Little Wise Wolf, written by Gijs van der Hammen and illustrated by Hanneke Siemensma. Translated by Laura Watkinson. Kids Can Press, 2020. $19.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Far away, on the other side of the mountains, there lived a little wolf. He read big books. He discovered new stars. He knew every herb. He knew everything! Because he knew so much, almost everyone called him Little Wise Wolf. And that made him feel rather proud."

This little wolf speaks to my heart! He loves nothing more than reading, and what he learns from that reading is quite astounding. His woodland friends know he has the answers to their questions; in his quest always to be reading and learning more, he has no time to provide answers. In fact, he is quite grumpy when asked. 

But, when the king's crow arrives with the message that he is needed at the castle, Little Wise Wolf must leave his house, and his reading, and make a long, unfamiliar journey. He does not know that his neighbors are following him to be sure he is safe. When he runs into difficulty, they are there with food, a fire and a chance for needed rest. 

"And there, deep in the forest, 
Little Wise Wolf found a tent - 
and a pot of soup simmering 
on a campfire. He had no idea 
where they came from, but he 
had a lovely night's sleep."

Morning arrives with an understanding that his friends have been with him all along the way. They take him close to the castle, knowing that he will find his way from there. Once he arrives, he is uncertain that he is up to the task. The crow persists. Little Wise Wolf does what he has come to do. The king is soon well and filled with gratitude, offering the wolf a valued place in the castle where he can read to his heart's content. His answer comes straight from his heart. Wise, indeed!  

Marvelous storytelling is accompanied by perfectly matched, layered artwork that evokes an atmosphere sure to hold interest for all readers.