What do you think?
Rate this book
Peter And The Wolf
The wonderful tale of a little boy outsmarting the enemy to save a friend, based on Sergey Prokofiev's symphony, and beautifully illustrated by the well-known Russian artist, Vladimir Vagin.
On vacation at his grandfather's, Peter wants to do nothing but play with his friends Bird, Cat, and Duck, and his toys. But a sly and vicious wolf sneaks onto the grounds of Grandpapa's home and gobbles up Duck!
Peter quickly gathers his wits and some rope, and with the help of Bird, outsmarts the wolf before he can catch Cat too. Hunters come, but they're too late--Peter has captured the wolf!
Vladimir Vagin brings her personal knowledge of Russia to make the character, settings, and costumes of Prokofiev's classic tale come alive and takes readers to the heart of a young boy's first encounter with his own bravery.
On vacation at his grandfather's, Peter wants to do nothing but play with his friends Bird, Cat, and Duck, and his toys. But a sly and vicious wolf sneaks onto the grounds of Grandpapa's home and gobbles up Duck!
Peter quickly gathers his wits and some rope, and with the help of Bird, outsmarts the wolf before he can catch Cat too. Hunters come, but they're too late--Peter has captured the wolf!
Vladimir Vagin brings her personal knowledge of Russia to make the character, settings, and costumes of Prokofiev's classic tale come alive and takes readers to the heart of a young boy's first encounter with his own bravery.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2000
58 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews
February 23, 2022
This was a book we read on repeat through my son's preschool years-- I remember him sharing it with the other two year olds in his class -- somewhere I have pictures of him "reading" it to his friends. We also listened to the music and acted out the parts. My son still loves it as a young adult! I re-read this edition and it is very faithful to the classic narration, with one change. The wolf goes to the zoo (in the original, I believe he is shot by the hunters). Grandpa is proud rather than grumbling 'what if the wolf had caught you, then what would have happened?' as I believe he does in the original. This edition includes a brief note about Prokofiev and also about the score.
Although this book may have been written for older children, my son loved it from age two. It's pretty accessible if you play with the music. The illustrations are a mix of realistic and stylized-- more true of the humans than the animals.
There's a wonderful recording of Peter and the Wolf by the Philadelphia Orchestra, narrated by David Bowie.
Although this book may have been written for older children, my son loved it from age two. It's pretty accessible if you play with the music. The illustrations are a mix of realistic and stylized-- more true of the humans than the animals.
There's a wonderful recording of Peter and the Wolf by the Philadelphia Orchestra, narrated by David Bowie.
August 18, 2023
This version of Peter and the Wolf by Vladamir Vagin was published in 2000 and is based on the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. I am familiar with a similar tale and this one is not what I had expected. The original story had more violence, but there is more violence in the animal world and I not sure if teaching children an unrealistic way is as important as letting them learn why it is so important to not try to catch a wolf by yourself as a child.
This story ends as you want it to, but there are real dangers in the world and there is value in teaching children that in certain circumstances, you must only obey.
This story ends as you want it to, but there are real dangers in the world and there is value in teaching children that in certain circumstances, you must only obey.
August 13, 2018
Age 4 - I don't like the wolf's black fur because black isn't my color.
----------
Mom's review:
Pros:
Shows a boy's concern for animals.
Beautiful illustrations.
Cons:
Storyline teaches that even if you disobey and put yourself in grave danger, you'll probably be fine and then your parents/ caretakers will be proud of you for what you accomplish. Essentially, disobedience is fine as long as you achieve something.
----------
Mom's review:
Pros:
Shows a boy's concern for animals.
Beautiful illustrations.
Cons:
Storyline teaches that even if you disobey and put yourself in grave danger, you'll probably be fine and then your parents/ caretakers will be proud of you for what you accomplish. Essentially, disobedience is fine as long as you achieve something.
May 27, 2017
A fantastic story for children. A fun and simple plot, coupled with wonderful drawings, make this book a real treat.
I re-read it recently due to the parallels which the 3rd season of the TV series 'Fargo' draws with the story and its characters, and found just what I was looking for.
I re-read it recently due to the parallels which the 3rd season of the TV series 'Fargo' draws with the story and its characters, and found just what I was looking for.
October 11, 2017
This story is about a little boy, named Peter. Peter never listened. Peter was told not to go out into the meadows, by his grandfather. However, Peter did go out of the gate and encountered a wolf. You will have to read the book to find out what happened next...
I highly recommend this story!
I highly recommend this story!
February 10, 2015
This is an entertaining and nicely illustrated book that tells the story from the famous symphony Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. The story is entertaining and the pencil and watercolor illustrations have terrific details.
I would've liked the book even better if there was a CD included with the music. So instead, we went to the internet and found this delightful video on YouTube of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing the music and explaining the role of the different instruments representing each character. It's a bit long, but really helps to teach children about the story and introduces them to a wonderfully entertaining and accessible piece of classical music.
I would've liked the book even better if there was a CD included with the music. So instead, we went to the internet and found this delightful video on YouTube of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performing the music and explaining the role of the different instruments representing each character. It's a bit long, but really helps to teach children about the story and introduces them to a wonderfully entertaining and accessible piece of classical music.
Read
August 10, 2016A classic tale of a grandfather who tells his grandson, Peter, to be careful of a big, hungry wolf in the woods. Peter doesn't listen and goes to the meadow and plays anyway. He saw a cat that kept trying to catch a bird. Suddenly, a big wolf appears and eats the duck. The wolf set his eyes on the cat next. Peter acted quickly, with the help of a bird, and caught the wolf before he could eat the cat. The wolf was taken to a zoo and ended up spatting the duck out whole and alive. Detailed and colorful illustrations. There is even a song with musical notes at the end.
June 3, 2015
This was a simply told, yet beautifully narrated version of the folk tale. I loved that at the back of the book was the sheet music for each part. This adds a unique piece when teaching this story. The illustrations are lovely.
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
October 18, 2011
A Porter fav.
June 15, 2015
This is a competent re-telling of the classic Peter and the Wolf tale, but it doesn't add any new textures to the original.
Want to read
April 14, 2017Cool
Read
April 23, 2017Title: Peter and the Wolf
Author: Valdimir Vagin
Illustrator: Valdimir Vagin
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Fairy tales
Opening Line/Sentence:
Once upon a time, a boy named Peter lived with his grandfather in a little cottage by a meadow and a forest.
Brief Book Summary:
Peter and the Wolf tells the story of a young boy named Peter who lives with his grandfather. One morning at breakfast Grandpapa warns Peter that he cannot play in the meadow and must keep the cottage door shut because a wolf is roaming around. Peter was not one to listen and follow directions. Therefore, Peter ended up disobeying his Grandpapa’s orders by playing in the meadow and leaving the gate unlocked. Peter luckily was unharmed by the wolf. Peter used an opportunity to save the bird from the cat and he lassoed and caught the wolf.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Gillian Engberg (Booklist)
Vagin offers a crisp, appealing addition to the print retellings of this classic musical fairy tale, taken from the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. In a mostly smooth, simple text, he follows the classic story closely, ending this time with the wolf in a zoo and the duck he swallowed safely back in Peter's arms. The art, too, is traditional. In his signature, representational style, Vagin places Peter and his grandfather in a typical Russian dacha surrounded by a lush forest, a historic village of onion-domed buildings in the distance. Despite the story's suspense, Vagin's illustrations have a gentle cast: unlike other versions, such as Migelanxo Prado's (1998), which featured a harsh grandfather and dark, foreboding forest scenes, Vagin's grandfather appears to be sweet and caring and the wolf more neutral than menacing. Vagin waits until the end to discuss the tale's symphonic roots, with a final page that briefly introduces Prokofiev and includes the musical score for each animal. Those looking for a more musical retelling will appreciate Loriot's 1986 version, with Jorg Muller's inset illustrations of an orchestra alongside scenes from Peter’s story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Uma Krishanaswami (Children's Literature )
Here are all of the well-known players in Prokofiev's beloved symphony--Peter, grandfather, the wolf, the bird, the duck, the cat, the woodcutter. They trip across the pencil and watercolor renderings of this fairy tale landscape, all the way to the satisfying finish. Notes about the music, including excerpts from the score, connect the picture book to the masterpiece it is based on, so that this work can serve as an introduction to the music. Vagin's artwork is clear and crisp, and appropriately evocative of a stage set. Back matter notes about Prokofiev's life and work offer additional information that adults who participate in the picture book experience can draw on for discussion.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Although I agree with both professional reviews and enjoyed the book, this was not the original folktale I was familiar with. I though that Peter ended up getting eaten by the wolf even though when he cried for help, no one came to rescue him because he had been a phony many times previously. Aside from my confusion, I enjoyed the book although the ending with the wolf being taken to the zoo and the wolf throwing up the duck seemed a little far fetched.
Evaluation of Literacy Elements:
The one aspect of the book that stands out the most is the illustrations. The illustrations almost cover the entire pages on every spread. I thought it was quite classic the book started with the opening line, “Once upon a time…” Another component I noticed was the word choice. The words selected for this book are not for an easy reader. There are more than just sight words and simple conversations, Vagin does an excellent job portraying the story in a more sophisticated manner.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
The most obvious way to include this particular book within a classroom setting is by using it to introduce or support the field of arts and theatre. Peter and the Wolf is based off the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. This book has the various song scores located in the back; to indicate what the sound played was based on the specific scene or animal. I would have the children choose different instruments to represent each character and explain their reasoning.
Author: Valdimir Vagin
Illustrator: Valdimir Vagin
Genre: European Folktale
Theme(s): Fairy tales
Opening Line/Sentence:
Once upon a time, a boy named Peter lived with his grandfather in a little cottage by a meadow and a forest.
Brief Book Summary:
Peter and the Wolf tells the story of a young boy named Peter who lives with his grandfather. One morning at breakfast Grandpapa warns Peter that he cannot play in the meadow and must keep the cottage door shut because a wolf is roaming around. Peter was not one to listen and follow directions. Therefore, Peter ended up disobeying his Grandpapa’s orders by playing in the meadow and leaving the gate unlocked. Peter luckily was unharmed by the wolf. Peter used an opportunity to save the bird from the cat and he lassoed and caught the wolf.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Gillian Engberg (Booklist)
Vagin offers a crisp, appealing addition to the print retellings of this classic musical fairy tale, taken from the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. In a mostly smooth, simple text, he follows the classic story closely, ending this time with the wolf in a zoo and the duck he swallowed safely back in Peter's arms. The art, too, is traditional. In his signature, representational style, Vagin places Peter and his grandfather in a typical Russian dacha surrounded by a lush forest, a historic village of onion-domed buildings in the distance. Despite the story's suspense, Vagin's illustrations have a gentle cast: unlike other versions, such as Migelanxo Prado's (1998), which featured a harsh grandfather and dark, foreboding forest scenes, Vagin's grandfather appears to be sweet and caring and the wolf more neutral than menacing. Vagin waits until the end to discuss the tale's symphonic roots, with a final page that briefly introduces Prokofiev and includes the musical score for each animal. Those looking for a more musical retelling will appreciate Loriot's 1986 version, with Jorg Muller's inset illustrations of an orchestra alongside scenes from Peter’s story.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Uma Krishanaswami (Children's Literature )
Here are all of the well-known players in Prokofiev's beloved symphony--Peter, grandfather, the wolf, the bird, the duck, the cat, the woodcutter. They trip across the pencil and watercolor renderings of this fairy tale landscape, all the way to the satisfying finish. Notes about the music, including excerpts from the score, connect the picture book to the masterpiece it is based on, so that this work can serve as an introduction to the music. Vagin's artwork is clear and crisp, and appropriately evocative of a stage set. Back matter notes about Prokofiev's life and work offer additional information that adults who participate in the picture book experience can draw on for discussion.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Although I agree with both professional reviews and enjoyed the book, this was not the original folktale I was familiar with. I though that Peter ended up getting eaten by the wolf even though when he cried for help, no one came to rescue him because he had been a phony many times previously. Aside from my confusion, I enjoyed the book although the ending with the wolf being taken to the zoo and the wolf throwing up the duck seemed a little far fetched.
Evaluation of Literacy Elements:
The one aspect of the book that stands out the most is the illustrations. The illustrations almost cover the entire pages on every spread. I thought it was quite classic the book started with the opening line, “Once upon a time…” Another component I noticed was the word choice. The words selected for this book are not for an easy reader. There are more than just sight words and simple conversations, Vagin does an excellent job portraying the story in a more sophisticated manner.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
The most obvious way to include this particular book within a classroom setting is by using it to introduce or support the field of arts and theatre. Peter and the Wolf is based off the symphony by Sergei Prokofiev. This book has the various song scores located in the back; to indicate what the sound played was based on the specific scene or animal. I would have the children choose different instruments to represent each character and explain their reasoning.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews