The Boy Who Cried Wolf [Hardcover]

B. G. Hennessy (Author), Boris Kulikov (Illustrator)

Book Description

"Nothing ever happens here," the shepherd thinks. But the bored boy knows what would be exciting: He cries that a wolf is after his sheep, and the town's people come running. How often can that trick work, though?

B.G. Hennessy's retelling of this timeless fable is infused with fanciful whimsy through Boris Kulikov's hilarious and ingenious illustrations. This tale is sure to leave readers grinning sheepishly.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 2–Aesops The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf is given new life in this imaginative picture book. The story begs to be read aloud, and the large, colorful, and amusing watercolor-and-gouache paintings are perfect for group viewing. The traditional plot has been expanded to include some catchy refrains: Munch, munch, munch. Baaaaaaaaaaaaa, answered the sheep, and They looked everywhere for the wolf. No wolf in the pasture. No wolf on the hill. No wolf in the forest. These sheep have big expressive eyes and play leapfrog and put on blindfolds, and boys ride them. Instead of just one, there are three snarling, famished-looking creatures that finally appear when the shepherd boy cries wolf for a third time. The illustrations show an outlandish village with skyscrapers located on what appears to be a plateau in a landscape that is dotted with conical hills and a funny, discordant mix of townspeople that includes a knight running in his armor, women wearing mesh stockings and high lace boots, one man wearing a top hat and another a helmet with fluffy feathers on the top, one with a musketeer hat, and another a baseball cap. Each one is holding a weapon: the usual rakes and shovels, an umbrella, a baseball bat, and even a barber pole. The story ends with a fanciful twist, and the moral is understood but not included. A clever take on an old favorite.–Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 1. Children who may have heard their parents reference the boy who cried wolf (without a clue about what they were talking about) get a very funny version of the story here. The plot is the familiar one, but humorous embellishments abound. "I am the most bored boy in the world," the shepherd says (as he's picking his nose), so, for a little excitement, he runs into the town yelling, "Wolf! Wolf! Wolf." The people answer his frenzied cries twice but ignore him the third time, when three hungry wolves actually appear. Along with the text's funny moments, Kulikov milks the situation in the art. He uses a variety of perspectives, a couple of which almost put the boy in the reader's lap, and his watercolor-and-gouache artwork teases many laughs from the sheep, whose expressions range from adoring to alarmed. This also has great energy, especially when the townspeople run hither and yon. The ending is a little flat, but at least^B the sheep end up in a tree rather than a wolf's stomach. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (March 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689874332
• ISBN-13: 978-0689874338
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Foxes & Wolves

More About the Author

B. G. Hennessy has authored over 35 children's books including the entire series of CORDUROY lift-the-flap books. With nearly four million books in print in ten languages, her writing awards and honors include two Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Awards an IRA/Children's Choice Award Book and a Best Book of the Year by the Bank Street College of Education. She recently authored CORDUROY LOST AND FOUND, a companion to Don Freeman's beloved Corduroy bear series. More information on her books can be found at www.bghennessy.com. Ms. Hennessy lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona with her family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Boy Who....didn't like the book., July 9, 2007

By 

S. Hart (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Hardcover)

My son is 4 and loves to read every evening. I purchased The Boy Who Cried Wolf because he is starting to test the "is this a lie" theory and this story has been around forever. Although he loved the illustrations, he didn't seem to grasp the whole meaning - even when we discussed it. "Ruthie and the Not So Teeny Tiny Lie" captured his attention way more and he understood why lying makes you sad. Not to mention - I absolutely LOVED it too!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Retold Classic without the Violence, June 4, 2008

By 

Christie "Sera" (NYC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Hardcover)

We love this book. The retelling of this classic was thoughtfully accomplished. The lesson is clear without the violence. The illustration is unique and wonderful. We highly recommend this book.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Retelling that is Well Done and Wonderfully Illustrated!, August 26, 2008

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Hardcover)

An interesting retelling of the classic Aesop's Fable where the author sticks closely to the original story adding in a nice chorus that children can participate in (if used as a read aloud) or which serve to make easier the task of an emerging independent reader (repetition is always welcome when readers are just starting out). What really makes this story shine are the illustrations...they are fantastic. I love that the author gives the story some repetition and at the same times the illustrations give us so much to look at. The "village" off in the distance is rather a hodge-podge of buildings that very nearly gives it the appearance of a modern city-scape in miniature. The sheep's expressions and activities are adorable, funny and, at times, completely outlandish (they wear blindfolds and even play what may be the cutest game of leap frog EVAR)! As the villagers rush out to answer his cry of WOLF there is another fine use of repetition (on each of their trips out they say No wolf in the pasture, No wolf on the hill, No wolf in the forest). Additionally, the villages (like the village itself) are a hodge-podge of people; you get your usual peasants carrying rakes and pitchforks but also in the mix are rather modern looking folk in suits and hats or casual wear (including ball caps) to the more outlandish characters (a knight in full armor, a three musketeer looking guy)...there are even people with umbrellas, jousting lances and a baseball bat!!! I thought the ending fairly traditional...and the illustration at the end with the VERY worried looking boy and the sheep going unnoticed by him huddled at the top of the tree to be very charming and my children found that to be so funny as to roll on the floor laughing. While the story doesn't explicitly come out and slap the reader in the face with the "moral," it's really not necessary and a modest amount of questioning or discussion with children (except for those who are VERY young) should bring to light what the moral is quite easily. We found this version to be totally charming and would buy it for the illustrations alone! I give it 4 stars and would recommend it to anyone who collects picture books, what fun!