Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Six cuddly woolly wombats go on an Australian walkabout one morning, unaware that a hungry dingo is viewing them as his lunch. Jolly rhymed couplets describe their journey, as one by one they disappear. Each has a name, and an identifying bit of clothing. Clive stops to smell the flowers… and as the rhyme anticipates, “then there were FIVE.” Theodora throws a pebble, Lee stops to listen to a kookaburra laugh, and so the count goes down. When they are down to just Jen and Jack, they realize that something is wrong. Hiding in the wood, the two spot the dingo with their mates tied in a bag on his back. They cleverly lure him into a trap and release the captives. Then, “good as new,” they can all go home in time for tea. Blackall’s colored drawings naturalistically depict these cute, stuffed-animal-like critters, dingo, and typical plants in the sparsest of settings. The large, brick red, decorative typography is carefully integrated into the double-page scenes. There is never a doubt about the happy ending. The Australian words in the story are all clearly explained. 2009, Dutton Children’s Books/Penguin Young Readers Group, $16.99. Ages 3 to 7.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 4))
A glossary of Australian words used in this story about six wombats who outwit "a dingo with the hungry eye" while on their walkabout through the bush launches readers into this gentle trickster tale. The rhyming text never feels forced, as one by one the dingo traps the first four wombats when they become distracted by various bush attractions—"a golden wattle blooming," "a bridge by a billabong" and so on. When the final two wombats discover their brethren are missing and then see the sly dingo approaching with a bulging sack, they concoct a plan to defeat him and free the others. Successful, the six reunited wombats conclude their walkabout with a spot of tea at home. Beginning with the wraparound jacket art showing the wombats marching toward the book's opening, Blackall's uncluttered, downright adorable watercolors differentiate the wombats with such distinctive items as a party hat, a red ribbon and polka-dotted shorts. These items are highlighted on the glossary page, orienting readers not only to the verbal, but the visual world of this satisfying story. 2009, Dutton, 32p, $16.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 3 to 5. © 2009 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Laurie Slagenwhite (Library Media Connection, June 2009)
Six expressive wombats venture out for a ‘walkabout’ early one morning in the Australian bush. Unfortunately, they fail to see the hungry dingo who later nabs four of them. The two remaining wombats come up with a clever plan to rescue their friends, and then they all head home for tea. The pictures and the context clues will help readers decipher unfamiliar Australian terms, and if that fails, there’s a glossary. The rhyming text makes for a fun read-aloud, and the illustrator, a native of Sydney, uses Chinese ink and watercolors to imbue her illustrations with a gentle playfulness. This is a delightful romp Down Under. Recommended. 2009, Dutton Children’s Books (Penguin Young Readers Group), 32pp., $16.99 hc. Ages 3 to 8.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2009)
The five-little-monkeys rhyme finds new life in this Down Under offering. A hungry dingo eyes six woolly wombats. They disappear, one by one, until only two are left. Pairing their wombat wiles with innate digging abilities, the two hatch a rescue plan. Repeated refrains, amusing rhymes, and predictable plot are appealing. Jaunty watercolors, often including a partially hidden dingo, match the light tone. Glos. Category: Preschool. 2009, Dutton, 32pp, 16.99. Ages 2 to 5. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.