Two
wombats, two wallabies, a koala, and a tiger snake humorously squeeze
into one
burrow--and reveal important truths about environmental disasters and
the
importance of welcoming refugees.
When a
fire sweeps through the Australian bush, wombats Dig and Scratch are
glad to
have a cool, damp burrow to keep them safe. But Dig notices that other
animals
are not so lucky. When Dig invites a wallaby mother and her joey to
shelter with
them, Scratch grumbles. When Dig beckons to a koala, Scratch complains.
And
when Dig welcomes in a tiger snake, Scratch is fit to be tied--but Dig
is sure
there's always room for more. And when the rains come to douse the fire
and
bring a new threat of flooding, a crowd of creatures may turn out to be
just
what the wombats need.
Inspired
by stories of animals sheltering in wombat burrows when her homeland
of
Australia experienced devastating fires, award-winning author Michelle
Kadarusman gets young readers up close and personal with Australian
wildlife.
Illustrator Maggie Zeng brings the creatures to life with a generous
dose of
personality as they squeeze together in the burrow and work together
aboveground. Extensive back matter includes information about wildfires,
a
glossary of animals, and age-appropriate context about environmental
disasters
and the work that is being done--including a renewal of Indigenous
land
practices--to prevent them.
