Full Moon Pups

by Liz Garton Scanlon, Chuck Groenink (Illustrator)

This lyrical, gorgeously illustrated picture book in verse follows a litter of baby wolf pups in the wild through their first full lunar cycle.

Deep in the forest, Mama Wolf gives birth to an adorable litter of pups under a sky full of moon. Over the next month, the pups will open their eyes, stretch out their tiny paws, and playfully explore the world around them—all under the watchful eyes of Mama Wolf and the rest of the pack. And before long, these pups will be big enough to yip at the full moon themselves!

With stunning artwork and a gently rhyming text full of fascinating wolf facts, this ideal bedtime or storytime read is perfect for anyone who has ever heard the call of the wild.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Nature, Storytime, Fiction, Poetry

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of numerous beloved books for young people, including the highly-acclaimed, Caldecott-honored picture book All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, two novels for middle grade readers, and an upcoming chapter book series. Her many other picture books include the ones she's co-authored with Audrey Vernick, like Bob, Not Bob and World's Best Class Plant. Ms. Scanlon is also a poet, a teacher and a frequent & popular presenter at schools, libraries and conferences. She serves on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the cover . There were about 4 lines of text per page. It was a quick read about wolf pups growing up.

I felt I missed something as it got darker " Noises come from everywhere. Who's hiding in the dark?" and then you turn the page and it's bright and sunny. I did not get that transition.

Phases of the moon and wolf pups growth is discussed in the back of the text.

[Milton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! In this book we follow the lives of a new litter of wolves for a lunar month. Between the full moons, we learn all about wolf packs and how the pups develop. In tandem, you also learn all about the phases of the moon! The story is fun, has a nice rhythm, and rhymes. The illustrations are pretty great and just what you would want to learn about adorable wolf pups. This fiction picture book has great nonfiction information woven into it's pages which makes learning a joy.

Find it in our SHARE Catalog today!

Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/18/2025 - Sweet story while educating a bit about wolf pups.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the latest Dolly Parton book we got in the mail and I thought it was cute!

Full Moon Pups is a nonfiction(ish) book about the first month of a wolf pup’s life as we see the phases of the moon pass by. The rhyming was good - I was pleasantly surprised. The author included good info about wolves in the United States at the back of the book.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful rhyming book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and lightly educational book with lyrical prose and beautiful illustrations. My little ones really enjoyed this one!!

[Desere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiddos nightly read

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains the first month of a litter of wolf pups. With a gently rhyming narrative and nicely detailed illustrations, this is sure to be a hit for a read aloud.

The back of the book explains about the reintroduction of wolves in the United States and their positive effect on the ecosystem. It also discusses the phases of the moon and offers some books and internet resources for further information.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, adorable wolf pups, and soothing rhythm combine to make this a wonderful children's book!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the lyrical language and the discussion about the moon's phases it sparked. A great introduction for a toddler!

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not sustain Avis attention

[Thompson McLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhyming text with gorgeous illustratons by Chuck Groenink make Full Moon Pups a must have for every child's bookshelf.

A litter of wolf pups are born just before a storm. Mama Wolf has to move her pups to higher ground and the wolf pack members pitch in and help her, each of them transporting a precious bundle. The pups grow and play, venturing outside to the wide wonders of the world. Soon, a new full moon lights the sky, but it'll take many full moons for the pups to become adults.

The author's note and a page about phases of the moon is included. Readers are introduced to the Yellowstone Wolf Project and other sources for more information on wolves.

Highly recommended. This is one BEAUTIFUL children's book! ages 3 and up.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! In this book we follow the lives of a new litter of wolves for a lunar month. Between the full moons, we learn all about wolf packs and how the pups develop. In tandem, you also learn all about the phases of the moon! The story is fun, has a nice rhythm, and rhymes. The illustrations are pretty great and just what you would want to learn about adorable wolf pups. This fiction picture book has great nonfiction information woven into it's pages which makes learning a joy.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

1st time: *4.25
2nd time: 4

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under a full moon, a mama wolf raises her pups. They start out whining and unable to see until they grow and develop enough to explore their surroundings. Slowly, they get more and more adventurous but wolves are pack animals so they always tend to stick by one another.

FULL MOON PUPS is an engaging story that teaches children some facts about wolves and how they live in the wild. The illustrations are cute and I love the details of the environment and the wolves' fur. Even though a full moon only happens roughly once a month, they're tied to wolves. When we think of full moons, we think of wolves so I love how the author incorporates it into the story so children can learn about what wolves really do under the night sky. In the back of the book, there's an author's note about the family dynamics of wolves and some more interesting facts about there. There's also a chart and an explanation of the phases of the moon.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this to fans of wolves and nature. While being educational, this book is also just an adorable, sweet story about family and the adventures of wolf pups.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In an imaginary, poetic song by Liz Garton Scanlon, a litter of wolf pups is welcomed. Over the month's moon cycle, Liz manages to include numerous things about the pups' growth, from blind and cuddled next to their mother for food to a move with all the pack helping to get them to safer, higher ground because of heavy rains. They soon become curious about the world they're now seeing, "as they tussle, tumble, hide." Liz's words alongside Groenink's luminous, night illustrations bring the exciting world of "Full Moon Pups" to readers just as the world also comes to the pups. Liz adds a bit more in her author's note, and the way a lunar month works is added as well. The book will add to a beginning moon study or easily inspire one. Terrific book!
Thanks to Melissa Stewart for her moon book giveaway! I was thrilled to win!

[Catherine Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Full Moon Pups' is a wonderful story, written in rhyme by Liz Garton Scanlon, with gorgeous illustrations by Chuck Groenink. This story follows a mama wolf as she gives birth to her pups and then as the pack watch over the babies as they grow. The child reader is encouraged to learn about their development and to appreciate these very important apex predators. The illustrations are very cute, helping to show the world from the pups' viewpoint. With an important end page about the human threats faced by wolves and their crucial place in a healthy ecosystem, this book is great for exploring understanding of food webs and appreciating all creatures found within them. I highly recommend this story both for children to read at home and also in a school setting.

[Brooke - TheBrookeList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wolf pups growing up under the light of the changing moon. They change, grow, and are under the watch care of their whole pack, until their first full moon. It's cute and has a nice rhyming cadence that takes us through their first days. The illustrations are dark and beautiful, enhanced by the shining of the moon on their nightly journeys. The end pages teach us a little more of the non-fiction aspect of pups in the wild and the phases of the moon.

Read as a nomination in the 2023 Fiction Picture Book book award category as a panelist for Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards (Cybils Awards).

[Cade Schier · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Full Moon Pups" is a charming book about the cycle of life and growth of wolves, from little to baby pups that were born under a full moon. The story follows their growth over a course of a lunar cycle as the wolves learn to explore what's around them with the help of their mom and their pack. Simplistic yet fun for any reader who wants to learn a little about wolves in a poetry fashion.

This book would be a nice addition in my future classroom as I could use this to not only show that animals have family bonds as well, but to provide a bit more information about wolves too to students who are curious about animals out in nature. This would be a great independent choice as well if not all students were curious about this topic.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary: In rhyming text and gentle rhythm, a mother wolf gives birth to her pups in a cave under a full moon. The mom and pack care for the babies as they grow during the moon's cycle.

Comments: Lovely illustrations include gouache, acrylics, pencils, oil pastels, and digital media. The back pages include Author's Note and The Phases of the Moon.

I suggest sharing this with primary grades during a baby animal or moon cycle unit of study.

Rating: 4/4 📗📗📗📗

[A Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be prefect for a Wolf Moon lesson plan! A wolf has a litter when the moon is full and readers learn how the pups are growing under the moon's changing phases. Scanlon's description of the pack watching over the babies and looking out for them warms my heart. This is the perfect book for those who love the moon phases and/or those who love wild animals, especially wolves, obviously.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack received this book from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. He asked to read the "little boy dogs playing under the moon" book today. He sat and listened to the whole thing. He enjoyed seeing the different phases of the moon and watching the pups grow up and play together. The illustration style is gorgeous, and there is a nice author's note at the end that talks about real wolf pups and the lunar cycle.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations and text are cute, atmospheric, and engaging. The book follows the first month of growth after wolf pups are born, and there is an author's note at the end with additional information about wolves. The realistic story and additional STEM elements make this a great storybook for kids of different ages and a great educational supplement.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations show how a female wolf brings her pups into the world. Poetic, rhyming text describes how the pups learn their place in the wolf pack, natural cycles, and the family of things. The Author’s Note includes more information about wolves, the phases of the moon, and a list of selected resources for further study.

[Nora Nickum · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet, easy-to-read-aloud rhyming tale of young wolves, complemented by inviting artwork. There is a concise and helpful author's note and back matter about wolf conservation and phases of the moon. I like how the back matter elaborates on how wolf pups grow and change in the course of one lunar cycle.

[Jenna Daucunas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give this more stars! Love this book. The meter/rhyme flow so nicely and there is some really wonderfully unique language and verbs. I like how this follows not only the growth of the wolf pups for a month, but the moon's full cycle. Playful illustrations add to this already delightful book. And the notes at the end to give more information were great.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the Dolly Imagination Library books do not feel age appropriate, this one however hit the nail on the head. The illustrations were beautiful, the story was short but easy to follow, it rhymed! Truly it was a wonderful kids book and I will reread it to my son. Overall, 4/5 stars ⭐️ would recommend for ages 3+

[Shannon]

January 2026 Imagination Library book from Dolly Parton. We liked the pictures very much and there was always good detail to spot on the page (find the fox, that puppy is looking at you!). I found the text underwritten and the rhymes were a stretch. I expected more from the author of All the World, one of our favorites.

[Cherish Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4☆ Would recommend)
Cute book. The illustrations are colorful & engaging. The book has rhyme, which is great for learning. The storyline is cute. I liked how they compare the growth of the wolf pups to the cycles of the moon.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a pack of wolves, and the cubs just born in their family. They all go through a few adventures.
Different phases of the moon are shown in different pictures, and explained in an author's note at the back.
You might learn a few things about wolves, too!