Once I Heard a Little Wombat

Once I heard a little wombat

Renee Treml, Once I Heard a Little Wombat,  Random House,  3 August 2015,  24pp., $14.95 (hbk – board book),   ISBN: 780857987396

In this board book for early childhood readers, five baby Australian animals are asked in turn to stop and play with the unseen questioner. The simple, rhyming text includes action verbs – hop/plop, splish/splash, stomp/chomp – to encourage young listeners to engage in language as well as the action which is demonstrated in the pictures. Minimal fine line drawings of twigs, logs, ferns and leaves hint at the habitat for each of the animals, which are charmingly drawn in action across two double pages in different colours for each animal.  This delightful square board book will engage young listeners at lots of levels as they gently learn about the names and habits of five very different Australian animals.  We finally see who has been seeking a friend, and the story concludes, after much playing and romping together all day, with the two animals dropping off to sleep snuggled together.  Delightful for parents to share many repeat readings with their young children.

Reviewed by Chloe Mauger

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