A [not so] Serious Guide
How old were you when you found out that you LOVE wombats? I was the-day-I-read-this-book old! Turns out that in addition to being really interesting creatures, wombats are VERY CUTE. They also poop cubes, have babies the size of jelly beans, and are terrible at making balloon animals. I never knew.
I've mentioned before that my son is a huge animal lover. I've also mentioned that he's starting to get bored of non-fiction and informational fiction. Lately, it takes a pretty unique hook or twist to get him engaged because he's starting to become a little bit of a know-it-all and thinks there's no new information for him when it comes to animals. This book was perfect for him! With humor that speaks to today's kids, unique facts, and text presented in speech bubbles (perfect for my graphic-novel-loving big kid), Wombats are Pretty Weird was a slam dunk in our house. And I loved it too!
A great read just for fun or as a resource for a school project, this book is as enjoyable as it is educational.
Synopsis
Wombats are amazing creatures, but are only found in a few habitats in Australia! Thankfully, readers can follow along with Joey the snake to meet the three species of wombats and learn about their unique traits and behaviors.
My Big Kid’s Honest Review:
What my Kids Loved: Poop. Sorry, it's not for everyone, but my boys love poop and any sort of potty humor. If poop stuff in books is not for you, fear not! This book actually explains the science behind wombats' interestingly shaped waste, so your child is actually learning something about poop while they laugh about poop. And boy, did my kids laugh. That's not the only humor in the story, though. There are some really funny asides and puns, like "Pouch Potato" ("Mom! Can you reset the Wi-Fi?" coming from a wombat pouch led to lots of laughter). Joey the snake provides comic relief throughout the entire book, and in my big kid's opinion was the real star of the show.
What I Loved: As a mom, I enjoyed the fact that this book was written in a way that allows for conversation as you read through it with your child. The page turns provided opportunity for my big kid to pause and reflect or to make a guess about what would be revealed on the next page. We read the speech bubbles together in turns, so that was fun too. I loved being able to read this book with him rather than just to him.
As a writer, I really appreciated the way Cushman's use of humor appeals to today's kids (see Wi-Fi joke above). We have to make sure we are engaging with kids in the world they are growing up in, not just the world we grew up in, and I think it's done really well in this book. I also loved the banter between Joey the snake and the wombats. Adding in the character of Joey creates a different relationship with the reader and the information presented in the book- rather than absorbing facts directly, we absorb them through Joey's experience of getting to know his adorably fluffy friends- and it adds an extra layer of fun.
My favorite lines:
"I'm telling you, Joanne, rear-facing pouches are so easy to keep clean. You really should give them a try." -Mom wombat to her kangaroo friend
Final thoughts: A great read just for fun or as a resource for a school project, this book is as enjoyable as it is educational. The back matter includes further reading and additional details about the three species of wombat, accompanied by adorable photos of each. And now I want a bare-nosed wombat as a pet. If only.
You can request Wombats are Pretty Weird from your local library, or purchase from HarperCollins or Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers- but don't forget to check your local independent bookstore first!
This book looks so fun. Thanks for sharing. Wombats are all the rage!
This looks like such a delightful book! Humorous, informational... I can't wait to read it. It's on my 'gotta buy' list!