Little Wolf's Howl by Nelly Buchet, illustrated by Mathias Ball

 I got interested in Nelly Buchet's work after her superlatively hilarious book, Dog vs. Strawberry was such a huge hit as a read-aloud. She's a truly diverse creator, ranging from funny to touching, informational to social-emotional learning in her books.

This title pairs her with a Canadian illustrator, Mathias Ball, who is new to me. They have a distinctively colorful, swashy style that's a nice fit for this sweet story.

Broad swathes of green, red, orange, and yellow make a forested background to introduce a litter of wolf pups. Our heroine, Little Wolf, is the smallest and weakest and her howl is pitiful, making all her siblings laugh at her. She runs away and gets lost, but remembers her mother always told her to "find North" to get home. Ball shifts the art to deep turquoise and sad blues as Little Wolf, her tail tucked, sets off on her journey. Along the way she meets various friendly animals and explores the beautiful Northern forest until she finally arrives home.

Verdict: The text is a little lengthy for a toddler storytime, but this is perfect for preschoolers and kindergarteners with lots of opportunities for interactive discussion of the animals that live in the North, different perspectives on where we live, and, of course, howling! Recommended.

ISBN: 9781958325186; Hardcover/picture book on Baker & Taylor for $18.99

Published September 2024 by Marble Press; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library