Five Wallabies and One Dog Night


Children - Animals
20 Pages
Reviewed on 07/27/2023
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Kimberlee J Benart for Readers' Favorite

Five Wallabies and One Dog Night is a children’s story by Fay Nelson inspired by her pets and told within the context of her Aboriginal culture. Three dogs, Rufus, Bunjee, and Poly, live on a farm in the bush with their human “mum” and a cat. When a little girl from another farm goes missing, Mum and the dogs search for her in different directions. When it gets dark, Mum, Rufus, and Poly return home, unaware that Bunjee has found the child. After rescuing the little girl from a river, she realizes she is too cold and weak to walk home that night. With the help of five wallabies (hence the title), Bunjee keeps the girl warm, and she returns to her family the next day. Several full-color illustrations enhance the story.

In Five Wallabies and One Dog Night, Australian author Fay Nelson gives us a heartwarming story that is enjoyable for adults and children alike. Written with the goal of encouraging people to know, love, and respect animals, both wild and domesticated, it hits the mark in an utterly charming and engaging fashion. The affection between the animals and their “mum” is very clear, and they respond quickly to her plea to help find the missing child before she encounters danger or injury. I enjoyed the incorporation of other animal and spirit characters, and the detailed illustrations effectively tied the characters and themes together, especially for readers unfamiliar with Aboriginal spirituality. This is a story with valuable lessons for all.