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Wolves
Wolves are more than what they seem.
For centuries people have been afraid of wolves, yet these animals tend to be shy and live peacefully among themselves. Here is information on gray wolves (also called timber wolves) who live in packs that hunt in territories as large as 500 square miles. Pack leaders mate for life, and pack member hunt together, share food, and protect each other. There is also information about the red wolf, and how all wolves are in danger of extinction and need to be protected. Included are four myths and legends, and a list of curious facts.
For centuries people have been afraid of wolves, yet these animals tend to be shy and live peacefully among themselves. Here is information on gray wolves (also called timber wolves) who live in packs that hunt in territories as large as 500 square miles. Pack leaders mate for life, and pack member hunt together, share food, and protect each other. There is also information about the red wolf, and how all wolves are in danger of extinction and need to be protected. Included are four myths and legends, and a list of curious facts.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Gail Gibbons
221 books160 followersFrom gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 31, 2021
We love reading Gail Gibbons books!
November 15, 2019
There are two types of wolves: gray and red. Gray wolves can also be called timber wolves. They can be gray, black, white, or brown based on where they are. 32 kinds have been identified but some are extinct now. Red wolves are a combo of black, gray, and reddish brown. Only one of the 3 red wolves exist today and very few are in the wild.
Some wolves have prints as big as a man's hand.
Gray wolves live in packs made up of 3 to more than 20 wolves. People believe red wolves don't make packs. Wolf pack live in territories up to 500 square miles. They mark their territory with pee that warns other wolves to stay away.
An alpha fights any wolf that tried to take over his pack. He's the tallest in the pack. When he looks other wolves in the eye, they crouch down and tuck their tail between their legs. Sometimes they roll over and lick his face to show he's boss. They protect each other against invaders. The alpha decides when and where to hunt.
It was really sad to see the illustration of wolves hunting. The text said sometimes prey tires and slows down. One wolf attacks and hangs on and others attack. It showed one wolf hanging onto a deer's nose. That's way too graphic, even though there's no blood. I didn't even like seeing it, never mind a kid doing so.
They make different sounds to communicate. A whimper means excitement or restlessness. A snarl means they're threatened. A woof is a warning. A bark means danger. Wolves howl to tell other wolves to stay out of their territory. They also howl to stay in touch with pack members when they're separated. They also howl before a hunt.
They show their teeth when they're angry. When they're scared their ears flatten against head. Wagging tail shows happiness. If just the tip of the tail wags, it could be ready to attack.
Wolves are misunderstood. They're peaceful, shy animals and rarely attack, only if threatened.
They're in danger of extinction and people are protecting them by making it illegal to hunt them, and by raising them in captivity to release in the wild.
Their enemies are other wolves, bears, and humans.
Some can run 40 mph.
A howling pack can be heard up to 10 mi away.
When wolves hunt in the snow they walk single file. They take turns making tracks for the others to walk in.
In America there's no record of a healthy wolf attacking a person.
Some experts believe ancient people learned how to hunt by watching wolf packs hunt.
Wolves are good swimmers but rarely pursue prey in water.
In the wild where life is harder, they live 9-10 years. In captivity up to 17.
The Sioux have a legend of a woman who was lost in a snowstorm. A pack of wolves saved her by letting her stay in the den and bringing her food. They taught her secrets and she went back and taught her tribe and became a powerful magician.
This was just okay, as they all are. I find hers to be really outdated and in need of a new edition. The illustrations are old and not detailed and just not great.
Some wolves have prints as big as a man's hand.
Gray wolves live in packs made up of 3 to more than 20 wolves. People believe red wolves don't make packs. Wolf pack live in territories up to 500 square miles. They mark their territory with pee that warns other wolves to stay away.
An alpha fights any wolf that tried to take over his pack. He's the tallest in the pack. When he looks other wolves in the eye, they crouch down and tuck their tail between their legs. Sometimes they roll over and lick his face to show he's boss. They protect each other against invaders. The alpha decides when and where to hunt.
It was really sad to see the illustration of wolves hunting. The text said sometimes prey tires and slows down. One wolf attacks and hangs on and others attack. It showed one wolf hanging onto a deer's nose. That's way too graphic, even though there's no blood. I didn't even like seeing it, never mind a kid doing so.
They make different sounds to communicate. A whimper means excitement or restlessness. A snarl means they're threatened. A woof is a warning. A bark means danger. Wolves howl to tell other wolves to stay out of their territory. They also howl to stay in touch with pack members when they're separated. They also howl before a hunt.
They show their teeth when they're angry. When they're scared their ears flatten against head. Wagging tail shows happiness. If just the tip of the tail wags, it could be ready to attack.
Wolves are misunderstood. They're peaceful, shy animals and rarely attack, only if threatened.
They're in danger of extinction and people are protecting them by making it illegal to hunt them, and by raising them in captivity to release in the wild.
Their enemies are other wolves, bears, and humans.
Some can run 40 mph.
A howling pack can be heard up to 10 mi away.
When wolves hunt in the snow they walk single file. They take turns making tracks for the others to walk in.
In America there's no record of a healthy wolf attacking a person.
Some experts believe ancient people learned how to hunt by watching wolf packs hunt.
Wolves are good swimmers but rarely pursue prey in water.
In the wild where life is harder, they live 9-10 years. In captivity up to 17.
The Sioux have a legend of a woman who was lost in a snowstorm. A pack of wolves saved her by letting her stay in the den and bringing her food. They taught her secrets and she went back and taught her tribe and became a powerful magician.
This was just okay, as they all are. I find hers to be really outdated and in need of a new edition. The illustrations are old and not detailed and just not great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2022
I listened to the audio of this, as I am a fan of George Guidall, the narrator.
Even for the intended age group, this is a pretty simplistic informational text, and outdated, with some inaccurate information, especially involving the genetics of the Red Wolf, which is an admixture of grey wolf, coyote with other canid strains present.
Even for the intended age group, this is a pretty simplistic informational text, and outdated, with some inaccurate information, especially involving the genetics of the Red Wolf, which is an admixture of grey wolf, coyote with other canid strains present.
October 28, 2025
A picture book introduction to wolves, the types of wolves, common wolf activities, and various other wolf facts.
This is a decent nonfiction read for lower grade readers that pairs large illustrations with a few sentences of information on each page. Gibbons does a good job of breaking things down into terms kids can understand.
This is a decent nonfiction read for lower grade readers that pairs large illustrations with a few sentences of information on each page. Gibbons does a good job of breaking things down into terms kids can understand.
January 9, 2018
I liked how it showed like the emotions of the wolf. I would like this book in general because I have a wolf at home so it's good to know more about him. I liked how it showed the different types and the paw prints of the front and the back. It was definitely an informational text. I in PIE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 30, 2023
Wolves -they hunt in packs, can be many different colors, are members of the dog family, and are losing their habitat. Gibbons describes how they communicate, raise their young, and tells about some of the myths and legends surrounding wolves.
I didn't love the illustrations, they felt - messy. The text was written in very short sentences, reminiscent of a child standing in front of the class giving their report on wolves. So, although it was thorough, it wasn't very interesting.
cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
I didn't love the illustrations, they felt - messy. The text was written in very short sentences, reminiscent of a child standing in front of the class giving their report on wolves. So, although it was thorough, it wasn't very interesting.
cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com
November 5, 2025
Gail Gibbons has provided easy to understand facts and information on wolves. With full page illustrations, there are only a few sentences on each page, making it very approachable for our lower elementary students.
February 22, 2018
Good book with info about wolves.
April 19, 2018
This book was ok, I learned a lot about wolves.
October 7, 2021
Engaging information piece on wolves. Good for Kindergarten to 3rd.
May 31, 2022
For Goodreads Repository
Nonfiction
Nonfiction
December 21, 2022
Updated from 1994 version.
January 9, 2024
Outdated info.
March 27, 2024
An excellent book for elementary kids learning about wolves. Lots of pictures, facts, and maps. Great for a report.
December 16, 2011
This book has so much interesting information. It shows the pawprint of a wolf, the different types of communication it has with other wolves in the pack. It has pictures of what the wolf looks life when it is angry, scared, happy, and ready for attack. This book is filled many different visual representations and a lot of good information about wolves. This is an excellent informational books about wolves.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews