Winter is here, and Sloane is looking forward to snow.
She has also developed a serious interest in wolves (or “wolfs” as she calls them).
So, what better way to capture both of her interests than in a picture book titled Wolf in the Snow ?
SUMMARY
Wolf in the Snow recounts the adventure of a young girl who encounters a lost wolf pup during a swirling snowstorm.
The young girl comes upon the wolf pup on her way home from school. The drifting snow makes travel difficult, but the young girl carries the wolf pup even as the snow accumulates. The young girl is determined but the growing mounds of snow make travel difficult. Travel is also difficult for the wolfpack that is hunting for their lost pup. Eventually, the wolfpack and the young girl come face to face…and the tension is real!
Of course, the story brings to mind the fairy tales like Little Red Riding Hood (EX: the girl wears a red coat, the girl is on her way to a house).
The ending, however, is not Grimm Brothers gruesome, but wholly satisfying to wolf lovers of all ages.
AUDIENCE:
Wolf in the Snow is an almost totally wordless picture book, ideal for readers of all ages (2 years and up). As the text is in the pictures, there are multiple ways readers may choose to “tell” this story.
There are children who will want to linger over the details embedded on each page. And for toddlers who may have a short attention span, this book can be a fast read.
Note: There is no dialogue, but be prepared to give a few “howls” or “barks”.
AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR:
Wolf in the Snow was released in 2017 by author/illustrator Matthew Cordell. The book was favorably received by critics and was awarded the 2017 Boston Globe-Horn Book honor award and the 2018 Caldecott Medal for illustrations.
All of the pages have illustrations that feature the falling snow. The lightly falling flakes at the beginning soon give way to swirling whiteout conditions.
This is very dramatic snow!
Cordell has written and illustrated other picture books, including Trouble Gum, King Alice, Another Brother, and Hello! Hello!
READING OPPORTUNITIES:
A word of caution when choosing a wordless picture book for a three-year old. There will be MANY questions. most beginning with “WHY?” For example:
- “Why does the girl go to school in the woods?”
- “Why is she walking by herself?”
- “Why is the wolf cub alone?”
- “Why is she tired?”
- “Why does the wolf pack howl?”
All good questions.
Wolf in the Snow answers “why” and more.
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