Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary [Paperback]

Jean Craighead George (Author), Lucia Washburn (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 18, 1998 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years

Newbery Medalist Jean Craighead George lovingly tells the story of three wolf pups--from the moment they open their eyes to the time they lead the hunt. Lyrical passages in her wolf pup diary describe how the pups tumble and play and when they first learn to howl and talk wolk talk. Readers are reminded of the changes in nature that are happening in the lower 48 states as they "look to the north" to watch the wolf pups grow. Jean George's words and Lucia Washburn's breathtaking paintings give the reader a rare glimpse of one of nature's noblest creatures: the wolf.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This year-long chronicle follows three wolf pups born in Alaska's alpine tundra; PW praised both the storytelling and the realistic illustrations, calling the book "a sure bet for animal lovers." Ages 5-9.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. George uses a journal approach to illuminate the first 10+ months of life for three wolf pups born to an alpine tundra pack. Each entry in the "diary" is prefaced with a message (in colored inks) to readers/listeners living south of the area telling them how to keep "tundra-time" in the framework of their own seasons. "When you see dandelions turning silver...." "When the yellow warblers return...." "When you are eating fresh blueberries...." Then, George writes, "Look to the north" and in the following paragraph(s), she describes the pups, their gradual development, and their environment. The lyrical text is accompanied by large, realistic acrylic paintings of the adult wolves, the pups, and their habitat along with small cameos of the southern reminders?a clump of dandelions, a yellow warbler (the illustrator should consult a Peterson guide), ripe blueberries, etc. The author's research is impeccable, and her affection for her subject evident, affirmed in a personal note. Children will take pleasure in the simply worded narrative and the warm pictures, and will store some accurate wolf data in their memories, as well as take stronger note of their own habitats as they keep an eye out for dandelions, for fresh blueberries on the table, and for Halloween jack-o-lanterns on front porches.?Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (September 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064435105
• ISBN-13: 978-0064435109
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 10 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jean Craighead George was born in a family of naturalists. Her father, mother, brothers, aunts and uncles were students of nature. On weekends they camped in the woods near their Washington, D.C. home, climbed trees to study owls, gathered edible plants and made fish hooks from twigs. Her first pet was a turkey vulture. In third grade she began writing and hasn't stopped yet. She has written over 100 books.Her book, Julie of the Wolves won the prestigious Newbery Medal, the American Library Association's award for the most distinguished contribution to literature for children, l973. My Side of the Mountain, the story of a boy and a falcon surviving on a mountain together, was a 1960 Newbery Honor Book. She has also received 20 other awards.She attended Penn State University graduating with a degree in Science and Literature. In the 1940s she was a reporter for The Washington Post and a member of the White House Press Corps. After her children were born she returned to her love of nature and brought owls, robins, mink, sea gulls, tarantulas - 173 wild animals into their home and backyard. These became characters in her books and, although always free to go, they would stay with the family until the sun changed their behavior and they migrated or went off to seek partners of their own kind.When her children, Twig, Craig and Luke, were old enough to carry their own backpacks, they all went to the animals. They climbed mountains, canoed rivers, hiked deserts. Her children learned about nature and Jean came home and to write books. Craig and Luke are now environmental scientists and Twig writes children's books, too.One summer Jean learned that the wolves were friendly, lived in a well-run society and communicated with each other in wolf talk -- sound, sight, posture, scent and coloration. Excited to learn more, she took Luke and went to the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory in Barrow, Alaska, where scientists were studying this remarkable animal. She even talked to the wolves in their own language. With that Julie of the Wolves was born. A little girl walking on the vast lonesome tundra outside Barrow, and a magnificent alpha male wolf, leader of a pack in Denali National Park were the inspiration for the characters in the book. Years later, after many requests from her readers, she wrote the sequels, Julie and Julie's Wolf Pack.She is still traveling and coming home to write. In the last decade she has added two beautiful new dimensions to her words beautiful full-color picture book art by Wendell Minor and others and - music. Jean is collaborating with award-winning composer, Chris Kubie to bring the sounds of nature to her words.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Charming, Beautifully Illustrated Book February 16, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This book is a wonderful source in which children can accurately learn about wolves. Far too often, wolves are portrayed as evil, malicious creatures, and this book gives children a realistic look at the lives of these beautiful animals. The illustrations are gentle, warm, and beautiful. I have read it to classes of kindergarteners and first graders, and they enjoy the stunning illustrations and the adorable antics of the wolf pups. Great as an entertaining story or as an information book, children are sure to enjoy this beautiful book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars LOOK TO THE NORTH: A WOLF PUP DIARY Masks Fact As Fiction April 21, 2000

By "thebookreader"

Format:Hardcover

"I love wolf pups" begins the introduction (written by the author) to LOOK TO THE NORTH. George's readers could easily have figured that after at least a page of this educational picture book.

Telling the story of Boulder, Scree, and Talus, three fictional wolf pups, it truly is a wolf pup diary, as there is a new page for every critical stage in wolfpuphood. You can learn something new about early months of wolf pups on every page, while the style and storyline of the book are brilliantly masked as fiction (for the porpose of the book appealing to young ones.)

The full-color pictures only add to the fun of this book, and the detials in them are breathtaking! The pictures alone are enough to tell the story to the very youngest readers, but the words give something the pictures cannot, as do almost all books that I have seen.

Note that older readers will also enjoy JULIE OF THE WOLVES and it's two sequels, JULIE and then JULIE'S WOLF PACK, by Jean Craighead George, the author of LOOK TO THE NORTH: A WOLF PUP DIARY.

And now I have no more to say, so, as ends the introduction....

Why do I love them so? They are wonderful. Look to the north and you will love them, too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Look to the North October 30, 2002

By "narcissistic_irken"

Format:Hardcover

Jean Craighead George has always been a favorite author of mine, and coincidentally enough, I have always been fond of wolves, so imagine my surprise when I, the dainty little girl of the 90s received "Look to the North" from my Aunt. Immediately I fell into the outstanding illustrations, and the unique way to follow the lives in my favorite animal.
Several years later, and with a sense of higher literacy later, I am found sitting in my high school English class pulling out one of my favorite possessions from my dusty children stories-bookcase and regained my sense of wonder again for the first time since my innocent age of nine. It's a wonder that the edges wave not been torn as much as my other treasures, and looked upon it as some sort of holy artifact saved in my holy sanctuary now adorned by hundreds of photographs, oil paintings, and sketches of wolves I can know honestly blame the inspiration on this very story. Sometimes you have to wonder how something as insignificant as a children's story can effect your life.
"A Look to the North" is about, you could say, the story of a wolf pack introducing the pups from birth to adulthood. If your son or daughter takes interest in any animal, buy him or her this book. Neither of you will regret it.