El lobo no vendrá

by Myriam Ouyessad

Bunny wonders if wolf will come to his house.

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

24 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can always blame the French translation. That is all I can think of. This is an odd picture book, that appears to be about a mother reassuring her frightened child that she is safe.



Nothing wrong there. It is rather cute, really, all the reasons her mother tells her that she is safe



But then, the punch line is that the child wants the wolf to come. That the wolf is a friend, and all that hiding under the covers and shaking was for...what?

Sorry, so, as I said, perhaps something got lost in the translation.

The pictures are cute though.

Thanks to netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[La Coccinelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just has me confused. It's a story about a little rabbit who needs constant reassurance that the wolf is not on the way to their apartment in the city. Their mom keeps telling them all the reasons why the wolf couldn't reach them (it would get hit by a car in the city, it can't figure out how to use the elevator, etc.) and eventually just ends the evening with the equivalent of, "Because I said so!"

It's at this point that things really take a turn for the weird. What was, up until that point, a simple picture book about a mother trying to assuage her child's fears becomes utterly confusing. After going to bed, the little rabbit hears a knock at the door. So they run to answer it, excited that it might be the wolf. And it is! The wolf has come for the rabbit's birthday party. The rabbit hugs the wolf and they all have a party.

Sorry, but... I don't get it. Is the rabbit afraid of wolves in the first place? I went back and looked again, and they certainly seem to be. Okay... so why is it happy to see the predator at the door? If, on the other hand, the rabbit family and the wolf are friends (and the book just didn't tell us), the mother's "reassurances" are kind of cruel. Telling her kid that the friendly wolf will probably be hit by a car if he tries to come to the party? What kind of mind game is that?!

The pictures are nothing special. I did like some of the illustrations with the sneaky wolf and some of the city scenes, but the pictures weren't all that memorable for me. I think the head-scratcher of a story will be what I remember most about this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

[Galleane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Le lecteur se satisfait aisément de ce qu'on lui offre, personnellement je me suis totalement prise au jeu et surtout la fin m'a véritablement conquise. J'adore les twists et celui que nous sert Myriam Ouyessad, n'est peut-être pas le plus original du monde, mais il a fait son petit effet avec moi et je suis ressortie de cette lecture complètement enjouée.

Mon avis complet : https://bloggalleane.blogspot.com/201...

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed books that challenge set ideals that we have about the world and introducing such concepts to younger readers is a wonderfully rewarding. With a rather dry, ironic humour, Ouyessad and Badel's collaboration finds a little rabbit constantly pestering her mother, at bedtime, as to whether there are any wolves left and whether one could find them. Mummy rabbit patiently assures her inquisitive daughter that there are no more wolves and nothing to fear...but is she wrong?
In this beautifully-placed and paced dual narrative, Ouyessad and Badel present us with a multi-layered postmodern picturebook that is far cleverer than it may first appear. Children and adults will delight in Badel's cartoonish-Parisian setting and Ouyessad's all-too-familiar inquisitive rabbit. But what really makes the difference is the witty narrative play which says to the reader - not all stories have the ending you predicted.

[Woody Chichester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, irrational fear. Especially just before the lights go out. I loved this story of a bunny who is sure a Wolf will come to his apartment way up on the 5th floor. This scared little bunny's mom has an answer for every single fear, to help him not be afraid. Lovely illustrations, and a fantastic twist ending.

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

You have to see the cover to appreciate this book.



"Go to sleep, my rabbit."
"Are you sure the wolf will not come?"
"Very sure."
"How can you be so sure?"

And so this little conversation between a young rabbit and the rabbit's mother begins.

Clever, reassuring, fun.

[Veronique Pauwels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prachtig voorleesboek, met een leuk einde. Hoe je een beangstigd verhaal kan ombuigen naar een leuk einde!

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Il lupo non verrà è una storia per bambini meravigliosa che narra di un’amicizia unica e particolare. Il testo si apre con il dialogo della buonanotte tra una leprottina molto sveglia e la sua mamma, che pazientemente risponde a tutte le obiezioni della piccola. E si snoda per tutte la storia proprio come un dialogo tra mamma e figlia, preoccupata dal fatto che un lupo possa entrare nella sua stanza. https://ilmondodichri.com/il-lupo-non...

[Ioanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

During bedtime, a young rabbit asks their mother if a wolf can get in their house. Mommy reassures the young rabbit in every question. But the ending is very surprising.

Although I definitely understand and respect (even love) the concept of showing children that not everything we're afraid of is actually bad, this notion was very poorly executed in this book. It was so abrupt that I, as an adult, was a little confused; imagine how a small child would feel reading this.

Overall great concept and cute illustrations, but very poor execution plot-wise.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and I love the wolf but the story is confusing. We are shown that this little rabbit is scared this wolf will come but it seems (much to their parents concern) they want the wolf to come. Perhaps they are friends.

[Orlane · Rating 2 out of 5]

mouais

[Nikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over vooroordelen, voorstellingsvermogen, en het ombuigen van angst

[Vicky Flores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantan los personajes y el plot twist jiji lo leí por una alumnita especial 💖 Muy recomendado 5/5

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieren worden heel vaak in prentenboeken gebruikt om een boodschap, een grappig, een spannend of een mooi verhaal te vertellen. De wolf, de vos, een hond of een konijn spelen regelmatig de hoofdrol.
In dit mooie prentenboek spelen zowel de wolf als het konijn een hoofdrol. Op tegenoverliggende bladzijden wordt in twee verhaallijnen spannend toegewerkt naar één verrassend einde.

Op de linkerpagina’s een dagelijks ritueel. Konijntje moet naar bed, het is tijd, de gordijnen gaan dicht en het vragen stellen mag voor die dag stoppen volgens mama konijn: ‘Slaap lekker, konijntje van me.’
Daar neemt het kleine konijn geen genoegen mee, het wil antwoorden op zijn vragen, ondanks de geruststellende antwoorden. Zoals ook bij de doelgroep vanaf ong. 4 jaar blijft het konijntje vragen stellen en komt telkens weer een nieuwe goed gevonden gedachte boven, want waarom kan wat jij bedenkt niet ook een waarheid zijn? Voordat konijntje – zie die verschrikte ogen! - na veel instoppen recht in bed ligt, wordt iedere vraag beantwoord met de wedervraag van mama konijn: ‘Hoe weet jij dat zo zeker?
Op de rechterkant zien we door de illustraties de uitgewerkte gedachten van het konijntje over wolf in een tegengesteld verhaal. Soms een beetje eng, de jagers met geweren, maar ook mooi met lange schaduwen getekend. Wolf is slim, past zich aan en arriveert op ‘Konijnenplein’.

De met humor getekende illustraties zijn een feestje om naar te kijken. Emoties spreken uit houdingen en gezichtsuitdrukkingen en vertellen zonder dat je de woorden mist de tweede verhaallijn. Een aan te raden prentenboek om steeds weer voor te lezen en te bekijken om weer een detail te ontdekken. Ook voor het slapengaan.

Als er één aspect duidelijk wordt gemaakt in dit fijne prentenboek is dat je een kind serieus moet nemen in zijn of haar denken, want die waarheid in gedachten kan voor een kind meer waarheid zijn dan de realiteit in werkelijkheid voor het kind is.
Dit verhaal is mooi, lief, eng, grappig, filosofisch, gaat over nieuwsgierig en bang zijn en het heeft vooral een hilarisch einde. En waarom zou de wolf eigenlijk moeten komen?
Wie durft er nog te beweren dat een kind geen gelijk kan hebben na het dichtslaan van dit mooie prentenboek? Deze lezer niet.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

*review soon*

[Perdiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

C'è la festa di compleanno di Leprottina. Il lupo verrà alla sua festa?
Be', forse sì... Ma chissà come!
Forse niente è come ci saremmo aspettati.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first thing to catch my interest was the book cover. The rabbit’s eyes are so expressive! And of course, the shadow of the wolf didn’t go unnoticed.

If you read the Publisher’s Synopsis you may wonder where a book like this is going with Mom trying to consol her child and the wolf obviously doing the opposite of what she’s promising.

The pages of the book continue to carry through with the same fun illustrations. While Mama Rabbit and Bunny illustrations don’t change too much, watching the wolf do quite the opposite of what Mama is saying is quite humorous.

But, I guess you’re still wondering where the story is heading? I was too.

What Concerned Me
While the conclusion might seem somewhat confusing, I believe a little explanation from an adult should make the surprise ending clear.

*Spoiler Alert* The ending can be explained in various ways, but I choose to believe that Bunny was teasing Mom. Otherwise, I have a hard time explaining the illustrations of Bunny asking Mama about the wolf and acting scared.

And after Bunny continues to act afraid and question Mama about the possibilities of a wolf showing up, there is a knock on the door. Bunny runs to open it. (Now why would a rabbit who is scared run to open the door?) And as he is running toward the door we see his parents cleaning up from what appears to be his birthday party.

When the little rabbit opens the door he jumps up to give the wolf a hug and says he was sure that the wolf would make it. Then the wolf hands him a present.

Though the publisher doesn’t explain the story the way I do, I can work with mine. Otherwise, why does Bunny run to the door and hug the wolf?

Admittedly, the ending can seem very confusing, but I don’t have any trouble laughing about how Bunny teased his Mama. He really wasn’t afraid of the wolf at all.

I sense that this book might puzzle some people. I think it is going to be one of those stories that you either really like or dislike.

What I Liked Most
First, I love the illustrations. Secondly, I love the story and twist at the end if I explain it my way. Which may or may not be the intended way.

True rating 3.5

I rated this book a bit lower, simply because I felt some won’t be comfortable with the surprise ending. But personally, I was happy with my interpretation of the end. I really liked the book!

more reviews: https://pickagoodbook.com

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little bunny is going to bed, but he has lots of questions for his mother about wolves. She reassures him that a wolf will not come that night. Still he isn’t satisfied. She explains that wolves are not as common anymore due to hunting. She explains that they live in woods. But there is a small woods near their house. Perhaps the wolf is a very good hider too, plus he looks like a big dog. It sounds like he might be able to get to the rabbits’ house after all. Still, he has to cross traffic, find the right address, sneak inside without the door code, and take the elevator. But the little rabbit has answers for all of these obstacles. So will the wolf arrive?

The story is cleverly told with one page reflecting the little rabbit’s quiet bedroom and the other the wolf steadily making his way closer and closer through the obstacles the mother rabbit is describing. There is a great tension and expectation to the book, but I doubt that anyone will see the twist of the ending coming. It’s a wonderful surprise even as one sees the wolf heading towards the rabbits.

The illustrations play a huge role in the book, showing the wolf as the mother rabbit describes things. The book uses shadows, light and dark very effectively to show danger and safety, fears and expectations.

Funny and surprising with just the right touch of danger. Appropriate for ages 4-6.

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mom is tucking her little rabbit into bed but the dialogue between the two is not very calming or comforting before he falls asleep.

"Mom, are you sure the wolf will not come?"
"Absolutely, my rabbit."
"But how can you be so sure?"

She tells him that the hunters have chased all the wolves in the area away and the remainder are hiding in the woods. Besides, if one decides to come into the city he'd be in grave danger due to the abundance of cars and the maze of streets he would have to travel. The wolf doesn't know the entrance code to our building, and he certainly doesn't know how to use the elevator up to the fifth floor. The persistent curious little guy is not totally convinced that the wolf may suddenly appear any minute. Oh my!

Then a wonderful twist happens at the end of the story that nobody could anticipate coming. Kids always love when the unexpected happens. (And so do adults... come on... admit it). Unpredictability is perpetually a winning strategy and oh so fun for the unaware reader.

The illustrations are detailed and full of emotion and activity. I recommend this delightful book that has been translated from French into English for your reading pleasure.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not entirely convinced that for me the twist to this fits perfectly well with all that went before, but this still makes for a good young reader. It concerns a timid young rabbit hiding in bed and needing assurance – "how can you be sure?" every page – that a wolf will find it impossible to get into their fifth-floor city flat. So it's a very recognisable situation, and the artwork really serves it all superbly well. I think you'd have to be very young to know that it wouldn't have worked quite like that, once you know the twist (which other reviewers have detailed in full), but I can see juniors turning to this on more than one occasion.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh man do I identify with this conversation. I've had similar ones with my child at bedtime. The kind that go on and on with endless questions and me attempting to rationally explain why something irrational will not happen. Kids will see themselves in the sweet little bunny and worry about that wolf coming but that's where the best part comes in. The ending is the absolute best. The parent / child relationship is well captured in the writing and the sweetest of the illustrations makes what could be a scary story simply endearing and relatable.

[Cornmaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is an alternate version of the classic "What If The Shark Wears Tennis Shoes" by Winifred Morris, illustrated by Betsy Lewin. This time a little rabbit is scared that a wolf will somehow get into his apartment, with each barrier he creates immediately knocked down with a reassurance by his mother. As in the Shark version, the predator does get in, and there is a twist to the tale at the end.

Both my spouse and I prefer the Shark version - funnier and the end twist is better because the kid strategizes to foil the shark.

[Alicia Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book felt off a bit, probably due to the translation, as the young bunny is worried that the wolf will come to the house. However, the ending tells us that the bunny actually wanted the wolf to come, so I'm confused overall by the story. It was an attempt at a twist that just didn't make a lot of sense on the page.

For: bunny fans; readers wanting a book with a twist.

Possible red flags: feeling scared/anxious.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit odd? A mom rabbit reassures her little rabbit that a wolf could not find them. (on the opposite side of the page are images of a wolf doing exactly that). At the end, the wold shows up at their door with a birthday present. I wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a humorous book or a comforting book (the end made it seem humorous, but it was just off-putting).

[RosaDG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprising ending to a curious story with an insistent protagonist. Very nice.

Protagonista tematua duen istorio bitxi baten amaiera harrigarria. Oso polita.

Un final sorprendente para una historia curiosa con un protagonista insistente. Muy simpático.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich mag die überraschende Wendung, die das Buch nimmt. Nicht alles ist, wie es auf den ersten Blick scheint. Meine dreijährige Tochter mag das Buch auch, obwohl sie sich vor dem Wolf in anderen Erzählungen gruselt.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute picture book with a twist.

[Kirsti Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for anxious kids...

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

fun surprise!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Precious! The story was well written and had a delightful twist.