LITTLE WISE WOLF

A little wolf learns there is more to life than accumulating knowledge in this Canadian import first published in the Netherlands.

Little Wise Wolf is known for his love of reading big books and for his knowledge. But when the other animals in the forest come to him with their questions—“What do butterflies eat?”; “How many stars are in the sky?”—Little Wise Wolf doesn’t open his door. He tells himself he has too much to learn, too many big books to read, to take time to help. Then one day, the king’s crow summons him to the castle to heal the ailing king, and he reluctantly begins the long journey to the castle. Unbeknownst to him, his animal neighbors are following, and when Little Wise Wolf gets weary and becomes lost, they rescue him with a tent and food and a fire. Humbled by their gestures of compassion and friendship, Little Wise Wolf realizes that maybe he isn’t so wise after all. This endearing story is exquisite on many levels. The text is crisp and warm, and the illustrations, composed of translucent layers of earthy tones that evoke a textural, harmonious atmosphere, are sublime. There’s a bit of hide-and-seek going on with placement of the animals that will intrigue, and the flashes of bright red—most prominently in Little Wise Wolf’s boots—are brilliantly conceived visual accents to keep the eye engaged. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.7-by-23.4-inch double-page spreads viewed at 26% of actual size.)

Truly wonderful in all aspects.