An Accidental Hero: A Mostly True Wombat Story

By Laura Roettiger When Wombat sees the bushfires raging out of control, she learns that helping those in need of sanctuary in a time of crises provides unexpected rewards. This STEM picture book, written as a newscast, was inspired by true events during the fires that spread through New South Wales in 2019/2020. International Wombat Day: October 22, 2024 (Hardcover)  Laura's website What people are saying: Kirkus Review: (May 20, 2024) Roettiger’s illustrated children’s book celebrates a wombat who helps animals displaced by wildfires in Australia. The story starts as a news report in a television studio featuring a backdrop of Sydney’s cityscape and famous Harbour Bridge, doused in yellow smoke. At the news desk, anchors Koala and Emu comment on the wildfires and how they started: “It’s the driest year on record and left us in a drought. We’ve got temperatures hot enough to melt cars from here to Wagga Wagga.” Kangaroo is at the scene for a special report on Wombat, who, a