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Big Bad Wolves at School
Rufus doesn't like school at first. He loves being a wolf and doing wolf stuff -- like running through the woods or howling at the moon. But Rufus, like all wolves, must go to school to learn real wolf work, like wearing clever disguises and speaking sheep.
While Rufus learns, he also teaches: Sometimes ou have to cut loose and learn to be yourself!
32 pages, Hardcover
First published June 26, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 21, 2007
I just read this and giggled my way through the whole thing!
Poor Rufus just doesn't fit in with the other wolves at Big Bad Wolf Academy. He doesn't want to huff and puff, or wear disguises, or figure out the best way to get in a henhouse. He's much more interested in doing things the natural wolf way: howling at the moon, running through the trees, and sticking his nose in everything. Of course, Rufus saves the day by being himself.
Brad Sneed's illustrations are brillant and just so aptly fit the story.
Poor Rufus just doesn't fit in with the other wolves at Big Bad Wolf Academy. He doesn't want to huff and puff, or wear disguises, or figure out the best way to get in a henhouse. He's much more interested in doing things the natural wolf way: howling at the moon, running through the trees, and sticking his nose in everything. Of course, Rufus saves the day by being himself.
Brad Sneed's illustrations are brillant and just so aptly fit the story.
May 9, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It made me laugh many times and I loved that it took an element of many tales we hear and expanded on it. It is very creative and entertaining. besides the humor, it teaches the lesson that not everyone is good at the same thing. Rufus was not interested in the same things that the other wolves were interested in, but that was a good thing when he saved them from the hunters.
This would be a good read aloud when discussing different interests. It can teach students that not everyone is good at the same thing, but that is a good thing. It would help students appreciate their different interests and abilities.
This would be a good independent read for someone who struggles with school. It shows them that just because they got a bad text score, it does not mean that they are not smart. Some people are gifted in different areas. It wold help encourage them to keep trying and focus on what they do succeed at.
This would be a good book to discuss characterization. They could describe Rufus and what makes him different. This book does a good job at describing his personality and interests.
I really liked the illustrations in this book. Brad Sneed makes them humorous and they help support the story. They also gave references to stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. They are very creative and entertaining.
This would be a good read aloud when discussing different interests. It can teach students that not everyone is good at the same thing, but that is a good thing. It would help students appreciate their different interests and abilities.
This would be a good independent read for someone who struggles with school. It shows them that just because they got a bad text score, it does not mean that they are not smart. Some people are gifted in different areas. It wold help encourage them to keep trying and focus on what they do succeed at.
This would be a good book to discuss characterization. They could describe Rufus and what makes him different. This book does a good job at describing his personality and interests.
I really liked the illustrations in this book. Brad Sneed makes them humorous and they help support the story. They also gave references to stories such as Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs. They are very creative and entertaining.
May 2, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book to Dominick. The wolves were more human than animal, like a riff on the three little pigs when they were learning to huff and puff.
Poor Rufus was content to be a normal wolf, running in the wild and playing with other animals (okay, not realistic but whatever) but his parents thought he was soft so they sent him to Big Bad Wolf Academy to toughen up so he would survive the outside world.
He did terrible at school. He didn't like the classes. He didn't have friends. When the year was up and on the day of finals, hunters from the nearby village arrived. Rufus saved the day by doing what he always did. Acting like a wolf. By howling, it startled the hunters when the everything the other wolves had done that they'd learned in school hadn't phased them. Copying Rufus, they howled and chased the hunters from the forest, making them believe there were more wolves than there really was. Rufus saved the day.
The last page was great: "One a year they go back to the village. Just for Fun." It was Halloween. :)
Poor Rufus was content to be a normal wolf, running in the wild and playing with other animals (okay, not realistic but whatever) but his parents thought he was soft so they sent him to Big Bad Wolf Academy to toughen up so he would survive the outside world.
He did terrible at school. He didn't like the classes. He didn't have friends. When the year was up and on the day of finals, hunters from the nearby village arrived. Rufus saved the day by doing what he always did. Acting like a wolf. By howling, it startled the hunters when the everything the other wolves had done that they'd learned in school hadn't phased them. Copying Rufus, they howled and chased the hunters from the forest, making them believe there were more wolves than there really was. Rufus saved the day.
The last page was great: "One a year they go back to the village. Just for Fun." It was Halloween. :)
September 13, 2010
First let me say, Brad Sneed's illustrations are hilarious! They definitely add to the "must read" factor of this book. What boy isn't going to want to pick up a book that has a wolf sitting in school with two pencils up his nose on the front cover? :)
The idea of the story is also very humorous and off-beat! In Rufus's world, "correct" wolf behavior is huffing and puffing, wearing disguises, acting (like grandmothers or sheep), and learning sheep language. But Rufus likes to howl at the moon, turn over rocks, roll in the grass, and run like the wind. So his parents send him to Big Bad Wolf Academy where he can learn "correct" wolf behavior to be a big bad wolf.
This would be fun paired with some traditional folktales that include wolf characters such as The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. And it could also spark some discussion about real wolf behavior compared to storybook wolf behavior.
The idea of the story is also very humorous and off-beat! In Rufus's world, "correct" wolf behavior is huffing and puffing, wearing disguises, acting (like grandmothers or sheep), and learning sheep language. But Rufus likes to howl at the moon, turn over rocks, roll in the grass, and run like the wind. So his parents send him to Big Bad Wolf Academy where he can learn "correct" wolf behavior to be a big bad wolf.
This would be fun paired with some traditional folktales that include wolf characters such as The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood. And it could also spark some discussion about real wolf behavior compared to storybook wolf behavior.
December 1, 2008
This is a very fun book! It's very humerous and excting. It would be a great book to read after reading The Three Little Pigs because of some events that happen in this book, for example, at school they teach the wolves how to huff and puff. The wolves have to take classes just like regular students, so if you read this in your class, the students will have prior knowledge, and will be able to relate.
The main wolf in this story, Rufus, is not as good as other students in most subjects, however, at the end of the book, he discovers that he has a talent that no one else has.
The main wolf in this story, Rufus, is not as good as other students in most subjects, however, at the end of the book, he discovers that he has a talent that no one else has.
October 7, 2008
Big Bad Wolves at School, by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Brad Sneed, published by Simon and Schuster Books, date published: 2007.
This book is a cute fantasy book about wolves. There is a wolf named Rufus who likes to run around and play all day long and he does not act like a wolf. His parents do not think that Rufus will be able to survive in the real harsh world, so they decide to send him to the "Big Bad Wolf Academy." At this academy, wolves are trained how to act like wolves. They first practice huffing and puffing. Then, they practice disguising themselves as people. Next, the wolves are to learn how to speak like other animals. While all the other wolves are studying hard for their finals in all of these areas, Rufus wants to be outside playing and having fun with his friends. Rufus was not ready for any of his tests and on his first day he encounters hunters. The class is supposed to defend themselves and make the hunters run away. The rest of the class tries all of the techniques they learned at the academy and they fail to scare away the hunters. Rufus, however, howls at the hunters and starts to frighten them. The rest of the class joins in and scares the hunters away. Rufus proved he could survive in the real world and he graduated with a special medal. At the end all of the wolves play together outside and they dress up once a year for Halloween.
My first activity would be to have the students review the story and work with a partner to list the different stories that could be tied to this book. For example, the picture of the pigs and the practicing of huffing and puffing comes from the story of the three little pigs. The students will need to go through this story and make as many connections to others stories as they can. The students will then share these observations with the class. The class as a whole will make a chart at the front of the classroom about the different stories that they found were connected to this book.
My second activity will be to have the students create a movie trailer for this book. The student will need to either draw or write what will happen in each scene of the trailer. The students will be expected to share these with the class and hand them into the teacher.
The teacher could relate this book to science and the study of wolves and there habitats. The teacher could also relate this subject to the general rules of the classroom.
The teacher will be able to use this book to connect it to other texts that are written and referred to in this book. The teacher could also address the student's artistic response by having the students create a movie trailer for this book by drawing the scenes.
This book is a cute fantasy book about wolves. There is a wolf named Rufus who likes to run around and play all day long and he does not act like a wolf. His parents do not think that Rufus will be able to survive in the real harsh world, so they decide to send him to the "Big Bad Wolf Academy." At this academy, wolves are trained how to act like wolves. They first practice huffing and puffing. Then, they practice disguising themselves as people. Next, the wolves are to learn how to speak like other animals. While all the other wolves are studying hard for their finals in all of these areas, Rufus wants to be outside playing and having fun with his friends. Rufus was not ready for any of his tests and on his first day he encounters hunters. The class is supposed to defend themselves and make the hunters run away. The rest of the class tries all of the techniques they learned at the academy and they fail to scare away the hunters. Rufus, however, howls at the hunters and starts to frighten them. The rest of the class joins in and scares the hunters away. Rufus proved he could survive in the real world and he graduated with a special medal. At the end all of the wolves play together outside and they dress up once a year for Halloween.
My first activity would be to have the students review the story and work with a partner to list the different stories that could be tied to this book. For example, the picture of the pigs and the practicing of huffing and puffing comes from the story of the three little pigs. The students will need to go through this story and make as many connections to others stories as they can. The students will then share these observations with the class. The class as a whole will make a chart at the front of the classroom about the different stories that they found were connected to this book.
My second activity will be to have the students create a movie trailer for this book. The student will need to either draw or write what will happen in each scene of the trailer. The students will be expected to share these with the class and hand them into the teacher.
The teacher could relate this book to science and the study of wolves and there habitats. The teacher could also relate this subject to the general rules of the classroom.
The teacher will be able to use this book to connect it to other texts that are written and referred to in this book. The teacher could also address the student's artistic response by having the students create a movie trailer for this book by drawing the scenes.
May 5, 2015
Personal Reaction: I really enjoyed Big Bad Wolves at School by Stephen Kerensky. I am definitely a person that finds joy in a picture book that can make me laugh, and this definitely did so. Any book that follows a animal in situations similar to students in real life can make students stay engaged throughout the whole book yet still find a way to be amused and enjoy it. The illustrations were another part that made this book standout to me. They did a nice job going off what the text said and were very detailed on each page, which makes each page mean something, which I find to be something important in children's literature.
Read Aloud: This book could be used in the classroom in a few different ways. First, in a science class when you are learning about animals and their habitats, this book could be a funny way to let of steam after a lesson or assessment they had taken. Making connections between animals in their world and animals in this book. This book could also be a tool used in a lesson surrounding fairy tales. The Big Bad Wolf is a term commonly used in fairy tales, and this book could be a way to show spin-offs from traditional tales and how they can change so much and so constantly.
Independent Reading: Being that this book would be classified as a transitional book, this could be a good tool to use with a student struggling with the appropriate reading level they should be at. In front of a whole classroom, students get nervous and don't feel like they can speak up when they are having trouble. With this transitional book you can see where students are struggling and what they are struggling with. There are pretty easy sentence, but some more complicated than others and some words that could fit either way too. If a students breezes through this book, you know they are ready to move on to higher reading. If they struggle with higher vocabulary or sentence structure, this book could help you identify what needs more help and what the student has mastered.
Read Aloud: This book could be used in the classroom in a few different ways. First, in a science class when you are learning about animals and their habitats, this book could be a funny way to let of steam after a lesson or assessment they had taken. Making connections between animals in their world and animals in this book. This book could also be a tool used in a lesson surrounding fairy tales. The Big Bad Wolf is a term commonly used in fairy tales, and this book could be a way to show spin-offs from traditional tales and how they can change so much and so constantly.
Independent Reading: Being that this book would be classified as a transitional book, this could be a good tool to use with a student struggling with the appropriate reading level they should be at. In front of a whole classroom, students get nervous and don't feel like they can speak up when they are having trouble. With this transitional book you can see where students are struggling and what they are struggling with. There are pretty easy sentence, but some more complicated than others and some words that could fit either way too. If a students breezes through this book, you know they are ready to move on to higher reading. If they struggle with higher vocabulary or sentence structure, this book could help you identify what needs more help and what the student has mastered.
February 11, 2015
Personal Reaction - I like this book because of characteristics of the main character, Rufus. He seems not to be a good student in the school because he does not show interest in the classes, so he doesn't follow teachers's instructions well. However, he has positive thoughts and knows how to react in case of facing serious problems. This character reminds me of what's the meaning of "good student".
Purposes-
Read aloud to K-2 children for several potential purposes:
- Rufus showed leadership when hunters were coming and finally overcame the situation with other friends. This would encourage children to have leadership and be brave in dealing with hard situations,
- This book would make children think about what's the meaning of learning. Learning is not just from sitting at desk, but from experiences in reality.
- The illustrations show the active movements of Rufus and his feelings well. It will help children to concentrate on the story
- Words and phrases are varied depending on which class Rufus attends. Children can learn specific words used in different subjects.
Purposes-
Read aloud to K-2 children for several potential purposes:
- Rufus showed leadership when hunters were coming and finally overcame the situation with other friends. This would encourage children to have leadership and be brave in dealing with hard situations,
- This book would make children think about what's the meaning of learning. Learning is not just from sitting at desk, but from experiences in reality.
- The illustrations show the active movements of Rufus and his feelings well. It will help children to concentrate on the story
- Words and phrases are varied depending on which class Rufus attends. Children can learn specific words used in different subjects.
December 4, 2007
This is a tale of a wolf who doesn't like to act like the other wolves do. He prefers to howl at the moon and chase things as opposed to his peers who act like fairy tale wolves, dressing up as grandma or blowing houses down. This book presents an interesting perspective of the life of "wolves". It was a cute way to expand on the character of the big,bad wolf from fairy tales. The pictures are fantastic and very comical. This book would be helpful with a unit on fairy tales so children could compare this expansion to the wolves they see in other tales.
August 13, 2007
Did you ever wonder how the Big Bad Wolf learned so many sneaky tricks? He went to Big Bad Wolf Academy, of course! But Rufus the wolf doesn't like going to school and learning how to blow down houses and dress up like a granny. He would rather roll in the grass and run around and howl. The other wolves call Rufus old-fashioned, but when a group of hunters comes to the forest, only Rufus knows what to do! This is a really funny book with great illustrations!
March 10, 2008
Rufus the wolf is a true wolf and isn't doing very well in Big Bad Wolf School. Students who struggle in school might empathize with Rufus' feelings and antics and the adventure he has. The illustrations are the funniest part of the book. On thr front cover alone you have Rufus, a teenage gangly wolf who issitting in a school desk with two pencils stuck up his nose. A teacher (wolf) is approaching him with hands on hips. This is one you have to pick up!
April 17, 2012
This book puts a twist on the stereotypes of the bad wolves in fairy tales. It is a humorous tale of one wolf named Rufus. Students will laugh at his antics and understand his frustration in school. This character gives students someone to relate to in school. In order to understand this book the reader must have heard some of the traditional tales like Little Red Riding Hood and some of the unheard of The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf to understand the story.
March 26, 2012
Big Bad wolf school, um ... yeah... If you are a wolf and want to learn how to dress in grandma disguises, work on breathing at the Huff n puff range (Danger high winds). Learn the language of sheep (baa) and how howl at the moon, then Big Bad wolf school is for you... What I would consider a cool 'boy' book but I think both boys and girls will like this book. Rufus is a wolf that isn't quite sure he want's to be in school (like most school kids). Fun book good for a giggle.
February 11, 2015
BIG BAD WOLVES AT SCHOOL, by Stephen Krensky, illustrated by Brad Sneed (picture book)
Opening line: “Rufus was a young wolf who spent his days turning over rocks, rolling in the grass, and running like the wind.” Rufus’ parents send him to the Big Bad Wolf Academy to learn more about being wolf-like. He is not exactly the best student. In the end he saves the day just by being himself. Simon & Schuster 2007
Opening line: “Rufus was a young wolf who spent his days turning over rocks, rolling in the grass, and running like the wind.” Rufus’ parents send him to the Big Bad Wolf Academy to learn more about being wolf-like. He is not exactly the best student. In the end he saves the day just by being himself. Simon & Schuster 2007
December 9, 2011
I really like this book about Rufus, a wolf, that goes to Big Bad Wolf Academy to learn how to huff and puff and other things. Rufus doesn't like going to school at first but as the book progresses he begins to like school and being able to teach others how to have fun. This is a fun book to use in a third or fourth grade classroom.
November 7, 2012
Rufus doesn't fit in at home or at Big Bad Wolf school, either. He'd rather admire butterflies and blow dandelions than skulk and practice disguises. But when danger arrives at the academy, his quick thinking saves the day.
Pretty standard "misfit saves everyone" kind of story, but the illustrations are absolutely adorable. Read it to 1st grade today, and they thought it was funny.
Pretty standard "misfit saves everyone" kind of story, but the illustrations are absolutely adorable. Read it to 1st grade today, and they thought it was funny.
July 3, 2011
This is a great book. Rufus the wolf is the main character, and all he is interested in is being himself. Fortunately, the story shows how being yourself is a great asset. My son and I enjoyed the story and the illustrations are great. It has vivid colors and details.
February 26, 2015
Adorable book about being yourself and playing to your strengths. Seeing the wolf side and how wolves prepare for the three little pigs is great. I felt bad for Rufus but when he became the hero, I knew he was ell deserving. It does not come easy.
September 6, 2015
This was a fun book about a misfit wolf trying to fit in at the Big Bad Wolf Academy. The book has a fun message about being yourself, while playing around with fairy tales that we've all grown up with.
August 3, 2017
The fantastic, laugh-out-loud illustrations are the highlight in this Ferdinand the Bull-type story.
I'm not a fan of the "big bad wolf" trope, but if you're going to use it, turn it on its head and make it super goofy, in the manner of this book.
I'm not a fan of the "big bad wolf" trope, but if you're going to use it, turn it on its head and make it super goofy, in the manner of this book.
October 7, 2008
Thought the plot was lacking....I don't know a little something. Don't read out loud if you don't like the way you sound when you try to howl like a wolf. I sound ridiculous.
October 15, 2008
Very clever book. References to fairy tales through the illustrations add to the fun of the story.
February 28, 2009
what a cleverly written book from the wolf's point of view! how rufus tries to learn a foreign language (sheep) to saving the day in this cute tale.....
August 8, 2009
AR 2.9 -- 0.5
A wolf that beats to his own drum at school. Fun book to read and to look at the illustrations.
A wolf that beats to his own drum at school. Fun book to read and to look at the illustrations.
August 11, 2009
Very funny. Boys will really like this one.
September 13, 2009
i love this is awesome book.After i was a wolf in a play.
October 22, 2010
I don't know what it is about wolves. I just can't get enough of them. Cute book. Love the pencils up the nose bit.
February 15, 2011
Was not looking forward to this one--but quite cute!
June 22, 2011
Fun and funny, a book about not fitting in, but still managing to save the day.
September 13, 2012
What a fun story! The illustrations were fantastic! All in all a really cute book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews