The Wolf and the Shadow Monster

Review also includes:

The Wolf’s Colourful Clothes, 978-1785830204

The Grand Wolf, 978-1785830198

Each of these stories creates a sympathetic context for children to talk about their feelings and fears. In The Wolf and the Shadow Monster young Wolfgang was excited about having his friends for a sleepover. Everything was very jolly with lively games and dancing but then it was time to turn out the lights and the other animals started to mock Wolfgang when his fear of the dark is revealed.  He learns to confront his fear and to stand up to the teasing.  Wolf’s Colourful Clothes is also on the theme of coping with the insensitivity of others . Wolfgang is upset when others laugh at the colourful winter coat he is so proud of.  Wise Spider points out that sometimes people are unkind because they don’t know ‘what it’s like to feel sad’. It is a touching moment when Wolfgang sees that his friends have all donned colourful coats to support him giving him the courage to stand up to his tormentors .

Perhaps it is particularly difficult to help young children cope with the loss of someone dear to them.  This circumstance is met full on in The Grand Wolf when Wolfgang grieves over the death of his friend, the old wolf.  Once again Spider helps by asking Wolfgang to remember the good times and to write Grand Wolf ‘a lovely long letter’. This book reminds me of two other wise books on this difficult theme: Goodbye Mog and Badger’s Parting Gifts.  The simple rhyming text and involving illustrations make the Wolfgang books likely to appeal to young children.