Last Wolf

by Mini Grey

nan

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Environment, Animals, Fiction, Nature, Adventure

32 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2019

About the author

Mini Grey was given her name after being born in a Mini in a car park in Newport, Wales. She studied for an MA in Sequential Illustration at Brighton under the tutelage of John Vernon Lord. Mini also worked as a primary school teacher in Oxford, where she now lives. Her books includeEgg Drop, The Pea and the Princess (shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), Biscuit Bear(winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Gold Award), Traction Man is Here (winner of the Boston Horn Book Award and shortlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon (winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize Bronze Award and winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal), and Traction Man meets Turbodog. Mini Grey is one of the Big Picture's ten Best New Illustrators. (source: https://www.penguin.co.uk/puffin/auth...)

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. A modern day Little Red Riding Hood takes a packed lunch and a pop gun into the woods to hunt the last wolf. After a while she finds a house and in it lives the last wolf, the last lynx and the last bear. They are hungry so she gives them her chicken sandwich and sausage roll and after her visit they help her to find her way home. The little girl decides to plant trees to help the animals.

Although a nice enough story about helping animals I found the resolution a little too simple.

[ліда лісова · Rating 5 out of 5]

virginia wolf і wolfgang wolf вкрали моє серце!

дуже милий і дотепний ретелінг "червоної шапочки", яка йде через ліс (те, що від нього лишилося) замочити останнього вовка. інтеліґентно голодний вовк чаює собі з інтеліґентно голодними останнім лисом і ведмедем. їм замало їжі й місця для життя, вони хижо позирають на дівчинку, але шапочка потрошить свій ланч-бокс і годує тваринок, а ті вертають її додому. затим матір і шапочка саджають деревця, а по-шпигунському вбрані тваринки спостерігають за появою паростків на підвіконні. наступний кадр: ліда розтирає соплі великий ліс, і всім є де погратись і шо зіжрати.

"All you need is a seed,
some earth,
sun, air, water
and...
...for a really wonderful tree,
about a hundred years."

[Ellie L · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern twist on Little Red Riding Hood which has a lot to say about the loss of all things wild. With echoes of the story we know so well, this time, Red stumbles upon a the Last Wolf in the country, alongside the Last Lynx and the Last Bear which are nestled within the cramped remains of the woods. After a moment of uncertainty for Red's safety, Grey manages to tell a funny story but one that ultimately warns of the way that our landscape is changing, as the natural settings of traditional tales appear to be fading into a memory.

[Sue Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could be persuaded to give this book five stars.....it is thoughtful and there is a depth to it and I like that about literature. I have written before about my love of fairy tales and stories based on fairy tale that have a twist or a surprise. Little Red, an adventurous type, (she has a 'popgun'), goes off to catch a wolf. Already you are thinking 'Little Red Riding Hood' and wondering about her sticky end.

She is fabulously illustrated with red boots, a satchel, balaclava type hat and the huge popgun! Mum isn't worried in the least about the wolf catching expedition because none have been seen for years. The woods and forests have largely been built over and the little habitat that is left is being spoiled by bags of litter. There are some great illustrations showing the woods being enclosed by housing developments.

Red has to travel deep into a forest before she stumbles on a tree, with a door, behind which is the home of the last wolf, the last lynx and the last bear. For me, this is where the story becomes interesting, because how often do you read about a lynx? The lynx isn't a familiar fairy tale or picture book character. Yet, he is in the cave, lamenting the loss of the 'good old days' with wolf and bear, when lunch was easy to catch.

It is said that the lynx is a 'silent witness' to all of human and nature's interactions. The lynx is rarely seen and possesses an acute sense of sight, so said to enable it to see through solid objects and penetrate secrets. In many traditions around the world the lynx represents the sense of sight. The perfect symbolism for a story about our environment, the need for trees and green spaces, the need for someone to have the foresight and vision to plan to keep a balance between our growing human need and the animal world.

As for Little Red, she arrives safely home and starts to plant some seeds, 'one day these trees will be amazing'.

[Christina Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Red Riding Hood gets her gun and sets off in search of a wolf. Mum isn't worried becuse wolves haven't been seen in a long time...yet Little Red Riding Hood finds the last wolf, alongside the last bear and the last lynx. It seems that there aren't as many of them about anymore, now that finding food and somewhere to live has become so difficult.
This is such a fantastic book for teaching about the importance of afforestation and making sure that habitats are protected. It does it in such a way that they story will be enjoyed, with the message sinking in subconsciously, rather than in any way which seems preachy. Definitely one I will be sharing with my class!

[Mr Bramley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this little book, but I also think it could have been so much more.

The story is that of a modern day red riding hood, who goes out to find a wolf. But of course there haven’t been wild animals in the last remaining forest for a long time.

Red riding hood finds out that the animals need more trees to survive and wants to help to make the forest better again.

The story is very sweet, a wonderful piece for the classroom with ways to link all get the curriculum, but especially for science or English.

I just wish that the story had developed a little further, and the ending had been a little happier. But I suppose maybe that might be the whole point...

[Francesca Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! There are so many elements that can be discussed. First of all, I loved how the wolf challenged the stereotype of wolves being typically bad. This book could be seen as similar to 'Little Red Riding Hood' as it is about a little girl who wanders off into the woods on her own dressed in a red outfit where she comes across a wolf. There is some fantastic vocabulary for if children were looking at prepositions such as ‘jumped out on’ and ‘slithered through’. There are even some elements of science included such as the little girl learning about growing trees and what is needed to plant them. New vocabulary such as ‘lynx’ could be introduced to children too. Overall, this is a lovely story about a little girl discovering the last wolf in the woods and listening to his story about what the woods used to look like.

[Stephanie Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last wolf is a great book about a girl in the woods that come across the last wolf bear and lynx. The book has bright colourful pictures that compliment the text. The book relates to the children story red riding hood making it familiar but exciting for young pupils to read. The book is funny and full of adventure making it appeal to young children and great to use for a unit of work in the classroom.

[Laura Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A take on the traditional Little Red Riding Hood in modern day, there the wolf (and bear and lynx) are the last of their kind because there is no forest for them to live in anymore. She learns that they have little to eat as their habitat is being ruined but the houses built on the forest land. Red sets about growing trees, and we learn what the trees need to grow. Perfect for exploring the need for conservation of habitats and what we can do to help animals survive alongside a subverted traditional tale.

[Jodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars

[Zoe Hickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book teaches children about deforestation through an adaption of little red riding hood. It shows red going on a journey to find a wolf in a small forest near her. She struggles due to the lack of forest, if you look carefully at the pictures, you can see the difference and lack of trees in the second illustrations.

This book covers a very current issue of deforestation and suggests children growing their own plants.

This could be used to investigate the impacts people are having on the environment. It could be helpful to use a class book as the pictures are engaging which would help the children understand.

[Eleanor Trefusis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Wolf is a re-interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood. The story follows Little Red as she explores the wood and searches for wolves. However, her mother is not worried, as there have not been wolves in the area for 100 years. On her journey, Little Red comes across a plastic bag before reaching a tree with a door on it, where the last wolf, lynx and bear live. They explain that they are the last of their kind due to the lack of trees, causing Little Red to want to make a change to save their environment.

The Last Wolf brings Little Red Riding Hood into the modern day, focusing on climate change and the destruction of the environment. The book introduces themes of sustainability, animal protection and activism in a clear and exciting way, so I would recommend this book for Year 1 pupils. The text is well-illustrated, emphasising the importance of looking after the environment effectively for this age group.

[Eisha A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic retelling of the traditional fairy tale we are all familiar with 'Little Red Riding Hood'. This verison gives us a strong, independent and determined Little Red who is willing to go on a hunt for a wolf, not caring if there hasn't been one around for over a hundred years! When she comes to find the last Wolf, she comes to realise that she has a bigger problem on her hands and needs to get her environmental hat on and think of ways to give back the animals a habitat where they can easily have access to the food and space that they need. Little Red and her mum work together, as a team, to get trees planted, giving a hopeful ending to readers, urging them to also take steps to save their planet.
This is the story I have chosen for my read aloud on BSE1 and I am so excited to share this version of the tale. I think it will be a fantastic opportunity to show children that they don't need to be scared or distrustful, the way they are taught from the original version and that instead they have the power to do what they want if they put they're minds to it.
Mini Grey The Last Wolf

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has similarities with Little Red Riding Hood at the beginning, and would be suitable for children in FS and KS1. The illustrations are detailed and colourful, accompanying the story and bringing it to life. Personally, whilst it is a nice story, it didn’t seem particularly exciting or engaging. Red met the last wolf, lynx and last bear, they had lunch and then they took her home. However, following her adventure, Red is inspired to plant more trees as they live in the last forest. This could be brought into talking about the climate crisis and what we can do to help, children could be encouraged to do some gardening at school or in the local area. At a local primary school, children plant a tree for the village so the story could be used alongside this. The illustrations also show litter and housing developments encroaching on natural habitats which could me mentioned when talking about the climate crisis and how we can help. Children could also study different species, particularly for the lynx as many children won’t be familiar with them. It isn’t too long so would be suitable as a read aloud class story at the end of the day too.

[Belinda Grimbeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book with a cause…and character development…and an upside down fairytale mixed in…and a good ending, even if we know it’s going to take 100 years.

From the oak leaf wallpaper to the thickets and tall trees, the pages are filled with a fiesta little girl with a mission, a mission to get a wolf which turns into a mission to help the wolf. I loved how the character development happens while listening to the stories of the wild animals she meets.

Isn’t that what we long for as a picture book makers…that somehow our work will make a difference, even cause change.

#booksforchange #picturebooks #cause #savethewoods #growtrees #writebooks

[Rose Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially I thought this would be a play or adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood, but the story wasn't really very linked (other than her name being Little Red and there being a wolf).
I did enjoy the book but I feel like the plot wasn't all to clear in that it didn't seem to flow beginning to end as well as some other picture books I've read.
However, I did like the animals being sat together as the 'last of their kind' as this can lead to other conversations such as extinction which can start children thinking about lots of environmental issues.

[Emily Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely take on little red riding where the wolf is with the last lynx and bear in the woods and little red finds them and finds a way to help them. The cover of the book says “red riding hood goes green” and I love this very modern take on such a well known story, I’ve read many versions before but none like this! The illustrations are also lovely.

[Jenny Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that I am planning to use with my Year 1/2 class where we are going to look at writing a letter to the council about why we should be planting more trees and what benefits these would give to everyone.

I find this is an important topic to talk about with younger children as it gets them thinking about what they can do to help the environment.

[Tara Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this retelling of Red Riding Hood. This would be great to use cross curricular with geography when learning about deforestation and climate change and I could link it to the sustainability Goals. It could be used in connection with science when learning about plants and could be used when growing their own trees/plants.

[Vera Milena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book dives into the importance of nature and the consequences of losing nature to cities etc. The protagonist child meets the last animals that are left in the woods and realises that we have to plant trees to make sure that those animals don't die out and have more space to roam. Lovely illustrations.

[Bethy Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were lucky enough to have an author visit by Mini Grey to our school yesterday! Mini Grey read this book aloud and it was magical! In this twisted take on Little Red Riding Hood, Grey explores the history of predators in the UK and shines a light on urbanisation. The illustrations are rich with detail and colour with humour woven throughout.

[Rachel Hinds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little story about a helpful, creative, and courageous girl. Good example of story recycling and would be good to discuss cross-curricular in geography and science about human impact on animals and the environment.

[James Haddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovingly written & beautifully illustrated story about the massive loss of wild woodland over the centuries.

With wonderful humour & love for trees, this is a book to champion the big vision of small people & celebrate the huge potential impact of tiny acts.

[Albana Bregu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A twist on Little Red Riding Hood, where one day Little Red sets off into the woods to catch the last wolf. Sh discovers that the woods and the last wolf aren't all they seem.
It has rich illustrations, quirky humour and good pacing.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely gentle tale based on Little Red Riding Hood but with an underlying contemporary message

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is adorable, the last wolf, bear and lynx. Go plant a tree.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.

[Rachel Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book to educate children on the environment

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern retelling of red riding hood with a twist. Oh this was beautiful and sad and clever!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Partner on SBT3 used it for English in year 1/2 and it was a great cross curricular book.