lrk’s blog

Diary of a Wombat

Alice Dekkers (pictured here) graduated from the Bachelor of Teaching (primary/secondary) at Deakin University in 2005. In the unit ‘Language Education’, she created a wonderful handmade book based on the award winning Australian picture story book ‘Diary of a Wombat’ written by Jackie French and illustrated by Bruce Whatley (published in 2003 by Clarion Books).

Alice’s book is illustrated in collage, using pieces of bear-making fur, wood, aluminium foil and other materials. She also made a ‘wombat on a plate’ using a paper plate on which she sat a piece of bear-making fur that was made into a ball with stuffing (representing the back of the wombat disappearing down a burrow), with moulded feet out of plastic clay visible under the back of the wombat; small moulded carrots sat beside the wombat’s burrow.

For a review of ‘Diary of a Wombat’ by Jackie French (2003), author and illustrator profiles, and related teaching ideas and resources, go to http://publib.slq.qld.gov.au/cbw/2003/wombat.htm