Howl: A New Look at the Big Bad Wolf

by Ted Rechlin

Welcome to the incredible world of wolves. Author/illustrator Ted Rechlin offers an insightful and historical look into our love/hate relationship with North America's top niche apex predator. From the true story of Lobo, the alpha wolf in New Mexico's Old West, to the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone and Super Wolf 21, Howl relates the incredible adventure of a resourceful species struggling to survive. Aimed to engage and educate, Howl is an exciting, science-based graphic novel that will captivate readers ages 6 and up.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Animals, Graphic Novels Comics, Childrens

96 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2019

Reviews

[Leah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so well done!! Accurate information and the flow of the stories are presented in a way that will appeal to young readers. I loved the graphic novel style and how it helps put a visual to the new information that many kids may not yet know (depredation, extermination program, etc.) The author doesn’t shy away from hard facts and it brings more power to the end of the ‘story’ in present day. The strong call to action will hopefully get readers excited and thinking about conscious actions. I’m excited to gift this to my sister’s 5th grade class.

[Mazdyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really gorgeous art throughout this comic alongside some of the most iconic stories about real wolves that have roamed our world and will continue to roam our world. It's a quick read, and I found it to be a nice addition to my recent romp in information about the gray wolf. The information in this book is greatly simplified and not always the most accurate, but I think the message is still a good one, especially for younger audiences!

[Pluto Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

im the alpha

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Howl: A New Look At the Big Bad Wolf was my souvenir book purchased at the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide after my husband and I got to get hands-on with some wolves. As I reached this book it flashed through my mind that my niece would probably also enjoy this book, which was a selling point to my husband.

Graphic novels aren't normally my medium for reading books since I just cannot get into them as they are large on illustrations but almost lacking on print. In this particular book I found the balance was actually mostly decent although at times I wished more details were mentioned such as in the first tale of Lobo versus Wild Animals I Have Known author Ernest Thompson Seton. Although having read that book and hating Seton for that particular tale it would have been nice to still be able to get some more information out of it. And yet his reticent respect leads into the rest of the book quite nicely.

The rest of the stories focused around the wolf's place in nature through how it affected Yellowstone when reintroduced and also by allowing readers to meet Wolf 21 from the same park. The book also explores the measures that are being taken to help bring the wolf back into the human psyche although hopefully no longer as a villain.

The illustrations were brightly colored in some spots, a bit abstract and also realistic in which they need to be. And even though it was a graphic novel it does help to bring the plight of the wolves to a newer audience while still showcasing how horrible of a "big bad wolf" the actual humans have been in the whole run of wolf history.