Bridget and the Gray Wolves [School & Library Binding]

Pija Lindenbaum (Author, Illustrator), Kjersti Board (Translator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

A timid girl tames a wolf pack.

Bridget is a very careful child. She never climbs on roofs or pets dogs or jumps over ditches. In fact, she's afraid of most things. But when Bridget gets lost and meets up with a pack of gray wolves in the deep, dark woods, she takes charge. First she makes them play even though they prefer to "lurk behind trees and snarl." They aren't much good at games, though. When their stomachs begin to growl, she feeds them her mud soup, and finally she puts them to bed after having sent them off to their peeing trees.

Humorous, bold art-- little, freckled Bridget in her red, hooded sweatshirt, huge shaggy, gray wolves, and tall purple pines-- perfectly compliments this very funny tale.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bridget, who doesn't like rough play and won't go near dogs or worms, finds herself separated from her day care group on an autumn walk. In a fairy tale-like turn of events, she becomes surrounded by a pack of yellow-eyed wolves yet doesn't falter for an instant. Addressing them with big-sisterly impatience, she invents games for the wolves to play such as hospital ("In the hospital you have to lie in straight rows, otherwise it looks sloppy") sends them to the bathroom ("The wolves obediently go to their pee trees. And soon it sounds as if it's raining in the forest") and sings to lull them to sleep. In the morning, she finds her day care without trouble; the wolves clamor after her, asking her to come back to play. Lindenbaum (Boodil My Dog) draws a bossy-looking Bridget and a bunch of cowering, abashed-looking wolves in various attitudes of belly-up servility. A scary moment when Bridget first becomes lost and a couple of longwinded passages do not detract from the entertainment. If youngsters can suspend their disbelief at the heroine's abrupt switch in behavior, they may well enjoy this unexpected turn on the theme of summoning one's courage. Ages 4-7.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-To Bridget, a small, freckled girl who is afraid of almost everything, taking a risk is unthinkable. While the other children from her day care jump off the playhouse roof, pet a strange dog, and leap over a stream, this worrywart contemplates all of the bad things that could possibly happen in these situations. One day, on an outing, Bridget gets lost in the forest. She meets up with six gray wolves, but instead of being frightened by their snarling and teeth gnashing, she becomes the leader of the pack. She bosses the goofy carnivores around, diverting their attention while she waits to be found. She coaches them at playing "hospital" and climbing trees, though she discovers that they aren't very good at games. After spending the night, the formerly tentative tot finds her way back to her day-care center. The last illustration shows brave Bridget standing on top of the playhouse roof. The watercolor illustrations aptly depict the fanciful action and add greatly to the humorous scenes. An offbeat tale of a scaredy-cat who has the heart of a lion.

Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 36 pages
• Publisher: R & S Books; 1st edition (September 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9129653959
• ISBN-13: 978-9129653953
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,494,814 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I went HUH and my daughter said I LIKE IT.., October 3, 2008

By 

D. Hurt "QueenD" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bridget and the Gray Wolves (School & Library Binding)

This is a book that at first read (as others have said) is a little strange and abrupt in personality change. At first, she is scared of everything and then later she morphs into this strong girl who makes the best of her situation. She plays with wolves that are more dangerous than the other things she was scared of earlier in the book and finally, says to heck with waiting for someone to save me. I will save myself. My 3 year old daughter loves this book. I ascertained from her answers to my questions that she could identify with sometimes being afraid of everything no matter how small & silly to most and other times being strong and independent in situations that in general others might be strongly afraid to approach. I think its a great book. It took me several reads to appreciate it. My daughter loved it immediately.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun animal story, April 7, 2002

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bridget and the Gray Wolves (School & Library Binding)

"Bridget and the Gray Wolves" is a children's picture story by Pija Lindenbaum; Kjersti Board is credited as the translator. The book tells about Bridget, a very cautious child who is "afraid of most things." After getting separated from her day care group, Bridget has a friendly encounter with a pack of playful wolves.

I found "Bridget" to be an odd and uneven book: it starts out like a realistic "social situation" type children's book, and unexpectedly morphs into a lighthearted talking animal story. I also felt that Bridget's character changed too abruptly. Still, this is a fun book with goofy, enjoyable artwork. Give it a try!

0 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars somewhat disappointing, July 17, 2007

By 

Elizabeth Rose Augustine "Bibliophile" (Whidbey Island, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bridget and the Gray Wolves (School & Library Binding)

I got this book after reading glowing reviews from a couple children's booklists. Maybe I didn't read the reviews closely enough.
The story is just kind of lame... girl gets lost from daycare group in forest, befriends wolves and plays game with them... goes back to daycare. Nothing brilliant or noble about this at all. I hope my kids don't think they can go befriend wolves or anything...

I just am not sure why so many recommend it. (I bet it is because of the PC-nature of a story including a daycare situation rather than the traditional Mom & Dad)