The Wolf

by Margaret Barbalet

The haunting howl of a wolf keeps Tal and his family captive in their own house at night, until Tal decides to face his fears head on.

Genres: Picture Books

Hardcover

First published February 1, 1992

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the most unusual picture books I've encountered. It's an allegory about confronting your fears--and it is intense. Everything about the story is dread-inducing and claustrophobic. The illustrations are wonderful and very realistic, and they too communicate this dark mood. This is definitely not a story for the preschool or primary grade age group.

I'll admit to not liking the use of a wolf as a device to symbolize something terribly fearful, as it's imagery like this that drives the at-times near-maniacal devotion to slaughtering wolves and coyotes in the US. At the same time, the wolf turns out to be a figment of the fear-addled mind, so perhaps this can also symbolize how human fears can turn wildlife into monsters? I don't know.

A good book about how fear can take over your life, but I did have mixed feelings.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only picture book that has stuck with me into adulthood, and one that was - somewhat incredibly - even better upon re-reading 26 years later, even if a great deal less subtle than I remembered.

The perfect introduction to gothic literature for the 6 year olds in your life, complete with horror themes, unexplained psycho/supernatural happenings, juuuuust enough gore not preclude reading to preschoolers, and an oppressively sombre mood. Is it an allegory for war? Or an allegory for aging? Or an allegory at all?

But most impressively: it is a picture book called The Wolf, about a wolf, with the wolf mentioned at least once on just about every page. The wolf is never pictured.

[Ben Trevail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wolf as a metaphor for threat; a picturebook to explore fear and the irrational judgements and behaviours it can lead to if left unfaced.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember this being one of the most eerie and atmospheric books as a kid, and obviously as an adult it packs less of a punch but it still holds up! Really good book.

[Marilyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange story - did the boy let the wolf in the house?

[Kathryn Watt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is heavy on metaphor and visual symbolism. I believe it is intended to be allegorical and, as such, would recommend it for age 13+. It would actually be a great teaching resource for early secondary (exploring gothic tropes and/or how it could be read as a metaphor for political oppression/Australia's reaction to refugees etc). The main moral is that sometimes, when we face up to a fear, we realise there was nothing to be scared of all along. It is the "unknown" element that increases our fears. I gave it three stars because it is confusing on the first read and requires some unpacking if it is to be read on something more than a literal level. The illustrations are stunning.

[Stef Rozitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't use it with my early childhood students. It might be better for middle school, even though it is a picture book.

I guess it is about xenophobia, about being so fear filled for something that you don't understand that you don't speak about it and let your whole life begin to be about protecting borders and territory instead of about living.

It is about good, courageous, loving people who nevertheless let the fear of the unknown wolf blind them to transformative possibilities. At the end they see a possibility in domesticating the wolf "it becomes our dog". Is it a good thing? Is it a form of colonialism/appropriation?

The book stops there.

[Lisbeth Solberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an odd book; not sure if it's meant as metaphor or not. It reminded me of Kathy Royer's brother, Jim, and his imaginary friend: "Come in, Mister Wolf!"

[Turrean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty intense picture book. This is an allegory about facing one's fears. Best suited to upper elementary.