Author Archives: Patricia Smith

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was lying on his tummy on the floor, drawing elephants. He asked his mother, “Do you think I’m perfect?” “Mmm-hmm,” she said. She was knitting a chicken, andContinue reading “The Perfect Chicken”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, friendly wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson woke up especially early, so he went outside to do some digging. There was a kangaroo grazing on the grass in the back yard. At least,Continue reading “A Kangaroo in a Flock of Sheep”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson had a cold. He felt awful. His nose was all stuffed up and he couldn’t stop sneezing. His mother had just finished weeding the garden and cleaning theContinue reading “The Green Hairy Monster”

for Michael Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. After breakfast, Aunt Moss took off her apron and made her hair tidy. “Are you going somewhere, Moss?” Aunt Lillibet asked her. “I’m going to a poetryContinue reading “To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was cleaning his teeth before bed one night when he saw a light outside, a long way off, on the top of a hill. He watched it forContinue reading “A Light on the Hill”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson’s mother came into the kitchen and stopped. “Benson, what are you doing?” she said. “Spreading peanut butter on Aunt Moss’s shoes,” he said. “I can seeContinue reading “Spider Tuesday”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a happy, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning at breakfast time, Aunt Moss said, “I was thinking it would be nice to invite some friends over for afternoon tea today, to celebrate World Friendship Day.”Continue reading “A Quiet Afternoon Tea”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson’s mother said to him, “Nanna isn’t feeling well. She has a bit of a cold, so she’s staying in bed. I’ve made her a little basketContinue reading “Lavender Biscuits”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, welcoming wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was the middle of summer. Benson spent the morning digging and riding his bike and helping Aunt Moss turn over the compost heap and picking beans with AuntContinue reading “The Recycled Cubby-house”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a tidy, clean wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One evening everyone was sitting at the table eating dinner. They had stuffed eggplant and zucchini fritters, and custard and rhubarb for dessert. Aunt Lillibet and Aunt Moss andContinue reading “Training Wheels”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson’s uncle Elton was going on a camping trip with his son, Elmer, and he invited Benson to come too. They were going to sleep in a tent andContinue reading “Alone”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson was digging a tunnel in the backyard when he heard a scurrying noise outside. He popped his head out to see what it was, and threeContinue reading “The Adventurous Dunnarts”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, cosy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning the kookaburras were busy early, just as the sun was coming up, and their noise woke everybody. Benson’s mother turned over and went back to sleep. BensonContinue reading “The Unicorn”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Early one morning, Benson’s mother said, “The kangaroo apples up on the hill should be ripe about now. Let’s go and pick some.” Benson was very pleased. He lovedContinue reading “The Whale and her Baby”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was Uncle Elton’s birthday, so Benson and his mother went to the big park for his birthday party, with Benson’s cousin Elmer, and his friend Zali and herContinue reading “The Bridge”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a neat, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. At breakfast time, Aunt Lillibet said, “The potatoes are ready for harvesting. It’s going to be a big job, digging all those potatoes out of the ground. Who’s goingContinue reading “Dancing with Potatoes”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, warm wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson was in the kitchen with his mother, talking about times tables and how they didn’t really help you tell the time at all, when they heardContinue reading “Louisa Alexandra”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Everyone was going up to the Community Centre, because Aunt Lillibet’s friend, Gordon, was getting a very special award. “Do we have to go?” Benson said. There were sureContinue reading “The Medal”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a safe, tidy wombat hole, with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson’s Uncle Elton came over to give Aunt Lillibet her knitting needles back. He had invented a new machine for sharpening knitting needles, but it wasn’t workingContinue reading “Intruder”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Lillibet’s tomato vines were covered with fat, red, shiny tomatoes. There were so many that Benson’s mother said to him, “Let’s take some of these tomatoes to Nanna.Continue reading “Fairy Cakes”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning after breakfast Benson was outside trying to make a sundial out of banana leaves when Nils and Nella came rushing up. “We’ve found something…” Nella panted. “…inContinue reading “The Flying Carpet”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a nice, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Moss’s friend Rebekah came over one day to talk to Benson’s mother. “I’m really worried about Ralph,” she said. Ralph was Rebekah’s grandson. He lived with her andContinue reading “All Wombats Dig”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a comfortable, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was playing with his friend Mick at the playground when Arlette came up, with her sister, Twiss. Arlette was another wombat that Benson knew, but they weren’t reallyContinue reading “Wolley-Ball”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, happy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was Christmas, and it was very hot. Benson’s mother and Aunt Lillibet and Aunt Moss had been cooking and cleaning for days and days, ready for Christmas. NannaContinue reading “Felix”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a tidy, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson woke up and thought about getting up, but it was so warm and cosy in his bed that he snuggled down and closed his eyes again.Continue reading “Three Gifts”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, dry wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson woke up with a brilliant idea. “I’m going to write a book!” he said to his mother. “That’s nice, dear,” she said. “Make sure you haveContinue reading “Benson Writes a Book”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning Benson’s cousin, Lance came over. Aunt Lillibet was having a lie-down with an interesting book about slugs, and Aunt Moss and Benson’s mother were out shopping. BensonContinue reading “Someone to Talk To”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, safe wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson was going to his friend Mick’s house for a sleepover. It was his first actual sleepover and he was pretty excited. He had slept over at Nanna’s placeContinue reading “Noises in the Night”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, warm wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was the middle of summer and one evening there was a big storm, with lots of thunder and lightning. Afterwards, when the rain stopped and all the thunderContinue reading “Aunt Lillibet Tells a Story”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, tidy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Benson and his mother went down to the creek one day for a swim, and Benson brought home a whole pocketful off beautiful, smooth, flat stones, the kind thatContinue reading “Throwing Stones”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, comfy wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was a cool winter’s day. Aunt Lillibet was weeding her carrot plants, Aunt Moss was sitting in the sun, knitting and dreaming, and Benson was digging and thinkingContinue reading “Five Corners”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother, and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One morning, Benson came out to the kitchen for breakfast. There was one orange in the fruit bowl. It was the end of the season for oranges, and BensonContinue reading “Forbidden Fruit”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. One day Benson was outside in the sunny spot near the front door. He was lying on his tummy, reading a very interesting book from the library. A bigContinue reading “Butcherbirds”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson, who lived in a safe, dry wombat hole with his mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. Aunt Moss wasn’t feeling well. She had a headache and she felt hot and cold all over. Benson’s mother said, “Why don’t you go to bed, and I’ll bringContinue reading “The Healing Power of Music”

Once there was a young wombat named Benson who lived in a warm, comfortable wombat hole with this mother and his two aunts, Lillibet and Moss. It was one of those grey winter days when it seems to get colder and colder as the day goes on. It was raining, and it was so darkContinue reading “Animal, Vegetable or Mineral”