Author: Eliza Robertson
Illustrator: Nora AoyogiPublisher: Greystone Kids
Publication date: September 17, 2019
Pages: 32
Source/format: e-ARC//Publisher
Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Synopsis (from goodreads.com):
This captivating tale will inspire children across the world to build compassion for an iconic yet vulnerable animal.
In award-winning author Eliza Robertson’s stunning debut children’s book, a young, brave wolf named Spur is looking for food with her brother when, suddenly, a flying beast appears in the sky. What was that thing? And where did her brother go? The next time the helicopter appears, Spur knows just what to do to save her wolf pack and reunite with her brother.
Stirring, gorgeous illustrations of wolves, snow, and trees illuminate this uplifting and empowering story, which offers a gentle message for protecting wild wolves in North America and beyond. Just like us, wolves have brothers, sisters, parents, and friends—and they very much need our help.
M Y T H O U G H T S
Spur: A Wolf's Story is a story about wolves who move in a pack from place to place depending on where they can find food. Lichen used to grow in the area where the wolves called home a long time ago which brought other animals to the area. However, because the lichen was depleted by large mammals during the winter, less caribou, deer and moose roam the area. Spur and her pack heard a rumor about a grove high up in the mountains where lichen flourishes. Upon locating this grove, they are being attacked by thunderflies. These thunderfly attacks are actually humans in helicopters attacking the wolves. A "beetle" hits Spur and she is injured.
Spur gets separated from her family when she got injured. However, wolves from another pack find her and offer to share their food. She stays with the new pack as she heals and they help her look for her family. The thunderflies return and this time, Spur is not afraid. She howls to warn others. While the wolves hide during the attack, she reunites with her family when she hears a familiar howl of her brother. All the wolves approach the lichen abundant grove safe and sound.
Illustrator, Nora Aoyagi's depictions of flora and fauna are always wonderful to see. She utilizes white spaces as a frame on certain page spreads. However, she will have some of the forest, sky and wolf shapes bleed off the pages on page spreads. The color palette includes cool colors of greys, blues, greens, browns and white.
I highly recommend Spur: A Wolf's Story as an educational and visual way to prepare children about parts of life and society that may be a bit more complex to explain. This picture book teaches young readers about the impact of humans trying to control wildlife populations. Natural habitats are being destroyed and wildlife is dying off due to lack of food or because they are being culled. This book can be used to educate young readers about the environment, the food chain and how human interaction impacts wildlife.
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