Author(s): Michelle Kadarusman; Maggie Zeng (Illustrator)

Picture Books

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.