The Frightful Fire: One grumpy wombat. One fast-moving fire. And only one chance to save the day. (Tales Down Under Fig Tree)

Teaching children about bravery, friendship and building a community in the face of adversity. This middle-grade book is perfect for your new reader to explore the land down under and the animals that live there.

Wilbert the Wombat prefers to stay in his burrow. He likes being alone in his burrow more than being around anyone else! So every day, Wilbert leaves his home for only one reason: to eat. But one day venturing out of his burrow, he crashes into a wallaby hopping over his burrow’s front door. She is eager to meet him but finds him to be grumpy. Still, she pursues his friendship. And that is where our story begins, full of heart-warming bravery, friendship and the feeling of belonging to a community.

As a wild bushfire takes over the land around his burrow, Wilbert the Wombat must decide how far he’ll go to help others in need. If he succeeds, he’ll save the lives of Wendy the Wallaby, her family, koalas, echidnas, kangaroos and more. But will he be able to do it?

This rhyming book for kids is a timely, relevant topic and relatable tale as it parallels the fires happening in Australia and worldwide.

This is a school-age middle-grade book for young readers aged 9 - 12. And, of course, suitable for all the kids at heart. There is no age limit to the magic that lives in books.