Author Archives: Patricia Smith

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, and he lived in a cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson had an idea. He went outside and dug for a while to think about it, and then he came inside and started looking through the recycling bin. HeContinue reading “Ice Cubes”

Once there was a young wombat called Benson, who lived in a tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson didn’t like wearing shoes. He liked having his feet bare so he could dig with his strong claws and feel the earth underneath his feet. One afternoon his motherContinue reading “Benson’s Shoelace”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a pretty impressive hole in the ground, with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson wondered what it would be like to be a fox. He made himself a tail out of paper and sticky-taped it to his bottom, and heContinue reading “Foxing”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice roomy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. On Australia Day there was always a big parade and everyone went in it. Everyone wore their uniforms and marched with their groups, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Guides,Continue reading “Benson and the Flag”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a very nice hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson went to bed but it was a hot night and he couldn’t get to sleep. He turned over and he sat up and he lay downContinue reading “Benson’s Pillow”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a neat little wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson and his mother went to the shops to get some sugar and milk and other things. They had just reached the traffic lights when Benson’s mother said, “Oh,Continue reading “Traffic Lights”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a comfy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was thinking about custard. He decided it would be a good idea to make some. He got out a saucepan and a cup and a spoon, and some milkContinue reading “Custard”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s mother had to go to a meeting, so Aunt Lillibet and Aunt Moss were taking Benson out. “We’re going to the Botanic Gardens,” said Aunt Lillibet. “Springtime in theContinue reading “Squashed Flowers”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson spilled his milk, and got toothpaste on his t-shirt and accidentally left his shoes where Aunt Lillibet tripped over them. Aunt Lillibet shouted atContinue reading “Flying to the Moon”

(based on a True Story) Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson was playing with his friend Tucker. They played throwing a ball and kicking a ball, and they played seeing who could climb furthestContinue reading “Benson and the Stick-Insect”

Once there was a young wombat called Benson, who lived in a tidy wombat hole in the ground with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson decided he was going to build a time-travelling spaceship. He asked his mother, ‘Can I have some string?’ She said, ‘What do you need it for?’Continue reading “Benson and the Time-Travelling Spaceship”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson and his mother went to the library to borrow some books. They returned the books they had borrowed last time, and then they went to look for some newContinue reading “Benson at the Library”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice little wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson did a Very Bad Thing. His mother was very angry with him and very upset. “I can’t believe you would do something like that!” she said.Continue reading “Benson Gets in Trouble”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson wanted to dig a hole. He wanted to dig a really big hole, the biggest hole anyone had ever dug. He picked a good spot and started digging. HeContinue reading “Benson and the Very Deep Hole”

Once there was a young wombat whose name was Benson, who lived in a nice little wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson couldn’t whistle. Aunt Moss could whistle, and Aunt Lillibet could whistle. Even the postman could whistle, but Benson didn’t know how. He said to Aunt Moss,Continue reading “Whistling”

Once there was a young wombat whose name was Benson. He lived in a wombat hole in the ground with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson knew his mother loved tulips, so he thought it would be a good idea to get her some for her birthday, but he didn’t knowContinue reading “Benson and the Tulips”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, and he lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson was shopping with his mother when Aunt Moss came hurrying up. “There’s going to be an earthquake! We have to go home at once!” Benson’sContinue reading “The Earthquake”

Once there was a young wombat whose name was Benson, who lived in a nice hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s favourite thing at the playground was the swing. It went up very high and came down very low. One day when he got to theContinue reading “Benson at the Playground”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. When it was Aunt Moss’s birthday, she wanted to have a party with all her friends, so they did. The turtles were fine because Moss put themContinue reading “Moss’s Birthday”

Once there was a young wombat called Benson, who lived in a nice hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Moss had a toothache. She went to the dentist, and when she came home her mouth was sore and she couldn’t eat properly. “Poor dear,” said Benson’sContinue reading “Aunt Moss’s Toothache”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson,who lived in nice little wombat hole in the ground, with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson said to his mother, “I had a dream last night that I was a red blanket.” “You were a red blanket?” said his mother. BensonContinue reading “A Big Red Blanket”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson wanted to dig a hole. He wanted to dig a really big hole, the biggest hole anyone had ever dug. He picked a good spot and started digging. HeContinue reading “Benson and the Very Deep Hole”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a comfortable hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson loved to dig. Sometimes early in the morning before anyone else was up, he would go out in to the garden and just dig. One morning itContinue reading “Benson and the Light Bulb”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice wombat hole in the ground, with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson and his mother were in the kitchen making strawberry jam. They chopped up lots of strawberries, and put them in a pan with sugarContinue reading “The Three Turtles”

Once there was a young wombat called Benson, who lived in a wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was in the kitchen doing some painting. He started painting a caterpillar, but it didn’t come out right. The paintbrush made it too smooth and he wanted it to beContinue reading “Benson and the Caterpillar Socks”

Once there was a young wombat called Benson, who lived in a comfortable hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. In the autumn Benson liked to pile the brown and yellow leaves up in big piles and jump on the them and roll in them. Once he madeContinue reading “Autumn Leaves”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice little hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s mother was going to a council meeting. “What’s a council meeting?” asked Benson. “It’s when a lot of wombats go to a meeting and argue aContinue reading “The Meeting”

Once there was a young wombat called Benson who lived in a hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Aunt Moss was peeling apples at the kitchen bench. Benson was at the table, colouring dragons. All of a sudden Aunt Moss gave a kind of screamContinue reading “The Spider”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a very nice hole in the ground with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson got some sticky tape stuck in his hair. ‘Oh dear,’ said Aunt Moss, ‘you’ll have to soak your head in eucalyptus oil to getContinue reading “Sticky Tape”

Once there was a young wombat whose name was Benson, who lived in a fairly nice hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson decided to go fishing. He took his dark green fishing rod, and a bucket of worms and went down to the river.Continue reading “Benson Goes Fishing”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in quite a nice hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet, and Moss. One day he was just finishing his lunch – cutworms and spaghetti, when his Aunt Lillibet said, ‘Time for you to do the washing-up, Benson.’ She filledContinue reading “Benson and the Saxophone Lesson”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a nice little hole in the ground with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Aunt Lillibet said, “Benson, I don’t like the look of your fingernails. I don’t think they’re up to any serious digging.” Benson had spent theContinue reading “Flower Seeds”

Once there was a young wombat whose name was Benson, and he lived in a nice hole in the ground with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Aunt Lillibet said, “Benson, I’m going to take you down to the river, and you can practise your swimming.” Benson put on hisContinue reading “Down to the River to Swim”

Once there was a young wombat whose name was Benson. He lived in a nice little hole with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson sat down at the piano. Aunt Lillibet came along. ‘You can’t play the piano,’ she said. ‘Sure I can,’ said Benson. ‘You’ve never played theContinue reading “Benson Plays the Piano”