Nelly Buchet

This is a simple kid’s book. Two sisters make plans for the day, but they get rained out. They make a new set of plans, but those aren’t possible. The day is not what it’s supposed to be, but it turns out to be perfect because the two sisters are together. This book is sweet and typical. The illustrations have a childlike feel that go well with the narrator of the story.

When a human offers a dog a strawberry, the unexpected occurs. Dog and Strawberry are now in a race! Dog proceeds to wreck the room, knocking over a floor lamp and a tall potted plant, while Strawberry...remains motionless on the floor. The narration is race-announcer style; in the end, Strawberry is squashed flat when the human returns to see what has happened. This did not go where I thought it was going to go! But that's not a bad thing.

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.

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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,

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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.

4.25 stars.

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.

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Little Wolf gets lost in the forest and tries to follow her mother's advice to get back home. On the way she gets additional advice and some help from a whale, a goose, and a bear.

The pictures are cute, but I was just bored by the wolf's little non-adventures and her roundabout journey home.