Wolfred

by Nick Bland

A mesmerising new story and instant classic from the beloved author of the best-selling ​Very Cranky Bear books.

Fancy Pants Tower is the biggest, shiniest building in the city. And Wolfred operates the lift.

Each day he silently observes the extraordinary things he sees as he passes between the floors of the tower. To his boss, Wolfred isn’t important enough to notice. But Wolfred notices everything – big or small, normal or very, very strange ...

Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel meets Helen Oxenbury’s The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig in this hilariously oddball tale of Wolfred, an endearing elevator operator and writer, and the strange building he works in.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

33 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2020

About the author

Nick Bland was born in the Yarra Valley of Australia, in 1973. He was the son of an artist and a primary school teacher, and spent his early years on the farm where his parents lived. At age six, he moved with his family to 'the bush'. He wanted to be a cartoonist and a writer from a very young age. In 1996, he took a job at a book store, and decided to write and illustrate children's books. His first book, "A Monster Wrote Me a Letter" was published in Australia in 2005. He currently lives in Darwin, Australia and works full time as an author illustrator.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolfred McFlea is an aspiring writer who needs a job. He is hired to operate the elevator at Fancy Pants Towers and his new boss Mister Pig, gives him clear instructions: ‘You don’t say hello/don’t put on a show/just push!/Or you’ll find yourself FIRED.’ Wolfred obliges and operaties the lift in silence and apparent oblivion. However, at the end of each silent shift he returns to his broom closet accommodation to writhe stories about the visitors to Fancy Pants Towers. Then, folded into paper planes, the stories take wing to the world outside. Disaster strikes when one plane enters Mr Pig's window and lands on his lap.

I found this to be an odd book that doesn't quite hit a specific audience - the underlying message about the way you treat others are too obscure to address the behaviour of the pig to then follow with what is a heartwarming and collegial conclusion when Wolfred engages with others - showing his true colours. However, the rhyming text is engaging and the illustrations very clever with some wonderfully exotic, though unnamed visitors to the Towers, evident to fuel Wolfred's stories.

[Robin Boomer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often, children’s books do not give their young readers credit for being able to make connections between the words and imagery, resulting in mere duplication. In Wolfred, Bland creates wonderful interplay between the two, and lets them finish each other’s ideas or sentences. I especially liked that the takeaway was that sweet success is the best revenge and it doesn’t have to come at the expense of another - Wolfred and his less-than-lovely boss can win out at the end and without any bitterness.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. This is a lavishly illustrated novel with an unusual storyline. Wolfred is an unemployed writer and so must take a job at FancyPants Towers, an exclusive hotel, as a lift operator. Boss Pig is rude and demands work with zero personality from Wolfred. We then see events play out in the tower and briefly meet a cast of exotic characters. Kids have loved the illustrations and the resolution, but the story itself feels very rushed. I love that even the youngest can recognise where Wolfred is & what he does just from the illustration of the lift and the uniform!

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is about a wolf who finds a job at a fancy residential tower block as a lift operator. He meets some strange characters and he writes his stories down. When his boss finds out, he's fired, but he gets his place back in the end.
I really loved the illustrations in this as there were sometimes just slight clues about the creatures who live in the tower block. I liked the simple mystery that children will be able to understand, and I loved the clever rhyme.

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book. The story of a writer who writes while also working as an elevator operator for a rather mean man in his fancy pants building.

The illustrations are wonderful and really add to the story. Students in a classroom could spend ages just imagining all the stories from them (and what Wolfred might write). Students could also design their own 'elevator rooms' and explore the behaviour of the characters in the story

[Sonya Bright]

This cute, quirky picture book by Australian author Nick Bland warranted a couple of rereads!

Written in rhyme (which I found to be excellent), this was one of those books where the outlandish artwork enhances the story hugely. All the different quirky animal characters will delight young readers.

I liked this, and I especially liked the twist at the end.

[Julie Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful rhyming language to go alongside gorgeous illustrations.
Nick has become a favourite of Aussie kids over the years and Wolfred takes it up a notch.

[Paul Graham Terpstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book, such a cool story. Great illustration style.

[Lakin · Rating 5 out of 5]

New fav kids book, entertaining for kids and parents.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun fanciful story. In rhyme.
A bit too long, with crowded picture scenes, for a library story time read - but perfect for home.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Wolfred! Although, I think he looks better out of uniform! This is a great story! Wonderfully illustrated as well.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book so much.