 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Wolves
- By Emily Gravett
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Witty with incredible art, but too scary for some.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the illustrations in this book are fascinating, as are the facts. However, both may scare more sensitive younger kids. Also, the main character, a book-reading rabbit, is humanized, then threatened by the carnivorous wolf. An alternative ending is offered that lightens the book up considerably.
What's the story?
A floppy-eared rabbit checks out a book about wolves from the library, and learns facts that alarm him. An alternative ending stresses that this is a work of fiction, and the vegetarian wolf becomes the rabbit's best friend.
Is it any good?
Readers will find themselves as engrossed as the rabbit by the growing suspense in this book. Page by page, the innocent child-like creature is walking closer to danger. And the exquisite drawings definitely add to the drama. Always in black and white pencil, the wolf is drawn as a salivating, sharp-toothed, chop-licking predator, who is just waiting for the right moment, and gets his chance. The rabbit is a long-eared, friendly, beige-colored cutie who doesn't have a clue about what he's walking into.
The author's assurance that no rabbit was harmed in the making of this book, and her alternative ending in which both become friends, may be a comfort to some readers who find themselves horrified at the ending. Others may appreciate the witty, dry humor of the first version, and want to stick with it. Either way, this is a unique book, full of small clever details, fascinating art, and a story that most kids, especially the less sensitive ones, will enjoy.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about wolves, and the facts that are offered. They also can talk about the rabbit. Which seems more real? Can rabbits read? Do wolves eat rabbits? Do you think wolves can really be vegetarians? Which of the two endings do you like best? Also, parents should be ready to discuss predator/prey relationships natural to the world, and what they, and their kids, think about it.
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| Author: | Emily Gravett |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | Simon & Schuster |
| Publication date: | August 6, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 40 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
| Read aloud: | 4 |
| Read alone: | 6 |
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