The Wombats Go Wild for Words
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
A trio of wandering wombats with a passion for words inspire an enthusiastic duckling to transform her town from dull to dazzling in this delectable picture book that shares with children the magic of words.
Evergreen Forest is a very nice forest, with very nice trees and very nice animals. It’s a rather dull place, but no one says a word about it. In fact, no one says very many words at all! And therein lies the problem.
Until the word-loving wandering wombats arrive.
They use words like enthusiastic and splendiferous, ready to turn ordinary into EXTRAordinary! With twinkles in their eyes and words on their minds, the word wombats come to transform Evergreen Forest.
At first, the animals of Evergreen Forest are…confused. All except for a curious duckling who eagerly devours every noun, adjective, and verb that she hears. Slowly, the inhabitants of Evergreen Forest become mesmerized as they realize that words are not just fun, they are inspiring.
New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry and acclaimed illustrator Lori Nichols captivate readers with this dazzling, magnificent, and triumphant tale about discovering the power of words and the ways they connect and empower us.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Evergreen Forest is "a very nice forest with very nice trees and very nice flowers," writes Ferry (Prunella). It's also very dull, at least until a trio of "word-loving, wandering wombats" arrive and launch a linguistic awakening among the forest's inhabitants. With an eager duckling following along, the irrepressible marsupials teach "tired" and "very tired" turtles new descriptors for their state: exhausted and weary. Catching on fast, the turtles realize after a rest and a snack that revitalized and invigorated best suit how they're now feeling. Inspired, the duckling helps school her own family: why describe flowers as "nice" when exquisite and fragrant are so much more delicious to say? Their work done, the wombats deputize the ducky star pupil with an "Honorary Word Wombat" badge. And when she tells them "things won't be the same without you," they respond with apt assurance: "They'll be EXTRAORDINARY!" Buoyant mixed-media illustrations by Nichols (Finnegan Fox) underscore the forest's transformation with playful textures, round shapes, and mind-expanding words set in bold black capitals. It's a read that relishes how richer words aren't just the stuff of vocabulary lists but splendiferous tools for understanding the world. Ages 4–8. Author's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. Illustrator's agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media.
