homes, as people left their homes to the mercy of the flames. The end of 2019 and the start of 2020 in Australia were ravaged by days, weeks and months filled with fire and smoke, threats to properties and lives – human and animal, and a desperation for an end to the devastation.

Synopsis: As the bushfire swallowed up the world they knew, a wombat shared her burrow with other animals.Īs the flames of the bushfire approach, one small wombat is bravely followed by other animals to the safety of her underground burrow.īased on events witnessed by Australian Children’s Laureate Jackie French during the 2020 fires, and co-created with award-winning illustrator Danny Snell, this is a story of courage, compassion and survival, which saw people across Australia come together to save our wildlife from devastation.įrom best-selling author and Australian Children’s Laureate, Jackie French, and award-winning illustrator, Danny Snell, comes a story of survival, courage and friendship.

Author: Jackie French, illustrated by Danny Snell

Jackie french wombat books