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The Wolves Are Back by Jean Craighead George — book cover

The Wolves Are Back

by Jean Craighead George, Wendell Minor
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Overview

Two renowned children’s book creators teamed up to make this stirring picture book that tells the story of how, over a century, wolves were persecuted in the United States and nearly became extinct. Gradually reintroduced, they are thriving again in the West, much to the benefit of the ecosystem. This book will teach a new generation to appreciate the grace, dignity, and value of wolves as it promotes awareness of the environment’s delicate balance. Paired with gorgeous paintings by landscape artist Wendell Minor, Jean Craighead George’s engaging text will inspire people of all ages to care about the protection of endangered species.

Synopsis

Two renowned children's book creators teamed up to make this stirring picture book that tells the story of how, over a century, wolves were persecuted in the United States and nearly became extinct. Gradually reintroduced, they are thriving again in the West, much to the benefit of the ecosystem. This book will teach a new generation to appreciate the grace, dignity, and value of wolves as it promotes awareness of the environment's delicate balance. Paired with gorgeous paintings by landscape artist Wendell Minor, Jean Craighead George's engaging text will inspire people of all ages to care about the protection of endangered species.

Horn Book

Outstanding historical and present-day photographs of Yellowstone, its inhabitants, and its visitors capture the rugged natural beauty of the park.

About the Author, Jean Craighead George

Jean Craighead George is a naturalist and award-winning author of many books for young readers. She lives in Chappaqua, New York.

Wendell Minor is a celebrated illustrator and designer of books for children, many by his friend Jean Craighead George. He lives in Connecticut.

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Editorials

Horn Book

Outstanding historical and present-day photographs of Yellowstone, its inhabitants, and its visitors capture the rugged natural beauty of the park.

Children's Literature - Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

George celebrates the return of the wolves to Yellowstone National Park. They had all been shot; by 1926 all wolves were gone from the forty-eight states and only "gentle animals" were left. Since no person had ever been attacked by a wolf, and since visitors missed their cries, in 1995 ten wolves were brought from Canada. Repeating her refrain, "the wolves were back," George explains how the activities of the wolves are restoring the balance of nature among the plants, birds, and animals that had been upset by their loss. Minor's naturalistic vignettes and full page paintings offer portraits of the other creatures as well as the wolf family, along with scenes of the landscape now returned to its natural balance. There are no illustrations of wolves "thinning out the coyotes," for example, just scenes of peaceful togetherness. His image of the young wolf in particular is very appealing; he looks like the dog next door. Minor's list of sources is included. Reviewer: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz

School Library Journal

Gr 1-4- An uplifting, lyrical story of how wolves were returned to Yellowstone Park after having been aggressively hunted throughout the United States. By 1926, there were no more wolves in the 48 states; the directors of the national parks wanted only "gentle animals." When people realized that nobody had ever been attacked by a wolf, 10 Canadian wolves were released into Yellowstone in 1995, and their numbers increased. Minor's realistic illustrations in natural tones give depth to the sense of joy one experiences through seeing the wolves and other animals restored to a balance of nature. The art, some full page, some full spread, captures life in the park, with its bears, birds, bison, and beavers, its bees, butterflies, and dragonflies. Almost every paragraph ends with the simple but effective refrain, "The wolves were back." Although this is not a detailed account of how the animals live, it is full of facts that children will enjoy as they reflect on the flora and fauna of the area, and on the need to protect our wildlife. This would be a great book for reading aloud, as well as for independent enjoyment.-Esther Moberg, Creswell Library, OR

Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Lush, naturalistic paintings and gentle, carefully chosen words celebrate the return of wolves to the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone National Park. Longtime collaborators George and Minor seem perfectly suited to tell the story of the elimination of the species there by 1926 and its successful reintroduction since 1995. Regular repetition of the title phrase (or "the wolves were gone") adds a poetic cadence to George's text, which emphasizes the importance of gray wolves to the web of life in the park. Minor's watercolor-and-gouache illustrations have texture and depth, focusing closely on individual species-moose, ravens, vesper sparrows, buffalo, beaver, badger, bear and more-in the context of the spectacle of that vast wilderness. This timely, beautiful picture book appears just as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepares to remove the Northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves from the list of endangered and protected species, a hopeful indicator of a wrong made right. For reading aloud or reading alone, this is a splendid way to share an appreciation for the natural world. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-12)

Book Details

Published
April 1, 2008
Publisher
Penguin Group (USA)
Pages
32
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9780525479475

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