Review By JENNIFER GANNETT
Author Jean Craighead George and artist Wendell Minor have teamed up to bring us the beautifully illustrated tale in The Wolves Are Back. Using the story of a male wolf and his pup to trace the re-introduction of wolves in Yellowstone, they also have provided a chance to explore the backstory of their eradication and discuss the role of this apex carnivore in balancing the ecosystem.
This book has much to recommend it: it is filled with interesting facts about Yellowstone and the creatures that live there, told in a child-friendly but unsentimental way. Parents should know that there is straightforward mention of carnivores’ elk and bison kills as well as a brief discussion of the wolf hunts that killed off the animals. I love the way the author has woven in the return of other plants and animals to the area to highlight the interrelated nature of the ecosystem. A wonderful read for ages 4 and up.
Jennifer // Mar 26, 2010 at 4:12 am
Folks interested in this book might also be interested in this NPR story about recent developments in one of Yellowstone’s wolf packs. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124501314&ft=1&f=1025