More on wolves

Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw. 2008. When the Wolves Returned: Restoring nature's balance in Yellowstone. New York: Walker.

I just recently reviewed Jean Craighead George's book, The Wolves are Back, and now along comes another great wolf book, When the Wolves Returned. This book tells the same story as George's, the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. This book succeeds on three levels. The Wolves are Back had beautiful and lifelike illustrations. This book has stunning photography by the father-daughter team of Dan and Cassie Hartman, with additional black and white photos from the National Park service of early days at the park. When the Wolves Returned is also a multi-use book. Text boxes with large font text are superimposed over the photographs, and offer a story in short sentences suitable for storytime, "Because wolves fed on the elk and deer that people liked, hunters were paid to kill the wolves. By 1926 the wolves were gone." Smaller text at the bottom of the pages gives a more detailed account of the program to reintroduce wolves to Yellowstone.

A beautiful book for a range of ages - great for school reports, science class - even storytime.

The Wolves are Back

George, Jean Craighead. 2008. The wolves are back. Ill. by Wendell Minor. New York: Dutton.

Famed author Jean Craighead George, (My Side of the Mountain, Julie of the Wolves, and more) has written the story of the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. The Wolves are Back flows like a storybook,

"The wolf pup with his father ate until his stomach was round and then followed his father back to their den. They walked through gardens of wildflowers. The wolves had scared the mountain sheep that chew the flowers to the ground up into the rocky cliffs."

The story follows the life of a pup and highlights the necessity of wolves to the complex ecosystem of Yellowstone Park. Wild wolves thin the coyote herds, provide meat for the bears, keep elk from destroying the grasslands, etc. Each of these actions benefits the wilderness, 'like pieces of a kaleidoscope...tumbling into place."

"Beavers built ponds. Birds sang. Flowers bloomed. The wilderness is in balance again. The wolves are back."

Paintings by landscape artist, Wendell Minor, showcase the graceful beauty of the the park and its inhabitants. Painted in both the brilliant and the soft colors of nature's flora and fauna, his illustrations impart serenity to the story, depicting the animals naturally, yet gently. Many are double spreads with minimal text.

Jean Craighead George continues her commitment to our wild places with this beautiful picture book.