WOLVES IN HELICOPTERS

A tiny bunny conquers her fears.

Hop awakens “trembling and cold” after a nightmare in which she was chased by wolves. Though Hop’s mother soothes her and offers coping suggestions each time (“Next time you have the bad dream,” Mommy tells her, “burrow deeper under the ground into another dream”), the wolves still haunt her, and her fears grow as her slumber is disturbed by first 100, then 1,000, 100,000, and even 1,000,000 of those furry beasts. In desperation she recalls her mother’s reminder that she controls her own dreams and need not fear those imaginary wolves—even if they are flying in helicopters or overwhelming her in great numbers. Turnabout is fair play, especially in dreams, and Hop finally overcomes her trepidation. The use of purples, blues, and yellows in the illustrations adds to the feeling of anxiety and tension as the colors swirl in almost psychedelic fashion across the pages. The wolves are frighteningly fierce and threatening until they’re put in their places by Hop, whose decision to stand her ground is captured through an intense close-up of her eye. The coziness of Hop’s comfortable burrow contrasts vividly with the intimidation of the wolves’ woods. Repetitive phrases trace Hop’s evolution from timid to self-assured.

Encouragement for youngsters facing similar anxieties.