The Boy and the Wombat

On a sunny morning, Leo takes his sketchbook and pencils along a bush track, hoping to draw something new. Near a sandy mound, he spots a stocky grey-brown wombat with a blunt snout and strong claws, and he watches quietly as it disappears into a dark hole. Curious about why the animal lives underground, Leo runs home to tell his mother, and together they return to the burrow to find answers.

Through patient observation, library books and his mother's explanations, Leo learns that a wombat's burrow shelters it from the summer heat, keeps it warm through frosty winter nights, and offers a hiding place when danger appears. He sketches the cool tunnels, the winding passages and the several entrances, and he discovers how the wombat uses its powerful claws to dig. His notes grow into a wildlife project that he proudly presents to his classmates. This tale by Çınar BİBER can be read on Masalcı Baba.