Growing Up Wild: Wolves [Hardcover]

Sandra Markle (Author)

Book Description

Series: Growing Up Wild

Why does the entire wolf pack help to raise the young of its strongest male and female? What kinds of toys do wolf cubs play with? How do mother wolves carry their cubs in their mouths without hurting them?

Sandra Markle answers these questions and more as she invites readers into the world of gray wolf cubs growing up in the wild. Her clear, accessible text and the striking color photographs capture the cubs as they explore, play, hunt, and learn the rules of their new world.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-Through text and photos, Markle's presentation succinctly describes the birth, physical growth, and education of three gray wolf cubs during the several seasons that it takes them to mature to adulthood. The brief narrative is written in fairly simple language and is interesting enough to share with young children who may be unable to read it themselves. In covering only the basics of the animal's life cycle and habits, this title will be useful as supplemental material for reports. Excellent color photos show the canine family close up as the cubs play, hunt, nurse, and learn to contribute to life in the pack. A short glossary and pronunciation guide also serves as an index. Kay Winters's Wolf Watch (S & S, 1997), an even simpler introduction to this species, describes the cubs' first few months of life in a short, poetic text and has exceptional, realistic color paintings. Jalma Barrett's Wolf (Blackbirch, 2000) is a short, but more thorough introduction to the species on a slightly more difficult level. Michael Dahl's The Wolf (Capstone, 1997) also offers more detailed information. Neither of these latter books narrows in on one wolf pack.

Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4. Markle offers a close-up look at wolf pups in this slender volume from the series that includes Growing Up Wild: Bears (2000). Beginning with the wolves' birth, she remarks on their habits and physical features as well as their growth, play, and learning. The text works well with the often striking full-color photos that illustrate the book. The cubs may look cuddly in some of the photos, but they're clearly carnivorous in others, and that visual candor matches Markle's scientific detachment in reporting details of wolf behavior. A good addition to this inviting series. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum (April 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689818866
• ISBN-13: 978-0689818868
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,491,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

SANDRA MARKLE

Sandra Markle is the author of more than 200 books for children, such as A Mother's Journey (Charlesbridge, 2006), How Many Baby Pandas (Walker, 2009), The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs (Millbrook, 2011), Butterfly Tree (Peachtree Publishing, 2011). She has won numerous awards for this work, including Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices, NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book, SB& F finalist, John Burroughs List of Nature Books for Young Readers, Junior Library Guild Selection, Orbis Pictus Recommended Book, Charlotte Zolotow Award, and MORE.
She was honoured with the title of "Best of Children's Non-Fiction" Georgia Author Of The Year award five times and was named one of 1999's Women of the Year by Women in Technology International for her contributions to science and technology.

In addition to her books, Sandra Markle has developed science specials for CNN and PBS. She is also noted for developing On-Line Expedition: Antarctica, one of the first on-line educational programs and continued adding further on-line reports from Antarctica while working on book projects in 1996 and 1999 as a grantee for the National Science Foundation's Artists and Writers Program.

Reviewers have heaped praise on Markle's books, including:
Outside and Inside Bats "The author presents a particularly felicitous accord of words and pictures in an outstanding science book for the primary grades." The Horn Book Magazine
Outside and Inside Alligators "This newest installment of the Outside and Inside series adds another fine book to a top-notch series." Bookselling This Week, a Kid's Pick of the Lists
Outside and Inside Dinosaurs It's like sitting down with a dinosaur expert who happens to be a great teacher." The Horn Book Magazine

Sandra Markle remains proudest, though, of the praise she has received in fan mail from children. She's happy to fulfill the requests of the young readers that urge her to "please write more."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beauty of wolves, July 20, 2001

By 

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

This review is from: Growing Up Wild: Wolves (Hardcover)

"Growing Up Wild: Wolves," by Sandra Markle, captures the beauty and power of these amazing creatures. The book is richly illustrated throughout with full-color photographs, and includes a glossary of various terms.

The photos in this book are marvelous. We see a wolf pup being born, a pup nursing, pups playing with each other, an adult wolf stalking prey, and adult pack members tearing into a downed prey animal. Although some of the pictures are rather graphic, many are cute and funny. Overall, a good resource for children (and adults!) who are interested in wolves, or in wildlife in general.

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning pictures and a fairly macabre story, February 14, 2006

By 

David J. Miller "postdoc" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wolves (Animal Predators) (Library Binding)

The first half of this book is a step by step explanation of how a pack of wolves takes down a moose -- bared teeth, blood stained snow, ripped flesh and all. Later on, a wolf snags an adorable young fawn, and a pack takes down a young ox. My wife bought this book for the pictures of "cute wolf cubs", but was more or less traumatized as I read the various descriptions of wolves hunting prey aloud to her. If you want an animal book full of cute furry baby animals, then any selection from a series called "Animal Predators" is probably not for you. If descriptions of hunting is what you're after, then this is perfect.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good pictures and facts, January 24, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Wolves (Animal Predators) (Paperback)

Wolves is an amazing book about wolves. It will reveal all the facts you have been wondering about. For example, you may wonder how wolves feed their cubs. You will find that out if you read the book. Ages six or older should read this book. It's an extraordinary book!