The Wolf of Gubbio

by Michael Bedard, Murray Kimber

At night we lay in bed and listened to the howl of the wolf on the hill. In sleep, we saw his shadow slink along the moonlit wall as the great beast circled the town. No one in Gubbio is safe from the monstrous wolf that stalks them. The townsfolk, armed with pitchforks, travel in groups and never venture out at night. One day a band of strangers comes to town led by the Poverello, the poor one. People say he understands the language of bird and beast. Even so, when he offers to go into the forest and face the wolf, everyone is certain he will never return. What happens between the wolf and the Poverello as they stand face to face, is a matter of trust and understanding. But for the people of Gubbio, and one boy in particular, it is nothing short of a miracle. Based on one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi, the story may contain some truth. During repairs to a chapel in Gubbio dedicated to the saint, a large wolf's skull was found underneath the flagstones. The Afterword recounts this amazing fact and provides historical details on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Shortlisted 2001, CLA Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Award Shortlisted 2001, CLA Book of the Year for Children Award Canadian Children's Book Centre, Starred Our Choice Selection Nominated for 2001 Governor General's Award for Children's Literature - Illustration

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

23 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2000

About the author

Michael Bedard was born and raised in Toronto. His novels include Stained Glass, A Darker Magic, Painted Devil, and Redwork, which received the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Canadian Library Association’s Book of the Year Award for Children. He has also written several acclaimed picture books, including The Clay Ladies, which received the Toronto IODE Book Award. His biography, William Blake: The Gates of Paradise and his picture book Emily attest to his interest in poets and poetry.

Reviews

[Rebecca Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Log #3
Title: The Wolf of Gubbio
Author: Michael Bedard
Illustrator: Murray Kimber
Genre: Legend
Theme(s): Trust and understanding
Brief Book Summary: A retold tale of a legend of St. Francis of Assisi, this book is narrated by a boy who waits for a grey wolf to visit him every night. Although his neighbors are terrified by the boy’s frequent encounters with the wolf, the boy informs his neighbors that the wolf is harmless. He explains further by saying that he and the wolf made a pact that as long as he provides food, the wolf would not harm the neighbors.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
• Name of Reviewer: Zoe Johnstone
• Name of Source: Resource Links
• Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
• Short blurb from the review:
• The Wolf of Gubbio is an exquisite retelling of one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi. The narrator is a young boy who waits every day at noon for a great grey wolf to visit his house. Although there was a time when the town was terrorized by this fierce wolf, the boy is no longer afraid, and he relates the story of how a stranger known as "the little poor one" decided to confront the wolf that had been killing the townspeople's animals. The brother realized that the wolf committed evil deeds because he was hungry so he promised the wolf that if he lived in peace with the townspeople he would never hunger again. The people agreed to provide for him and from that day forward the wolf has lived peacefully in the town and goes from door to door for his food. What makes this story so powerful is the beautiful simplicity of the language and the magnificent illustrations. The serene quality of the text expresses the humility and gentleness of the "Poverello." This legend is significant for contemporary society since it explores profound issues that children at this age are starting to ponder such as the suffering of others. The wolf's transformation from a ferocious beast into a gentle creature is quite startling, particularly since Kimber's paintings are so powerful. Children will surely continue to think about this story after they have heard or read it. This legend also challenges the stereotype of the wolf in literature and promotes respect for all creatures. The illustrations perfectly capture the mood of the text. The paintings are very powerful, and it is their abstract quality that makes them particularly thought provoking. Children will be fascinated by Kimber's portrayal of the wolf and will enjoy studying the pictures on their own. This is a masterful collaboration. Thematic links include: St. Francis of Assisi; Wolves. Resource Links Rating: E (Excellent, enduring, everyone should see it!), Grade K-3. 2000, Stoddart Kids, Hdbk, $19.95. Ages 5 to 8.
(PUBLISHER: Stoddart Kids (Toronto:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
• Name of Reviewer: Susan Stan
• Name of Source: Children’s Literature
• Link to source: http://www.clcd.com.ezaccess.librarie...
• Short blurb from the review:
• In Gubbio, a medieval walled city in Italy, legend has it that a monstrous wolf preyed on the people and animals, making the whole town afraid. Enter the Poverello, a slender monk who has a way with animals. He negotiates a pact between the wolf and the townspeople--the wolf will never again harm them provided they promise to feed him faithfully and welcome him. The deal is struck, and the young narrator, who has been waiting for the wolf's noontime visit while recounting this wondrous tale, greets the wolf with an outstretched hand and a bowl of food. Kimber's rich, saturated colors evoke the Italian architecture and countryside, and his elongated shapes and tilted perspectives underscore the anxiety created by the wolf's presence. An afterword identifies the tale as one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi and adds an intriguing detail about the discovery of a large wolf skull in a Gubbio chapel dedicated to St. Francis. 2001, Stoddart, $15.95. Ages 7 to 10.
(PUBLISHER: Stoddart Kids (Toronto:), PUBLISHED: 2000.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with the two professional reviews that the illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. Readers can easily notice the incredible details and effort contained in the illustrations. The illustrations add richness and engagement to the story.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: As outlined by Molly Bang’s Picture This!, shapes and color combinations convey different motion for readers. Diagonal shapes convey movement, dark backgrounds suggest anxiety whereas pale backgrounds suggest tranquility. This book captured most of Molly Bang’s principles of illustrations.
Consideration of Instructional Application: A follow-up mini-lesson could be to investigate how much of this legend is true. Students will have to learn some researching skills to accomplish this investigation.

[Mrs. Frankenstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the stories of St. Francis of Assisi's many great works. This is a new favorite!!!

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The legend of the Wolf of Gubbio, about a huge wolf terrorizing the town until Saint Francis visited and preached to the wolf and the people of Gubbio and made an arrangement by which the people of the town would all contribute to feeding the wolf every day, and the wolf agreed to no longer attack the people or their livestock. The afterward of the book mentions that centuries later, when they were restoring a church of Saint Francis in Gubbio, they found the massive skull of a huge wolf buried under the paving stones of the floor, leading some to wonder what truth was in the legend.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had a big discussion about the evolution of dogs from wolves after reading this. It’s a well-told tale.