Little Wolf's Howl - Nelly Buchet - ★★★★.¼

-
AUTHOR: Nelly Buchet
ILLUSTRATOR: Mathias Ball
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
PUBLICATION DATE:
RATING: 4.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: A cute picture book about a little wolf who discovers her howl just when she needs it. Sweet story, gorgeous illustrations, valuable life lessons, plenty of animals. A great option for little readers.


Plot Preview:
Little Wolf tries hard to howl, but her version sounds more like a hiccup or a whistle. Her siblings laugh at her but not in an insulting way. They find her attempts cute, but Little Wolf wants to be strong and tough like them.
One day, Wolf finds herself lost in the forest after chasing a butterfly. She knows that if she howls, her mother will be able to locate her. But as she can’t, she is determined to remember her mother’s other instruction: “If you are ever lost, find North” and make her way back home. The only problem is, Wolf has no idea who or what or where North is.


This is such an adorable story! Right from its little protagonist to the other animals to the writing and the illustrations, this serves as a wonderful resource for young readers.

While storylines about lost animals/children are scary at times, I loved how this book depicts Wolf keeping her calm and knowing what to do. She doesn’t panic, she remembers her mother’s training, she approaches the right animals for help without hesitation, never loses hope, and never stops trying. Wolf’s adventure shows us that everyone has something to teach us, if only we pay attention.

There are many life lessons here that will help its readers, but they might be enhanced with adult guidance. For instance, a human child can’t really go asking random strangers for help as humans are much more dangerous than animals.

The story is written in simple prose that uses many emotion and reaction words. There are also some onomatopoeic words that add to the effect. I shouldn’t forget the biggest one of these: the wolf’s howl, which gives readers too an opportunity to howl along while reading aloud.

The illustrations are stunning with full-colour graphics in vivid hues on every page. The digital art seems to create a watercolour-like effect of shimmery colours that have just the right balance of soft and bright. The animals as well as the background feel alive through the vibrant sketches. I especially loved the page where Little Wolf is fishing with the bears. The art makes us feel like the water is splashing right before us.

All in all, this is a lovely picture book that balances morals with a healthy dose of humour, adventure, and insights. The content is suitable for kids aged 3-6 years.

My thanks to Marble Press for providing the DRC of “Little Wolf's Howl” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Explore more posts from this blog:

Violent Advents: A Christmas Horror Anthology - Edited by L. Stephenson - ★★★.¼

-
Image
  EDITOR: L. Stephenson GENRE: Christmas Horror Anthology PUBLICATION DATE:  December 12, 2024 RATING: 3.3 stars. In a Nutshell: A short-fiction anthology filled with Christmassy horror. Some really good stories here, though I wish there had been more variety in the “source of the evil.” A good option for those who are fed up of saccharine seasonal stories. This is the time of the year when readers are torn between spooky season and Christmas season. Here's a book that combines both. 😉 This indie anthology contains twenty-six stories by twenty-six writers. There’s no editor’s note, but the title and the tagline make the theme clear – it is a “Christmas horror” anthology. The stories are mostly fast-paced, which works well in this genre. After the first few stories, I wondered why a majority of them were using the Christmas tree as the horror device-of-choice. It occurred frequently enough for me to start eyeing every Christmas tree in the stories suspiciously. Only after...
Read More»

The Little Christmas Library - David M. Barnett - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: David M. Barnett GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 10, 2024 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: A character-oriented contemporary fiction with a strong Christmas spirit and a dash of Christmas magic. Excellent characters and a well-connected narrative linking them all. True to contemporary times in every way. Might get a bit too sugary, but works well for the genre. A fabulous and heartwarming option for the festive season. Plot Preview: When Molly McGinley moves from London to her Northern hometown of Merry-le-Moors, she feels like an utter failure. Ten years in the big city, and all she has to show is a broken relationship and no job. Her widower dad Jack is more than happy to have his daughter home, especially as he is still missing his wife who passed away a decade back. Jack now whiles away his time driving the town’s mobile library and he insists that Molly accompany him on his rounds instead of moping alone at home. As the two take the library bus t...
Read More»

Somebody I Used to Know - Wendy Mitchell - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Wendy Mitchell GENRE: Memoir PUBLICATION DATE: June 5, 2018 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: The memoir of a woman who unexpectedly became the face of young-onset Alzheimer’s in the UK. Ghost-written with the help of a journalist, this book covers her diagnosis, reaction, coping strategies, everyday experiences, and her plans for the future.. The writing is filled with pain and frustration as well as hope. Much recommended. Do note that it might be triggering for Alzheimer’s patients and also caregivers. A reading challenge I am participating in needed a book penned by a ghost-writer. I was very clear that I didn’t want to opt for any celebrity memoir, most of which are sanitised fake versions of their lives. Nor did I want to try fictional novels that straddled the line between pseudonymous and ghost-written. ( The Nancy Drew series, for instance. ) Google led me to Wendy Mitchell’s memoir. One look at this book’s blurb, and I knew I finally found the right option for the...
Read More»

Making Up the Gods - Marion Agnew - ★★★★.¼

-
Image
AUTHOR: Marion Agnew GENRE: Contemporary Fiction PUBLICATION DATE: October 15, 2023 RATING: 4.25 stars. In a Nutshell: An indie drama with some quirky characters and a great setting in Lake Superior, Canada. Mellow in tone, genuine in content, thought-provoking in themes. I enjoyed this unusual novel. Plot Preview: Simone, almost 70, is a retired widow who lives an isolated life in her cottage on the banks of Lake Superior and still misses her husband, though he’s been dead for five years. While she is now active in her local church and finds solace in baking for those grieving, she is fiercely protective of her privacy. But when the local reverend asks her to take care of nine-year-old Chen while his widowed mother goes on a much-needed trip, Simone finds it tough to refuse a fellow-mourning widow. Just before Chen arrives, a stranger named Martin knocks at Simone’s door, claiming to be her cousin. Simone is suddenly handling two strangers at once, and she worries that they will dis...
Read More»

The Night Counsellor - L.K. Pang - ★★★★

-
Image
AUTHOR: L.K. Pang GENRE: Historical Mystery PUBLICATION DATE: October 17, 2024 RATING: 4 stars In a Nutshell: A historical mystery with a mental asylum as the dominant setting. Intriguing characters, creepy vibes, good handling of the two timelines. A great option for readers who enjoy gritty historical narratives. Plot Preview: 1953. Jane Galloway, in a new role as a counsellor, has just been assigned a new patient at The Beaumont, a mental asylum trying to shed its dark tag but not doing a great job of it. This patient, dubbed Patient A, was found wandering naked and covered in blood on the outskirts of Yorkshire. She doesn’t talk or respond in any way to anyone. The mystery gets even darker when Jane learns that this patient is a murder suspect. The hospital staff is firmly opposed to this new method of using conversations as therapy, but Jane is determined to make a difference. Can she help Patient A before it is too late? Is Patient A really guilty of such a heinous crime? The...
Read More»