From Wolf to Woof!: The Story of Dogs
By Jan Carr,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Informative story imagines early bond between wolf and boy.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
FROM WOLF TO WOOF!: THE STORY OF DOGS combines fiction and fact to tell the story of an orphaned wolf pup "long ago" who survives by befriending a young human. In this mutually beneficial friendship, the boy helps the wolf by tossing him bones, and the wolf helps the boy hunt. The story imagines that other stray wolves and children then joined up, banding together to form a tribe that thrived because wolves and humans acted as a team: "Everyone worked together and shared food. No one was left out." It then explains how humans evolved from hunter-gatherers into herder-farmers and how dogs evolved into new roles, as well. It ends with mention of breeds and an appeal to save the wolves, now at risk in the wild.
Is It Any Good?
This book seamlessly meshes fiction and fact in a story about an orphaned wolf pup befriending an early human boy, paving the way for wolves to develop into dogs, known as man's best friend. This rich prehistorical material has been mined similarly in a picture book by notable author-illustrator Jan Brett, titled The First Dog. Talbott's story doesn't end at that early encounter. It travels down the time line to touch on humans developing into herder-farmers, as well as the many jobs dogs did and the development of breeds. Since archeologists are still unearthing fossil evidence and reinterpreting the wolf's path to domestication. Talbott calls his story an "origin myth." He also suggests that dogs influenced human development just as we influenced theirs, that we became herder-farmers "with the help of the wolves," who guarded our herds.
The wolf pup and boy are cute and completely relatable, inviting kids into the more meaty historical material about our early ancestors and making this book a great introduction to both early human history and the evolution of wolves into dogs.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dogs. How are they different now from wolves? How is their behavior still like wolf behavior?
What jobs do dogs do for humans? How many can you think of? Why are dogs good at those jobs?
If dogs evolved from wolves, why are there now so many breeds? How do you think the various breeds evolved? Which ones look most like wolves?
Book Details
- Author: Hudson Talbott
- Illustrator: Hudson Talbott
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice , Great Boy Role Models , History , Science and Nature , Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date: April 12, 2016
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 5 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: July 13, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate