What's for Dinner? - Larysa Maliush - ★★★.¾

AUTHOR: Larysa Maliush

GENRE: Children's Picture Book

PUBLICATION DATE: March 17, 2026

RATING: 3.75 stars.

In a Nutshell: A picture book about a wolf and his moral dilemma. Funny story with interesting animal characters but some questionable logic. A good option for kids who don’t overthink.

Plot Preview:

Big Gray Wolf follows the rules of his pack except when they don’t suit him. One night, as he is howling at the moon and wishing for good food, he finds a lost bunny in the forest. According to the lupine code of conduct, Wolf has to eat it. But it’s so tiny and cute and fluffy! Plus, the little rabbit has a little note from his family that says they will offer a scrumptious feast to anyone who brings Bunkins back home safely. Should Wolf follow the wolf rules, or should he take Bunkins home in the hope of a bigger feast?

This story offers a flip-around of the traditional predator-prey narrative. Wolf's moral dilemma is real because predators do eat other animals to survive, not for fun like human predators do. At the same time, Bunkins is so very cute and we certainly don't want to see him squished between Wolf's pointy teeth. Should Wolf do what's expected of him because of his very nature, or should he do what is right? At the same time, what indeed is right for a hungry Wolf in such a situation?

It's amusing to see Wolf trying to choose between the two alternatives he has, especially as he doesn't even know what kind of feast the rabbit family will serve him. An interesting lesson for children here on making sensible choices as well as on delayed gratification.

A part of the story involves a road trip. I really liked this segment. It showed us the attributes of Wolf that he keeps hidden under that gruffy exterior. It also highlights how peer pressure can make us question ourselves and how we should stick to our gut feeling rather than blindly follow what others say.

Another lesson coming through the story is how we shouldn't judge anyone by looks. Of course, this lesson gets a little diluted when we see Wolf's sharp eyes and sharper canines - eeks!

The plot isn't exactly mind-blowing or original, and it has some logical loopholes as well. (Can anything stop a group of wolves from attacking the rebel in their pack and pouncing upon the delicious potential prey he carries?) But what enhances its impact is the accompanying art.

The illustrations, sketched by the author herself, complement the story in both form and colour. I love how the graphics use distinct colour tones for night and day. The grey wolf's ambience is also grey-toned, which makes the little white bunny in his adorable red jacket pop out on the page.

I wish the text were bigger though. The font size is too tiny to be read comfortably on the screen. I hope the physical edition doesn't have this issue. The story is a little text-heavy, but the page layout highlights the artwork more, thereby leaving only a small area for the textual content. There are also some big words, which might act as hurdles to early readers.

Overall, this is a fun read to be taken lightly without overthinking on the laws of the jungle. The plot works wonderfully for discussions on various topics, so this book can work both for parent-child bonding as well as classroom sessions on choices and decisions.

Recommended. This book officially targets readers aged 4-8 years.

My thanks to North South Books Inc. for providing the DRC of “What's for Dinner?” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.