Wombat Waiting (Katherine Applegate)

 

Katherine Applegate is a master of wonderful animal stories. This is in verse - a quick read. It is a beautiful story. 

The cover is perfect....the yellow/red hue in the background is because of the forest fires happening in the story. Wombat is a dog...who looks kind of like a wombat. She follows her heart until she finds her family that is just right for her. Everyone is healed by her determination.

Picked this one for Grade 3 book club. Would also make a great read aloud. It is about hope and how being patient is sometimes needed in the face of loss and rebuilding your life. Kindness and thought for others goes a long way.

Characters

Wombat - a stray dog....people think she kind of looks like a wombat and so she gets named Wombat
Henry - young boy who is part of a family that has to flee their home suddenly. His mom works in an animal shelter. He is nervous around dogs because he was bit by one when he was younger
Barnabas - a fruitbat that was injured and so she cannot fly. Henry keeps her as a pet
Sylvie - Henry's younger sister. She and Henry evacuate with their family during the wildfire.
Mama Ro – Henry's mother, a veterinarian who works at O.W.L. (Orphaned Wildlife). She helps care for rescued animals displaced by the fire.
Mama J – This confused me. It took me a while to realize that she is Henry's other mother, who is a librarian. She supports her family and community during the evacuation. Nothing is said about them being a gay couple. It just is. It is not a major plot focus.
Silas – An older stray dog who befriends Wombat and tells her she may be a "destiny dog" searching for her special person. 
Northern Saw-whet Owl – A young owl rescued by the wildlife center and temporarily housed at the shelter after the fire.
Other Important "Characters"
The Voice - mysterious inner voice that guides Wombat's decisions and encourages her to move toward her destiny rather than away from danger. It isn't a character, but it plays an important role in the story.

Grade 3 book club ideas:

- if you had to pack up quickly and leave because of a fire, what would you for sure bring?
- watch Hatchiko (Katherine Applegate references this story in the afterward)
- write diary entries from the perspective of different characters (Wombat, Henry, Barnabas, another person at the shelter). Prompt: What were you thinking and feeling during your time at the shelter?
- "Waiting for..." Poetry Activity

Since the book is written in verse, students can create their own free-verse poem titled:

"Waiting for..."

Examples:

• Waiting for summer
• Waiting for a friend
• Waiting to be brave
• Waiting for good news

Discuss how waiting can feel hopeful, frustrating, or exciting.
- connect this to our Earth Systems unit in science or Extreme Weather unit in Open Court
Wildfire and Community Research Project

Students can research:

• How communities recover after wildfires
• Animal rescue organizations
• Ways people help during emergencies

They can present findings through posters, slides, or infographics. The book is set in the aftermath of a Southern California wildfire and highlights both community recovery and animal rescue efforts. 

- have a special guest speaker from an animal shelter. Perhaps they could bring some animals
- Theme Discussion Stations

Set up stations with big questions:

• What makes a family?
• Can animals and people help each other heal?
• What does resilience look like?
• Why is community important after a disaster?

Students rotate and add thoughts on chart paper.
- Story Map - Students create a visual map showing:

• The wildfire
• The shelter
• Key events
• Where important characters meet

This helps reinforce plot structure and cause-and-effect relationships.
- Kindness Challenge: Wombat becomes a source of comfort and hope for many people. Challenge students to complete one act of kindness each day for a week and record it in a "Wombat's Kindness Journal."
= Compare and Contrast

Compare:

• Wombat and Henry
• Wombat and a pet dog
• Life before and after the fire
• This book and another Katherine Applegate book such as The One and Only Ivan or Odder

Use a Venn diagram.
- "Destiny Dog" Writing Prompt

In the story, Wombat believes she is a "destiny dog" searching for her special person. Prompt: If you were guided by a mysterious voice toward your destiny, where would it lead you and why?
- Readers' Theatre - Choose several poems or scenes and have students perform them aloud.
- Community Helpers Appreciation Project

Students identify people who help during emergencies:

• Firefighters
• Veterinarians
• Animal rescue workers
• Librarians
• Volunteers

Have students create thank-you cards or a class appreciation wall.
- "Home Is..." Students to create a poster, collage, poem, or presentation answering:

What does "home" mean?

This ties together one of the book's central messages about belonging, safety, family, and hope.

Potential parallel activities with picture books:

(list created with AI)

Wombat Waiting has such a gentle, hopeful focus on resilience, patience, belonging, and the idea that family can be formed through care rather than biology. If you're looking for picture books that echo those themes, these are excellent pairings: Resilience & Perseverance After the Fall by Dan Santat Humpty Dumpty learns to overcome fear after a life-changing accident. Themes: resilience, courage, growth mindset. The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires A girl struggles, fails repeatedly, and eventually succeeds through persistence. Themes: patience, problem-solving, perseverance. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall Jabari wants to jump off the diving board but must work through his fears. Themes: bravery, resilience, self-confidence. Patience & Waiting Waiting by Kevin Henkes Five toys sit on a windowsill and discover that good things often come to those who wait. Themes: patience, observation, hope. A House in the Woods by Inga Moore Animals gradually build a community through kindness and generosity. Themes: patience, cooperation, belonging. Found Family & Belonging The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld A child finds comfort through the quiet companionship of a rabbit. Themes: empathy, support, emotional resilience. The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright Kevin the koala learns that embracing change can lead to new friendships and community. Themes: belonging, courage, growth. Home in the Woods by Eliza Wheeler Based on a true story about finding security and love despite hardship. Themes: resilience, family, hope. Unlikely Friendships A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead Amos and his animal friends care for one another through difficult times. Themes: friendship, kindness, reciprocity. The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc An injured bird and a lion develop a deep friendship built on patience and care. Themes: friendship, compassion, found family. Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris A journey brings together a diverse group of animals that become a community. Themes: friendship, belonging, adventure. Animal Stories with a Similar Feel Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward Explores how animals create homes and care for one another. Themes: family, nurturing, belonging. The Lonely Sea Dragon by Helen Scales A sea dragon finds connection after feeling alone. Themes: friendship, acceptance, belonging. The Journey by Francesca Sanna While more serious in tone, it explores finding safety and community after upheaval. Themes: resilience, hope, found family. Best Matches for a Read-Aloud Pairing with Wombat Waiting If you want books that feel most similar in emotional tone and discussion potential: Waiting by Kevin Henkes The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld The Koala Who Could by Rachel Bright A House in the Woods by Inga Moore These pair especially well for classroom discussions around: What does patience look like? How do we keep going when things are hard? What makes someone family? How do friends help us feel that we belong? How can waiting lead to unexpected good things?

Goodreads says:

From the Newbery Award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The One and Only Ivan and Odder comes a stunning new middle grade standalone novel about compassion, resilience, and surprising friendships, following a dog named Wombat in the aftermath of a catastrophic fire.

Wombat isn’t actually a wombat—but when the homeless dog is discovered, singed and ash-covered after a terrible fire destroys a community, someone tags her with the nickname and it sticks.

Wombat is a “destiny dog.” Something inside of her (she nicknames it “Voice’) keeps telling her there’s a special someone out there who is meant to be her person.

Surrounded by a devastated town, Wombat takes up residence on bench near the makeshift community center, an old brick warehouse that, for the most part, survived the flames. A small part of the community center evacuation site has been repurposed for the local wildlife rehab sanctuary that burned down. All of the animals were spared, and the temporary quarters include an elderly fruit bat and a young Northern saw-whet owl.

No matter what, Wombat refuses to move from her perch, despite the efforts of many humans. Clearly the dog is waiting for someone. But for whom? And what are the odds they survived?

Fans of modern classics like Because of Winn-Dixie , Pax , and Katherine Applegate’s own Crenshaw and Odder, and timeless tales like Charlotte ’ s Web , will find a friend in Wombat and her story.

Nothing in Common (Kate Hoefler and Corinna Luyken)

 

This is a message for our time. We are all connected - even though we don't think we are. Beauty can be found in diversity...but we have to get beyond the surface. This may be a kid's book, but I know a swack of adults that need this message. 

The author says, "The dog could do marvelous things. And did. Things they felt under the floors of their hearts." I had to think about that for a while. Maybe she means feelings that we bury? An emotion that we haven't quite figured out yet? 

Together, two people who have nothing in common bring joy to someone. None of them are the same. They each feel alone - but together, they find joy....from heaven.

I don't know Kate Hoefler but Corinna Luyken is a master story teller. She wrote/illustrated The Book of Mistakes and Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse....and more (those are two that I have previously read)

Goodreads says:

Two neighbors both love to watch the old man and his dog from their windows, but they never wave to each other. After all, they have nothing in common. But everything changes when they are the only ones who notice that one day is different—there is the old man, but where is the dog?

Smiley (MC Ross)

 

There are three sections to this book. The first one is centered around a boy wanting to adopt Smiley. He has to get approval because of the rules for their rental - but Smiley is super well trained, so despite people judging her, it all works out. I almost didn't make it past the first third though. There was a ton of dialogue and Spanish words and references dropped everywhere that I had no clue what they were. 

The middle section of the book has the main character making friends with a boy who attends a fancy school and is on the rowing team. He invites Carlito and of course, Carlito is a natural and makes the team.

In the third part there is drama on the team. Luckily, everything turns out (literally, that easily). 

I picked this for a grade 3 book club book mostly because it was available in Scholastic. No one ordered though. Boo. 

I didn't read it ahead of time either. If I had, I probably wouldn't have picked it. It has some great lessons - and just in case you miss them it totally lays them out...something a little too didactic for me.

Another weird thing about this book is that the dogs talk. They're very self aware dogs too:

p. 225 (Smiley and Boris are dogs that belong to the two main characters. Boris isn't well trained, even though he belongs to a fancy rich kid. Smiley belongs to the poor kid but is much better trained) "Why do you get to scared when someone comes between us?" Smiley asked at one point, after a whine had threatened to turn into a growl. "I'm right here! Nothing's going to happen to me, I promise."
"I know," Boris sighed. "I just...I guess it just reminds me of my pals back at the shelter. The closer I got to someone there, the more it hurt when they went away. That dog I told you about, who never judged me? I think he was so nice to me cuz he could see I'd been hurt - and he'd been hurt, too, so he knew what that was like. His face had gotten all tore up in some kinda street fight - he never wanted to talk about it. But I could relate, cuz my first family clipped my ears, and it hurt real bad, and it made me feel sad, too, just like him. And normally I don't like feeling sad. But around him, it was okay. He understood me."

(Spoiler...in the second last chapter it turns out this dog, named Nugly, just happens to be at the race they win in the biggest race of all....picture dogs running in slow motion to greet each other and they just can't believe it....oh brother....oh, and there's another book by this author named Nugly. I think I'll skip it)

If you don't quite get what the author is putting down, he lays it out explicitly:

p. 232 (they're sneaking Smiley on to their rowing boat in a big competition because she seems to bring them good luck...rowing crews, apparently, are very superstitious) In response, Smiley swing her tail back and forth exactly once, just enough to whap into the insides of both of Carlito's thighs. She didn't dare move much more. Even though it was a whole week later and thus a whole week colder than that fateful Saturday morning practice, Carlito had taken off his windbreaker and dumped it over Smiley. To anyone outside the boat, it would look like Carlito had gotten overheated during warmups and decided to drape his windbreaker over his regulation deadweight. Only Cooper could see the hooded pitbull smiling up at him like a cubical little granny in a nylon shawl. And only Carlito could see the very tip of the tail that now signaled Smiley's excitement.
"Great," Carlito said. "Sorry about the cover-up. I just figured it's better safe than sorry. I'll put my windbreaker back on after they've given us the countdown."
Smiley heard the unspoken words in that sentence:  "Hey, who let them have a dog on their boat?!"

Carlito is a poor kid who gets into a rich kid's school because he makes it on the rowing team. He becomes this super wise and seemingly super experienced coxswain...it's so happy and Harlequin movie-esque, I could hardly stand it:

p. 249 "You are not going to stop rowing!" Carlito bellowed, his words coming up with hypnotic pacing and certainty. "You are going to follow my rhythm! You are going to trust me! And you are going to trust Boris! Because Boris has been putting in the work! Old dogs absolutely can learn new tricks! And you can't take on everybody's worries all the time! Sometimes the best thing you can do is just focus on doing what you need to do and putting in your work! And right now, you need to work to turn this boat so we can finish this race and you can go get your dog!"

The main lesson in the book is not to judge. People judge Smiley because he's a pitbull. Thayer judges Carlito because he's poor. People judge Boris because he's poorly trained. Smiley also has an encounter with a porcupine who, despite being a porcupine, was "had cared more deeply than he wanted to admit about those who society treated as different" (p. 254). Everything gets wrapped up perfectly with a bow with the porcupine reference visited again.

The author's website says he's sold a million books worldwide. I don't believe it. There are very few reviews on Goodreads and most of them are gushingly positive. Meh. I'd give it one star, but dogs don't deserve that.

Goodreads says:

Meet Smiley, a young Pit bull with the world's most infectious smile, in this companion novel to M. C. Ross's beloved Nugly!

If there's one thing Smiley, a young Pit bull, knows how to do, it's, well ... smile! She's had her infectious smile since she can remember, and it brings everyone around her -- including herself! -- joy.

So when she's adopted by a lovely family in Boston, Smiley doesn't expect anyone to dislike her. But she quickly learns that, sadly, Pit bulls have a reputation for being mean, and even Smiley's characteristic smile won't be enough to make everyone love her, and her smile begins to fade ...

As Smiley learns to navigate a world where she's judged by her appearance, she'll find a way to change the hearts and minds of those around her. And maybe --just maybe -- she'll find a reason to smile once more.

Dogtown (Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko)

I loved this story. It is told from a dog named Chance's perspective. It's funny (lots of poop jokes) and lots of matter of fact things that I believe dogs really do think! In particular there is this one moment that Chance writes in kibble…

“I nid to b petd.”

The heartache of dogs in a shelter!

It would be a good opportunity to teach about responsible pet care, have a reading to pets program or something like that. 

I was taken back by Chance's story of how he lost his leg and how irresponsible his dog-sitters were.

It is also a great story representing inclusion:  autistic child, abandoned and disabled dog, multi-lingual mouse....all without being didactic or preachy about it all. It is just the way the story is. 

I thought the robot dog was kind of weird but maybe it was a good way to address the them versus us problems in our world and also to bring in the idea of AI

I should read this aloud to my class...or perhaps get some kids to read it and see what they think. 

Best of all, it has a happy ending.

Goodreads says:

Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them.

Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since her owners unwittingly left her with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town.

Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home.

And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves.

When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way.

Little Brown (Marla Fraser)

 

This one surprised my students. "The author didn't solve the problem!" 

We were a little stumped. We had a good discussion though about people that are like Little Brown. It's hard to know how to deal with them. Don't be like Little Brown. Just be friendly! 

Goodreads says:

A grumpy and lonely little dog at the dog park decides to take matters into his own paws.

Little Brown is one cranky canine because no one ever plays with him at the dog park. Or maybe no one ever plays with him because he is cranky. Either way, Little Brown decides today is the day to take action, so he takes all of the toys and sticks and blankets from all of the dogs at the park and won’t give them back. But what will happen now?

The Bravest Dog Ever: The Story of Balto (Natalie Standiford)

 

This really is a step into reading book: simple sentences (all subject openers) but kids love the story. 

Goodreads says:

Balto has a quiet life as a sled dog - until tragedy strikes. Dozens of children in Nome become sick with diphtheria. Without antitoxin serum, they will perish - and the closest supply is 650 miles away! The only way to get the serum to Nome is by sled, but can the dogs deliver it in time? Heading bravely into a brutal blizzard, Balto leads the race for life.

Bear Island (Matthew Cordell)

 

Amazingly, everyone seemed to have a story to relate to this book. We have all experienced loss. The sadness and the anger was something we all knew about. This book beautifully depicts those emotions and also gives a sense of wonder. We don't know what happens to the bear in the end. We chose to believe he (she?) has a happy ending. 

Goodreads says:

Bear Island is a heartfelt picture book about healing after loss by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell.

Louise and her family are sad over the loss of their beloved dog, Charlie. "Life will not be the same," Louise says, as she visits a little island that Charlie loved.

But on a visit to the island after Charlie's death, something strange happens: She meets a bear. At first, she's afraid, but soon she realizes that the bear is sad, too. As Louise visits more often, she realizes that getting over loss takes time. And just when she starts to feel better, it's time for Bear to bed down for the winter.

Once again, Louise believes that life will not be the same. But sometimes, things can change for the better, and on the first warm day of spring, her family welcomes a new member. Here is a lovely, poignant story about loss and healing that will bring comfort to even the youngest readers.

The Rough Patch (Brian Lies)

 

This wasn't what I expected, but it struck a chord. It's hard to lose your best friend. Things do get better...even if there is a hole in your heart. Books about losing dogs always make me cry. Have to be careful if I read this one aloud in class.

Good reads says:

Evan and his dog do everything together, from eating ice cream to caring for their award-winning garden, which grows big and beautiful. One day the unthinkable happens: Evan’s dog dies. Heartbroken, Evan destroys the garden and everything in it. The ground becomes overgrown with prickles and thorns, and Evan embraces the chaos.

But beauty grows in the darkest of places, and when a twisting vine turns into an immense pumpkin, Evan is drawn out of his misery and back to the county fair, where friendships—old and new—await.

My Dog Mouse (Eva Lindstrom)

 

Turns out mouse isn't her dog.

This is for anyone that loves dogs. 

I love dogs.

Goodreads says:

My Dog Mouse offers friendship, humor, and gentle heartache in one dog walk. This is a book for anyone who knows what it is to love an old, slow dog with ears as thin as pancakes.

Three (Stephen Michael King)

 

I love this story! It is about a 3-legged dog who sees everything through his lens: who as four legs, who has 2 legs and what they do best with what they have. Three is grateful and optimistic and inspiring. He sees the best in every situation and doesn't dwell on what he doesn't have.

The past four years have been rough for me. There's the pandemic and covid issues. That has made this school year a challenge in a way I could have never expected. In addition to that, my husband's health has been poor. He's had some major health issues. Because it has dragged on so long, people stop inquiring after a while. It's disappointing to see the people who I thought really cared have no clue about what is going on because they simply seem to not care. It seems like they don't care because they don't inquire, stop by, check in, etc. I try to not complain and don't talk about the challenges a lot - so that doesn't help them to know. Complaining and whining doesn't change things though. I try to always look on the bright side, even with dull grey skies. I have been saddened by people who make assumptions about why we don't attend some events. It isn't something I can change. It simply tells me something about who I can count on and who I cannot. Luckily, I have a number of people in my life who do inquire and do care and have been a great help to us.

This is a great book! It has a good philosophy to live by.

Goodreads says:

The One and Only Bob (Katherine Applegate)

 

Because I love The One and Only Ivan, I've wanted to read The One and Only Bob for a while. I read The One and Only Ivan every year with my grade 3 students one way or another: either as a read aloud or in grade 3 book club. The One and Only Bob came up for me as a Skip-the-line loan with the audio book so I jumped at it. I am ordering the book now! I think it will be our first for our adult Children's Lit club. 

Katherine Applegate is an author I'd love to meet. I wonder if she'd consider zooming into our book club? Hmmm....never hurts to ask! 

The story is told from Bob's perspective and the reader was Danny Devito. I listened to it while walking my dog and it made me smile the entire time. Entire time! It was pure genius. I loved hearing about life from Bob's perspective. Bob and friends get caught up in a hurricane. The story reminded me very much of the flood we had in Calgary because the zoo was right in the middle of the flood. What an experience!

The audio book was voted as one of the best of 2020!

Over the moon that #TheOneAndOnlyBob—narrated by the one and only @DannyDeVito—was named one of the best audiobooks of 2020 by both @audible_com & @ALA_Booklist! 🐕🧡

If you haven't given it a listen yet, you can check it out here: https://t.co/4Jb17WU1DC @HarperAudio pic.twitter.com/pPoJRuisjC

— Katherine Applegate (@kaaauthor) December 23, 2020

Goodreads says:

Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family.