From Wolf to Woof

March 21, 2016
Talbott (It’s All About Me-Ow) shifts attention from cats to dogs in this fictional story about how prehistoric man might have domesticated wild wolves, starting with an outcast child befriending an outcast wolf. The mixed-media art is tender and playful, with early wolves appearing just slightly fearsome (an image of an ox being spit-roasted over a fire is easily more shocking). One spread features a dense crowd of canines running in profile, showing their progression into domesticated dogs—including a retriever about to catch a ball. Talbott explores a broad concept within a cozy narrative framework, celebrating modern dogs while reminding readers that today’s wolves “need our help if they are to survive.” Ages 5–8.

February 15, 2016
Talbott presents an imaginative origin for the early human-wolf bond and explores how that bond changed both species. All dogs, even tiny toy poodles, are descended from wolves. When wolves and humans first interacted--an interaction that, over time, resulted in the domesticated dog--is unknown. Author/illustrator Talbott crafts one possibility in his appealing story of an orphan child and an orphan wolf pup. Sometime in prehistory (presumably in Europe, judging by the child's light skin), a hungry, howling wolf pup is thrown a bone by an orphan child who is also scavenging. Gradually the two form a friendship, and more outcast humans and wolves join them. Hunting together--the wolves surrounding the prey as the humans spear it--the band realizes that they are more successful together than separate. Thousands of years pass, and the human-wolf bond becomes the human-dog bond as dogs become the diverse breeds (all bred to perform tasks for humans) that we know today. The tight narrative and Talbott's watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations do a good job of keeping the story lively. One bone to pick: a double-page spread near the beginning depicts a pack of wolves as much scarier visually than necessary, especially when juxtaposed against the story's later plea to help today's wolves survive. The concise narrative, cohesive design, and well-executed illustrations make this story easy to understand and appreciate. (author's note, websites, bibliography) (Picture book. 3-8)

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February 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 2-Through charming illustrations and minimal text, Talbott tells the story of how ancient wolves evolved into the dogs we know today. Young readers will love the nonverbal clarity of the image of a little orphan boy hiding in the shrubs watching a wolf pack run and the lonely cub trying to find his way back into the fold. The cute factor is a little over-the-top at times: the cub tries to howl, "Boy" as the pair find their way to friendship and teamwork and begin to build their own group of outcasts. This very simple interpretation, in which the boy and cub do even better than human or wolf packs, certainly has appeal but will not be useful to report writers or older readers. The closing pages show the progressive domestication of dogs from wolves to the pets that live in our homes, in all the diversity we know. VERDICT This big story in a small package hews close to current scientific understanding and is likely to be popular in most libraries, though it will be of limited value to those doing schoolwork.-Dorcas Hand, Annunciation Orthodox School, Houston, TX

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2016
Grades K-2 Talbott offers an engaging, fact-based myth explaining the evolution of dogs and how interwoven our history is with theirs. A charming mutt narrates the tale starting, Long, long ago . . ., while evocative pencil-and-watercolor art depicts a wolf pup overlooking a plain. Meanwhile, a boy spies on the pup. Both watch wolves hunt. The two begin to circle each other, gradually becoming companions in a touching scene. As other loners and orphans join them, canines and children begin to rely on one another and work in tandem. Our modern-day dog seamlessly describes how his subspecies continues to provide important services to people as search, rescue, guide, and therapy dogs, as well as the more common variety of bed-warmer dog. The wolves, however, are never forgotten, and their endangerment is mentioned, too. While this isn't nonfiction per se, there are enough nuggets of facts threaded through the tale that young readers will likely learn a lot about humans' best friend. An author's note and additional resources round out the tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)