The Wolf Effect: A Wilderness Revival Story

by Rosanne Parry, Jennifer Thermes (Illustrator)

"An exploration of the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone Park, and the positive cascade effect they caused on its environment and surroundings"--

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Nature, Nonfiction, History, Science, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

Hey there,
I'm the author of several novels for young readers, including the NY Times best seller, A WOLF CALLED WANDER and A WHALE OF THE WILD. There is information about all my books on my website.
I write because I love the power of story to illuminate and uplift our world. I try to write things that are heartfelt and encourage conversation in families and classrooms. If you wanted to ask me a question or invite me to come speak at your school or library, I'd love that. There's a contact me area on my website

When I'm not writing I try to be an advocate for literacy and libraries whenever I can. I like to read (obviously) and hike and dance and go to the beach and play the harp and write in my treehouse.

Reviews

[Deke Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book detailing the most well known trophic cascade.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. What an engaging combination of rhyming text, facts, maps, and delightful illustrations full of movement and emotion. It’s an abrupt transition from the newspaper spread to the bleak landscape and animals by the dry riverbed and why it was because of the lack of wolves. The author note at the end clarifies this fact. I’ve already read a few books about wolves so I knew why, kids might not know until this note. Glossary and recent additional resources for kids and adults. Love illustrations and whole layout of the book.

[Victoria Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

And great example of NF picture books done right. Both the illustrations and the text balance facts with storytelling perfectly.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done narrative nonfiction picture book that shows the importance of the wolf species, especially as it relates to Yellowstone National Park. Recommend for older elementary students through high school students studying ecosystems. Story is told through a combination of verse, graphic with speech bubbles and fact boxes on each page.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The trophic cascade created by the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone National Park in the 1990s is the subject of this lovely picture book from author Rosanne Parry and illustrator Jennifer Thermes. The textual element here has three parts: a main narrative in rhyming verse, describing the burgeoning effect of the wolves' return, as they bring the elk population under control and allow biodiversity to return to the ecosystem; informational snippets presented in inset boxes; and a conversation between a coyote and a bear, as they witness the changes wrought by the return of the lupine population. The book closes with a few pages of back matter, including a brief history of wolves in the American West, an artist's note, a glossary, and a list of further resources...

The Wolf Effect: A Wilderness Revival Story is the first picture book I have read from Parry, although I have read and greatly enjoyed two of her children's novels about animals, A Wolf Called Wander and A Whale of the Wild . I thought that the choice to have various different narrative strands here was an interesting one, and effectively conveyed a number of different things at once: the general story and a sense of wonder through the poetic main text, additional information through the various snippets, and an amusing editorial presentation through the conversation between the bear and coyote, as the former assures the latter his fears are unfounded. The accompanying artwork is colorful and engaging. I don't think the visuals here are quite up to the standard of some of my favorites in this vein—thinking here of artists like Jason Chin—so I thought it was interesting that Thermes stated in her note that she preferences capturing the feeling of a picture book, rather than technical perfection. In any case, this is one I would recommend to young animals and nature lovers, and particularly to wolf lovers. I would also recommend it for lessons on ecological interdependence, and the role of keystone species in maintaining the health of an ecosystem.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was established. The original human inhabitants were driven out and between 1914 and 1925, the wolves were killed or driven away. This seriously damaged the Yellowstone ecosystem which the book illustrates. For example, bringing wolves back to Yellowstone helped the trees grow back. Why? Without their natural predator (the wolf) the elk would converge on the streams, munching on the saplings, which impacted the number of trees that could grow. But after wolves were reintroduced, the elk would be chased away from the streams more often. This wolf effect will help the Yellowstone ecosystem adapt to climate change more easily.

The layout of this book is unique! There is rhyming text which tells the story in an almost cumulative fashion. And there are also graphic novel panels which provide a different perspective of the story. Plus there is often a small box that provides additional scientific information. The author includes a note at the end that explains the history of the wolves in North America and how they were removed from Yellowstone and how that impacted the area's ecosystem. So eventually the wolves have been reintroduced. The illustrator also provides a brief note. And there is a glossary and a resource list.

Arrooooooo! Be sure to peek under the dust jacket. The cover of the book is different.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through a building rhyming poem and panels of conversation between a coyote and bear, Parry introduces readers to the history of wolves in Yellowstone National Park. She explains how the wolves were removed from the park, the ecological fallout, and the ripple effects in the environment when wolves were reintroduced. There’s further information in the author’s note in the back of the book as well as a hide and seek challenge.

This was such a creative way to teach kids about how removing wolves from Yellowstone negatively impacted the area, and how returning them to the park has created a healthier ecosystem. The building poem creates repetition to help things sink in for kids. The rhyme in the poem is well done, and the graphic novel side panels of the conversation between the coyote and the bear helps clarify things so kids can more easily understand what all is going on. A fantastic animal, history, and science read for kids. And it is a fairly quick read too, unlike most of the other books for kids on this topic.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wolf Effect: A Wilderness Revival Story (A Voice of the Wilderness Picture Book) 

by Rosanne Parry (Author), Jennifer Thermes (Illustrator)

Brief summary: Young readers will learn about how the Yellowstone region became a national park and how it changed the humans and animals that inhabited the area. The reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone Park is told through rhyming verse and story panels, demonstrating the positive effect on the environment and surroundings.

Comments: The illustrations were created using watercolor and colored pencil on Arches hot-pressed paper. Nonfiction text features such as maps and labels had me stopping and looking at all of the details.

The back sections are Who is Who?, A Brief History of Wolves in the American West, Artist's Note, Glossary, and Additional Resources.

Rating: 5/5 📗📗📗📗📗

[Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Parry writes a book that gives a great explanation for how wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park.

The illustrations (which are influenced by the graphic novel style without actually being sustained enough to make it a graphic novel) make this accessible to young readers. The details were informative to me as an adult. Many of the details are in text boxes so that young readers can focus on the pictures and move to the text boxes as they get older. (Or an adult in their lives can read the more scientific / technical text boxes).

I have read news headlines about this project, but I got a greater understanding by reading this picture book which sits in the space between picture book and midgrade for me (so maybe 6 year olds to 10 year olds would be that in between age span)?

[A Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the pages in this book contain three parts: rhyming verses, illustrated panels, and facts regarding the topic on that page. In many of the panels, there is a coyote, who seems anxious about wolves returning to the space, talking to a carefree black bear who reassures the coyote. This book attempts to explain to young readers how wolves returning to Yellowstone was good for all involved. For part of the book Parry adds two lines to the verses from the previous page; what begins as two lines eventually becomes twelve lines long! There is too much happening for my liking, honestly. However, I appreciate Parry's note in the back of the book which says, "Gary wolves lived alongside Indigenous North Americans, who held them in great respect. When North America was settled by people from other countries, they brought with them a much different perception of wolves."

[Amy Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating and informative nonfiction picture book opens in the Lamar Valley, where humans have lived for at least eleven thousand years. Author Rosanne Parry chronicles the impact of humans on the region, which became part of Yellowstone National Park when it was created in 1872. In the name of protecting livestock, ranchers and park rangers exterminated all of the park’s wolves by 1924, with devastating ecological consequences. In 1995, several wolf packs from Canada were reintroduced in Yellowstone, which led to a cascade of beneficial changes as balance was restored to the park’s ecosystem, a.k.a., the “wolf effect,” as “the park that was wild became wilder still.” The Wolf Effect is a fantastic choice for readers of all ages with an interest in wildlife!

[SOYAMRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a remarkable story about how first wolves were disdained and hunted until they were almost non-existent in the American West.

Their absence created other negative effects on the environment. Who would have thought such a side-effect was possible? Birds and trees disappeared also. Years later it was decided to reintroduce wolves into Yellowstone National Park which led to the reemergence of other species of wildlife as well as a resurgence of waterways. This is a story of rebirth in the American West all led by bringing wolves back; it is also a cautionary tale about meddling into the affairs of Nature. A glossary and list of additional resources are included.

Highly recommended for school and public libraries for ages 4-8.

M.P.
Retired Library Associate

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

This beautiful book is all about wolves, specifically their effect on being a keystone species in Yellowstone. Don’t know what a keystone species is? Well, this book is for you! The illustrations are gorgeous and the information plentiful but still accessible for elementary and middle school students. I also love that the main information is rhythmic for younger kids while the deeper info more straightforward for the older kiddos. A really great introduction to wolves, endangered species, food webs, environmental stewardship, and, of course, Yellowstone.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

There have been multiple juvenile nonfiction books depicting the environmental benefits that came to Yellowstone Park when wolves were re-introduced. This colorfully-illustrated, lyrical book tells the story in a way that is engaging and understandable to young readers.

In certain parts of the U.S., wolves are vilified and there are politically-motivated drives to exterminate them, often in the most inhumane ways imaginable. Things will never change in future generations without young people having access to the other side of the story, and facts about the good wolves do as part of the ecosystem. This book would make an excellent gift to your local school or public library.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent nonfiction picture book that tells the story of the impact wolves have had on Yellowstone Park. This book is entertaining as well as informative and will be a useful resource to include in units about wolves, endangered species, wildlife conservation and national parks. An inspiring and hopeful picture book!

"Wolves changed the ecosystem of Yellowstone in far-reaching ways. These changes are called a trophic cascade. They will help Yellowstone Park meet the challenges of climate change with greater resilience."

[Ellee Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright date: 2024
Star rating: 5
Award:N/A
Genre: Nonfiction picture book
Summary w/ themes: This book is about the wolves of Yellowstone National Park. It talks about how detrimental it was to the environment the the wolves of Yellowstone were killed, and how since bringing them back the park has flourished. This book has themes of history and science.
Use for future classroom: This would be a good read aloud for a lesson on cause and effect.
Thoughts of book: I enjoyed this book and the way that it was illustrated. it is very informative

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a remarkable story about how first wolves were disdained and hunted until they were almost non-existent in the American West. Their absence created other negative effects on the environment. Who would have thought such a side-effect was possible? Birds and trees disappeared also. Years later it was decided to reintroduce wolves into Yellowstone National Park which led to the reemergence of other species of wildlife as well as a resurgence of waterways. This is a story of rebirth in the American West all led by bringing wolves back.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a history of the wolves of Yellowstone Park and how they were eliminated from the park, only to result in ultimately dire effects on the ecosystem. Read also about how the Park was revived once the wolves were brought back.

With a rhyming poem that continuously builds throughout the book, this was an easy book to read and learn about this amazing piece of history and science of the wolves of Yellowstone Park. There are also helpful fact boxes throughout giving interesting facts as well.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written in cumulative rhyme and complimented with gorgeous illustrations, THE WOLF EFFECT documents the story of how wolves became a key species in Yellowstone and its ability to thrive as an ecosystem. Featuring several layers: conservation, history, keystone species, among others, this book is a well-done, informative, and engaging read-aloud.

[Nancycampbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well executed narrative nonfiction picture book that explains the cascade of events set in motion by the reintroduction of grey wolves to Yellowstone National Park. The fact that both the wolves and the Yellowstone ecosystem are thriving decades after their reintroduction is a miraculous success story.

[Holly Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait to read this to my book club prior to reading A Wolf Called Wander. The rhyming poem builds as the introduction of wolves builds the Yellowstone ecosystem. Brilliant. The inset illustrations add more explanation to the poem in the voices of the bears and coyotes. The large illustrations add much detail to the story. Just wonderful. Loved every page.

[Sarah Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids rated this a 4. I’d say a 3/3.5. The cute little bear and wolf “cartoon” (for lack of a better word) on each page was adorable and I know the kids were attracted to that. As far as the Yellowstone wolf re-entry story, there are other books out there. Not bad, and this one is cute, but not my favorite.

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great informational book for those traveling to Yellowstone this summer.

[Carly Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like three stories in one. I honestly enjoyed this before putting it in my little free library!

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best informational picture books that I've read this year. It is definitely worth picking up!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yellowstone wolf pack in 1995 and how it has brought back the original ecosystem back to the area. I thing the illustrations are amazing and the map it fantastic.

[Lee]

I guess I expected more Science from it. That's probably on me.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit repetitive, but educational.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The rhyming parts and non-rhyming parts made this feel a bit disjointed.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about reintroducing wolves to Yellowstone.