When a Wolf Is Hungry

by Christine Naumann-Villemin, Kris di Giacomo (Illustrator)

ALA Youth Media   2018 Batchelder Honor Award Winner

A darkly humorous tale with a twist ending

Edmond Bigsnout, lone wolf that he is, loves his solitary cabin in the woods. But lately he's been craving urban rabbit for dinner, so he travels into the city to catch one. Unfortunately, the rabbit has a lot of neighbors—who mistake Edmond for a kind and helpful resident! Perhaps Edmond can become a good neighbor, despite his bad intentions.

Readers of all ages will devour this story about a wolf who decides that if you can't eat them, join them. Kirkus  Best Picture Books of 2017
Cooperative Children's Book Center’s "CCBC Choices 2018”

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Wolves, Food, Fiction

34 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Lucy Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! We particularly loved the illustrations. Although it was perhaps a little too young for my six year old, he found the Wolf very amusing, and the whole premise was a nice take on the classic fairytale. The ending made us chuckle too!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edmond Bigsnout, lone wolf, has decided he wants to eat a city bunny, so there he goes. But it is not easy to reach the bunny with so many nice and polite neighbors who stop him to give him a warm welcome, and to borrow the tools he needs for the hunt and meal preparation. Hungry and tired Edmond finally considers a different option, giving this story the best ending possible.

The first thing I liked about this book were the pictures, simple but with so much body language. The second thing I liked was Edmond himself, trying so hard to be bad, and failing. And then the message, positive and more complex than it seems at first. All the neighbors who stop Edmond are not only protecting Max the bunny, but also themselves (many of them qualify as dinner for a wolf). Edmond was so focused in find a way of finding, cooking and eating the city bunny, that when he finds himself in his own welcome party he is incredibly surprised, even more because the animals asking him for his stuff have made him part of the organization and part of the community. And that is exactly what changes Edmond's mind.

I received this copy in an Early Reviewers Giveaway in LibraryThing.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I sort of enjoyed the first half as the wolf kept bicycling between his forest home and the urban apartment building where friendly neighbors keep impeding his hunt of a juicy rabbit tenant. It has a Wile E. Coyote vibe. But the ending is abrupt and has a lifestyle conversion for him that just doesn't work for me.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story that shows the Big Bad Wolf as a lonely, rather nice guy. Edmond Bigsnout lives alone in the woods. When he gets hungry, he heads off to the city to find a fancy rabbit dinner. When he arrives at an apartment house, he sees that a small rabbit lives inside. The problem is that everytime he heads up in the elevator, he meets a resident who asks to borrow whatever implement he has with him like a pot, a chainsaw, a BBQ and more. When he finally arrives at the rabbit's door, he finds a sign that says he is up on the roof. Once he gets up there, all the apartment dwellers are having a party and he is invited. He gives up eating meat and becomes a vegetarian and moves into the apartment house. This is a short, quirky, read, that shows what friendship really is. This is a cute book for primary classrooms as a read aloud with lots of predictions and inferencing possibilities. The illustrations are great. They are not detailed, but they show expression and add to the story. They are large and colourful and will definitely get the attention of children. A good addition to a classroom or school library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our eponymous lupine hero heads to the city in this engaging French picture-book, intent on eating a sleek, urban bunny. Finding his way to a swanky apartment building, Edmond Bigsnout imagines that he has found just what he is looking for. But every time he gets in the elevator, carrying some means of killing and/or cooking his prey - a knife, a grill, etc. - a friendly creature mistakes him for the new neighbor, and asks to borrow the tool he is holding. Eventually Edmond finds himself on the building's roof, where a party to welcome him to the community is in full swing. Will he persist in his plot to eat the bunny, in the face of all this friendliness...?

Although I would imagine that a certain kind of sharply amusing picture-book would answer that question with a yes - think titles like Lucy Ruth Cummin's entertaining A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals - author Christine Naumann-Villemin delivers a far kinder, happier conclusion in When a Wolf Is Hungry, originally published in France as Quand le loup a faim. Edmond is absorbed into the community of animals, finds his lady-love, moves to the city, and changes his diet - in short, all ends happily and peacefully. The accompanying artwork by Kris Di Giacomo is just as satisfying (assuming one finds happy endings satisfying), with stylized, elongated figures that manage to convey quite a bit of emotion. Recommended to anyone who enjoys somewhat quirky picture-books, or is looking specifically for (animal) stories about becoming a vegetarian.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is a clever twist on a "bad wolf" story. (I think that it would be over a preschooler's head).

The illustratios are clever.

[Dhaara S · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a Wolf Is Hungry is a 2018 Batchelder Honors award book. It was translated by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers from French to English. The book stars Mr. Edmund Bigsnout, a lone wolf. He loves his solitary cabin in the woods. He is on a quest for a city rabbit for dinner. Edmund runs into many obstacles on his quest. Many of the bunny's neighbors thwart his plan. This book is a great book for primary students. I think the lesson of persistence would be great to teach with this book. Edmund, despite all the obstacles that got in his way, he still kept trying to achieve his goal. The book also might serve a good lesson on kindness. Edmund kept giving all the animals that asked for something what they wanted. He helped them out even though he did not have to. At the end of the book, all the animals in the apartment complex throw Edmund a party to welcome him including the very bunny he was trying to eat. I listened to this book online.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book on the Batchelder Honor Awards list, as the winner from 2018. I'm a sucker for books about my favorite animal, wolves, and I was intrigued by the cover art, with the polka dot carpet and the suited wolves arms. I was not disappointed by this book. A translation by French author Christine Naumann-Villemin, the book holds onto its quirky prose, while maintaining a message that translates well to all audiences. It keeps some of its European flare, with the apartment elevator being labeled a lift, and the dijon mustard Edmond brings to season his meal. Beyond that, there is nothing that sets this picture book apart as uniquely French.

Young children will love reading about the exploits of loveable wolf anti-hero Edmond Bigsnout, as his attempts to find his meal are constantly thwarted by kind-hearted apartment dwellers. With intricate and beautiful images on each page, humorous depictions of its main animal characters, and with a message that shows even lone wolves can find their pack in the most unlikely of places, and that interactions with kind strangers can change anyone's life.

[Megan G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book on the ALA's list of award winners. It has beautiful illustrations of pen and watercolor. This 2018 Batchelder Award winner, originally published in France, begins with a typical big bad wolf who is hungry for some city rabbit. As he makes his way up an elevator to the rabbit’s apartment, he meets various neighbors who eventually help our wolfy hero rethink his carnivorous ways. His lesson? If you can’t eat ‘em, join ‘em!

While the story had a cute storyline and perhaps a hint of French influence (he rides his bike from the countryside to the city-we don't do that much in the US!), it really could be set anywhere in the world. The characters are animals, so could be of any nationality at all too. Reading it through an American lens, one would expect the Wolf to be more of a "Big, bad, wolf " character, instead of one who ends up deciding to become a vegetarian. This story would be a good addition to a fairy tale unit comparing/contrasting the wolf character across texts.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you know that I love pretty good picture books?

Do you know that I love, love good ones?

Can you guess how I feel about the really excellent ones?

This book is really excellent. I want to take it to my primary school library and read it the first day of school. It's everything I look for in a picture book: strong characters, humor, drama, and bite. (That's bite of all sorts. Hint. Hint.)

Delightful. Can't wait to share.

[Jessica Gretka · Rating 5 out of 5]

We loved the illustrations and the plot was funny .... mom enjoyed the opportunity to give each character a fun voice :)

[Edyta Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a Wolf is Hungry, written by Christine Naumann-Villemin, illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo, and translated from the French by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers received the Batchelder Honor Award in 2018. It also received Kirkus Best Picture Books award in 2017 and was recognized by Cooperative Children's Book Center’s (CCBC Choices) in 2018.
I found YouTube read aloud at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FeCp... and I ordered a hard copy for my classroom library.
This picture book has a different take on a very familiar character of a hungry wolf. Edmond lives in the woods, but has a taste for a city bunny. He finds it impossible to just capture and eat the rabbit with all of the rabbit’s polite neighbors living in the same building. The story has interesting characters (eg. “Miss Eye Stopper”) and a bit of dark humor (“I will get my chainsaw. Sliced rabbit is delicious too”, “The skunk was so pleased that he let out some air.”). It also has a twist ending. Edmond can’t work against all of the building friendly neighbors. He has no choice but to become one of them.
There is nothing wrong with changing your preferences and your lifestyle if the ultimate reward is gaining friends and happiness.
This is a great story for students in primary and even intermediate elementary grades.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'When a Wolf is Hungry' by Christine Naumann-Villemin with illustrations by Kris Di Giacomo is about a hungry wolf and how his plans keep getting foiled.

Edmond Bigsnout is a wolf living alone in the woods. He is also hungry for rabbit, but a specific kind of rabbit that lives in the city. When he finds his quarry living in an apartment, he thinks he's in luck. Instead, he forgets his knife in the elevator. What follows next are a series of trips home to get another in a series of implements, all of which get borrowed by inhabitants of the building. How it ends, is up to you to find out.

It's a bit dark for a picture book, but I quite liked it. Edmond's constant attempts to murder the bunny with different implements seem to get lamer and lamer, but I think that adds to the humor. Apparently, no one told Edmond he could use his teeth and claws. The ending is cute and clever as are the illustrations.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Wm. B. Eerdman's Publishing Company and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[Brandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this book i chose a text to text connection. The books arent exactly the same however, i would compare this story to the one about the three little pigs. In this book a wolf tries to catch a bunny to eat because he is very hungry so he tries to bring many different items with him to get the bunny but ends up lending those items to other people. So he keeps having to go back home and get something else to help him catch the bunny. However, in the end he gets invited to the roof to eat with all of the people who borrowed from him and he became a vegetarian wolf. Now the connection to the three little pigs for me is that the wolf kept trying to get the pigs by huffing and puffing and blowing their house down until the last house that was made of brick and he couldnt get to the pigs. So in the end for both of the stories the wolf did not end up eating them.

[Martin Bensch]

Fantastiskt rolig högläsning!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that really makes you think. What DOES it take to change someone’s heart?

[Urbandale Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the description says, "A darkly humorous tale with a twist ending" and, boy, was it! At first I thought this was an interpretation of Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs. I was pleasantly surprised. Wolf lives in the country and craves city rabbit. When he heads to the city to find his dinner, it proves to be a bit more of a challenge.

[Tracy Poff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is also published, with images, on my blog.

I've received a lovely children's book, today: When a Wolf is Hungry, written by Christine Naumann-Villemin and illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo. It opens:

One Sunday morning, Edmond Bigsnout, lone wolf, left his home in the woods with a great big knife in his paw.

Edmond had a hankering for some rabbit.

Not just any ordinary cottontail, though. What he craved was a grain-fed, silky-haired rabbit, one with just a hint of sweetness. A city bunny.

Edmond finds an apartment building where a likely meal lives, but forgets his knife in the elevator (where it's found by another resident of the building, who was in need of a knife). No matter, he thinks, and returns to his home, this time retrieving a chainsaw. But when he gets back to the apartment building, he encounters a bear who mistakes him for a new tenant, and just so happens to need a chainsaw. Edmond lends the bear his chainsaw and returns home for yet another tool... and so it goes.

Eventually, Edmond has provided all the necessary tools for a rooftop party. If you can't beat them, join them, so Edmond moves to the city and becomes a vegetarian--and president of the Good Neighbor Association.

When a Wolf is Hungry a a fun little story. I think I've usually enjoyed stories with wolves--Walter the Wolf by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, or The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, for example--I wonder if there's some connection? The art is very nice (you can see some more samples of it on the artist's web site)--it reminds me of I Want My Hat Back, a bit--and the story is satisfying.

When a Wolf is Hungry was originally published in France in 2011, and will be published in English by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers on 2017-08-07. It is recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for a review.

[Jessica Stransky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book on the association for library service to children's website for winning the Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Title in 2018 and was also a Notable Children's book the same year. I checked out the physical book from my local library. The story is about a hungry wolf (Edmond Bigsnout) trying to eat a rabbit, but being stopped by multiple "neighbors".
The onomatopoeia and different fonts in different sizes, along with the illustrations made this book a fun and engaging read. I would recommend it for lower levels of elementary especially for a read aloud. I think vocabulary like "likety-split" and "drat" would be better heard aloud by an animated teacher voice rather than students reading it in their heads. I believe the theme is also portrayed a lot through the images and would not recommend for an audio only experience.
The original language is French, but in the translation and illustrations, I didn't foresee any obstacles in comprehension or confusion with language or culture.

[Keya B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this text after searching the list of books that received the Batchelder Award. I initially got the book as an ebook, but later got a physical copy from the library. The text has some great words that are useful to teach students tier 2 vocabulary. The text was more effective for me with a physical copy. I was able to make connections with the plot by seeing the illustrations. I was not expecting the text to end with with such a twist that seemed abrupt. I am still wondering what I missed at the end.

[Ryan Cinfel]

Text-to-Text
- How have wolves typically been shown to be "villians" in books. What other books have you read with a wolf?
- What other books use personification, such as this one? How does it help the story?

Text-to-Self
- Have you ever had a plan, and people around you keep ruining your plans? How does this compare to the characters in the story?

Text-to-World
- How could we use the animals in the story to create our own food chain or web? Which animals from the story could actually live near one another, and which would be in a predator/prey type relationship?

[Bisma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edmond Bigsnout the wolf lives in a cabin alone. One day he has a craving for a city rabbit. So he makes his way down to the city to building. He comes to meet many of buildings residents. They are nothing less than needy. From his knife to his grill everything gets borrowed. Eventually he finds his way to the rabbit but it is not what you would expect! Read to find out! This book has great detailed pictures. It is humorous. It would be good for 1st-2nd grade read alouds. I kept thinking of the Three Little pigs while reading this so it would be great to compare and contrast the two books. Listening to it off YouTube was a great option. It is the winner of the ALA Youth Media awards. I found the book on Kirkus reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a little macabre for a children's book, listing all the ways to catch and kill a rabbit! Admittedly there is a nice twist at the end, where the wolf decides he is now vegetarian, but I feel this will be completely lost on young children, who perhaps won't understand the significance of this. It's not a bad story per se, but I didn't find it do be all that child friendly. As for the layout and imagery, I found the squared font a little tricky to read, and there was a great deal of text in relation to very simple and scant images; I can imagine that young ones would get a little bored waiting for adults to finish reading the text, as there's not much to look at.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another unlikely story about a predator becoming vegetarian, but the story is humorous; each object the wolf brings with him to help him turn a rabbit into a meal is borrowed by another animal. In the end, everyone ends up on the roof, with the wolf's belongings, having a big vegetarian party. The mixed media illustrations match the humor in the text.

[Pammycats · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a Wolf is Hungry
By: Christine Neumann-Villemin
Illustrated By: Kris Di Giacomo

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Kids will love this clever twist on the traditional "big, bad wolf" story. If your young person is attracted to quirky, off-kilter stories like, "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs", then this book is for them.

Plot:
Edmond Bigsnout is a lone wolf living in the woods who gets a hankering for city rabbit (grain-fed, silky-haired, slightly sweet). This sounded like a sophisticated foody getting descriptive about their grain-fed beef. Mr. Bigsnout even looks the part in a very dashing tuxedo. He hops on his bike and heads to the big city in search of bunny delicacies. Conveniently, he finds an apartment buzzer labeled with the name, "Max Omotose, miniature rabbit". Interestingly, when I looked up the name on-line (it sounded too specific and I was sure it meant something) I found the term, "myxomatose". This is a rabbit disease which kills its victims within 14 days. I don't suggest looking up pictures (as I did). Too sad.

Edmond comes to the the city prepared with a knife. When he enters the apartment complex, murder weapon in paw, the residents mistake him for a friendly (non-murderous) new neighbor. They keep finding innocent uses for his weapons and poor Edmond keeps bicycling back to the woods for new implements of death. Finally, he arrives on the building roof carrying a mustard pot determined to just eat the bunny. To his surprise, all the neighbors (including Max) are up there having a party. "Please join us," says the nattily dressed bunny, "we won't eat you." The final scenes shows the Bigsnout home in the country for sale. We see the happily vegetarian Edmond ensconced in an apartment in Max's building.

Do not be alarmed by the grocery list of murder weapons. Kids love this sort of thing. The point of the book is not "Murder 101". The author is showing kids the power of kindness. Even the big, bad wolf can change and learn to be good. We all can change.

Illustrations:
The beautiful illustrations add so much to this book. The different components are almost like cutouts. There are all sorts of great textures on each page. For example, the page where the turkey finds the knife has a diamond pattern smeared on the floor, sunburst pattern on her dress, a leathery feel to the jacket, shiny red pumps, and some sort of roughness in the background. Such a wonderful view for the eye. Also, I love the artist's use of blank space. The wolf's eye is just a cut out in his head but as you read the book, his eyes show so much emotion. I loved that. When Edmond arrives at the apartment building, we see this wolf standing in front of the building (really just a brownish slab) wth a balcony. We see all this blank space which cements his lone wolf status, his distance from the others. Another scene shows Edmond descending stairs. The picture is just a line drawing of stairs with the wolf. Somehow those lines look like a saggy stairwell in an old building. The steps seem to compress as Edmond walks.

Conclusion:
This book was pure pleasure for me. It's an ode to the power of kindness and our ability to change. I loved it and your kids will too.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Edmond Bigsnout, a “lone wolf” who “had a hankering for some rabbit.” He didn’t want any rabbit though; he craved a “city bunny.” Off he goes on his bicycle to the city, stopping at an apartment building where he sees that a bunny lives on the 5th floor.

But every time he takes the elevator to the 5th floor, he encounters some new (animal) resident who asks to borrow the particular “weapon” he has brought to do in the bunny. He can't refuse, or he will give away what he is doing.

After each unsuccessful attempt to ride the elevator, the wolf has to return home to get a new weapon to use on the bunny.

By the time the wolf finally gets to the rabbit’s apartment, he sees a sign: “I’m on the roof.” He goes up there, and finds all the other animals up there, having a party. They recognize him from the elevator trips and welcome him as their new neighbor. They invite him to join them, assuring him, “Don’t be shy, we won’t eat you!”

At the end, we see a sign on the wolf’s former house in the woods: “Edmond Bigsnout, Vegetarian Wolf, has moved to the city.” The last panel shows the wolf’s new calling card: Mr. Edmond Bigsnout, Vegetarian Wolf, President of the Good neighbor Association.”

The vivid illustrations by Kris Di Giacomo are delightful and full of visual humor. She personifies the animals in the story in a way that clearly shows their emotions and makes them more complex and therefore more relatable.

Evaluation: This book is a riot, and will be entertaining on different levels for adults and kids. Adults will enjoy the sly references to the board game Clue and to bumbling Inspector Clouseau. Kids will love the humor and the happy ending. All will be pleased by the lessons imparted about the advantages of neighborliness and working together compared to a "lone wolf" approach to life.

[Stephanie Tiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

One bright, clear Sunday morning, Edmund Bigsnout, love wolf, found himself very, very hungry. Hungry for a city bunny. So, Edmond Bigsnout grabbed a knife from his kitchen, hopped on his bike, and headed for the city in search of the perfect city bunny.
Edmond Bigsnout is the classic, and classy, hungry wolf on the prowl for a big, juicy bunny to have for lunch. As with most stories featuring a wolf on the hunt, Edmond must face many obstacles to obtain his goal.
In the city, Edmond finds the perfect bunny, but he encounters multiple obstacles in the form of the bunny’s neighbors and must start over from the beginning in another attempt.
I found this book to be interesting and my children seem to enjoy it well enough. Originally published in France, therefore I am also assuming it was published in French, it is difficult to tell that it is a translation. Even the words in the illustrations have been converted to English.
The illustrations are quaint and the colors drab, creating the mood of the wolf on the hunt. Small bits of lively color throughout, foreshadow the happy ending to come.
Personally, this will not become a favorite read of mine, simply because, to me, there seems to have been something lost in translation. My children do not feel the same way, and I am sure there are many who agree with them.
I would recommend this book to children who enjoy “The Three Little Pigs” and “Little Red Riding Hood.”
I received my copy of this book from LibraryThing.com for the sole purpose of providing an honest review. I am currently seeking permission from the publishers to use an image of the cover artwork above.
stephanietiner.weebly.com

[Sissy Lu {Book Savvy Reviews} · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Der Struwwelpeter , a German copy that my friend had loaned me, it makes any of those books that may seem a little harsh for children look like Sesame Street.

In this book the Big Bad Wolf has a hankering for a city rabbit, so he begins his wily coyote plan to get just that. Yes, he wants to eat the rabbit and not sit down to drink tea with him, because the last time I checked wolves did eat meat. While this may come shocking to you or children it's prime time to explain what wolves eat - in fact - my 6-year-old son was asking what a wolf actually ate, which I replied yes, honey, they do eat rabbits. They're meat eaters.

Big Bad endures a lot of trials on his way to eat this rabbit, something keeps popping up and delaying him until the end, when everything comes together and he, the lonely wolf, is accepted amongst everyone. He swears off meat because he can't bring himself to eat any of his new friends. This may come across as confusing, but again I don't mind having a discussion period with my children after I read. My 6-year-old is a big book worm and enjoys discussions and questions after reading.

I thought it was a cute read. Plus the illustrations were great.

- Website - Facebook - Instagram -

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Sunday morning and Edmond Bigsnout, a lone wolf living in a remote cabin in the woods, has an urgent craving for an urban rabbit. His tummy is calling for a "grain-fed, silky-rabbit"... mmm... mmmmmm mighty tasty indeed!

He grabs a long knife (that should do the job nicely he thinks), and he hops on his bike to fulfill his desire. He pedals into the local town and parks at an apartment building. As luck has it there is a rabbit resident there named Max Omatose, miniature rabbit. Oh it's going to be a great day!!! Bingo!!! Rabbit à la carte it shall be.

Edmond proceeds to the 5th floor where Max resides to carry out his dastardly deed. On the way a resident mistakes him for a kind neighbour and asks to borrow his knife. Edmond may have treachery in his head but he has politeness in his heart. Willingly he hands the knife over and back he goes home to retrieve a chainsaw... "sliced rabbit is delicious, too!) he mumbles to himself. The pattern is repeated with a rope, a big oversized pot, and his bbq. Edmond just cannot say no to lending out his belongings and gaining the borrowers favour.

The story has a happily ever-after ending for both Edmond and for Max thank goodness. Each find happiness and longevity as they live out life together as friends in the same apartment building. The book's message promotes gentility, friendship, acceptance, vegetarianism, and of course a sprinkling of romance. I really loved it and I am sure your kids will too. Once you share it kids will be hungry for re-reads again and again. Bon appétit mes enfants!

[AlexandraM · Rating 3 out of 5]

Receiving a Mildred L. Batchelder Honor Award in 2018, When a Wolf is Hungry is a slightly dark tale from French author Christine Naumann-Villemin. Originally published in France, this picture books stars a hungry wolf named Edmond Bigsnout, who is on a mission to devour a city bunny living in a tall apartment building.

Edmond Bigsnout's plan for a tasty meal continues to be foiled as he loses his knife, chainsaw, rope and pot to the other animals in the apartment building. It isn't until the end of the story that readers discover where all of Edmond's cooking tools are disappearing to and why. With a twist ending, young readers will enjoy this story from cover to cover. Having watched and listened to the story in a multimedia format, I was able to appreciate the different vocal expressions of the characters. Experiencing this story in a digital format would leave young readers laughing as they follow Edmon Bigsnout's failed conquest.

With themes of community and the value of sharing one's belongings, this international story can provide an opportunity for children to make connections to other stories they know in which characters learn important lessons through their disappointments.

My only concern with this story in terms of sharing it with young readers is the tools Edmond wishes to use to cut, slice and eat the rabbit. While some children may sense the silliness of the story, others may be frightened or disturbed. For this reason, I would recommend this story for children in 2nd grade and older.