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Wednesday, January 13, 2021

This is the Path the Wolf Took, written by Laura Farina and illustrated by Elina Ellis. Kids Can Press, 2020. $19.99 ages 4 and up

 


"This is the path the wolf took
through the woods. 
This is where he found a little pig
building a house of straw. 
When the pig saw the wolf, he ran 
inside and shut the door tight.
"

Her big brother is a willing reader; his little sister is not so keen on the turns his stories take. It begins with a little girl in a red cape, and a wolf boldly blocking the path to her grandma's house. Just as the wolf is about to enter that house, Sir Gabriel comes the rescue. His own worry about the ferocity of the wolf has him making changes to the telling. Mia is not pleased. She likes her father's version of the story; Gabriel wants nothing bad to happen. 

Mia's disappointment requires a change of pace. The new story has the same wolf, some pigs and a lot of huffing and puffing. Up rides Sir Gabriel to send that wolf back to where he came from. This, too, is not for Mia! Enter the dragon! Never fear ... Sir Gabriel is a dragon slayer. The dragon retreats allowing Gabriel to offer ice cream for everyone involved. Mia has had it! She wants no more of Gabe's stories. 

What can Gabriel do? Luckily, his love for his sister comes to the fore, and all characters find a happy ending. 

Elina Ellis's digital artwork matches the humorous tone of this fractured fairy tale, with a woodsy setting, needed pathways, and engaging, energetic characters. 

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