Customer Reviews

One Wolf Howls

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Length:: 2:12 Mins

Excuse the cheesey title for this review--this book deserves much better than my poor titling abilities. One Wolf Howls is a unique combination of a months of the year book and a counting book. One great thing about this structure is that it gets toddlers/preschoolers counting past the dreaded "10" ceiling. Cohn's rhyming text follows a nice predictable pattern and rhythm but is varied enough to keep a small child's attention. And it's easy enough for a little one to repeat most of it along with you. Detwiler's illustrations are just gorgeous (my daughter likes to "pet" the drawing of the wolf cubs). I especially like the illustration for September--we love looking for the hiding wolves. An added attraction is the information about wolves and their habits at the end of the book. While a preschooler might not have the attention span to read/listen to that information, a kindergartener or first grader would, making this the rare picture book that can have a life span of several years of being actively read by the same child. I highly recommend it.

(Disclaimer: Susan Detwiler is my sister-in-law) Disclaimer aside, the naturalistic paintings of wolves alone make the book a must-see, must-have item for wolf fans and people looking for ways to introduce the lives of wolves to children.

ONE WOLF HOWLS succeeds on many different levels! The alliterative text will delight children while introducing them to some of the world's most fascinating creatures. The art is gorgeous and playful. It's more than a clever counting book and a tour through the seasons. Teachers, especially, will appreciate the educational resources and activities at the end. This is one to read and share again and again.

This is an absolutely beautiful book. The rhythmic, rhyming text and colorful illustrations make it a good read-to-me book for toddlers. The large print and repeating words make it a good "I-can-read-it-myself" book for beginning readers. And the activities and additional facts about wolves in the back make it a fun reference book for elementary children. This book will grow with your child, and will be a cherished addition to your library for a long time to come!

REVIEWED BY: Wayne S. Walker, reviewer with Stories for Children Magazine



What do you know about wolves? Most people recognize them and understand that they are relatives of the domesticated dog, but there are many aspects in which the wolf remains a mysterious creature. Scotti Cohn's gentle poetic text tells how one wolf howls in the January moonlight, two wolves play in a February snowfall, three wolves bark on a brisk March morning, and so on. Can you guess how many wolves sing a December chorus? The luscious, full-color drawings by Susan Detwiler that accompany the text are a feast for the eyes.

One thing that makes Sylvan Dell books like One Wolf Howls so great is that they all meet state standards in math and science. Thus, they are not only fun and enjoyable to read, but educational. The "For Creative Minds" educational section at the end of the book, which may be photocopied or printed from Sylvan Dell's website by the owner of the book for educational, non-commercial uses, includes a Wolf Communications Matching Activity, Fun Facts about wolves and their life cycle, a Wolf Calendar Activity, and information about hunting and endangered wolves. Besides gaining knowledge about wolves, very young children whose parents read them this book learn to count from one to twelve and become familiar with the months of the year. Cross-curricular "Teaching Activities," interactive quizzes, and much more are available online at the Sylvan Dell website. One Wolf Howls will delight all youngsters, especially those who like to learn about nature.

One Wolf Howls is a gorgeous, rhyming picturebook that introduces young readers to the majesty of wolves in their natural environment. Though told in the style of a counting rhyme, One Wolf Howls is first and foremost about wolves - author Scotti Cohn consulted with the staff at the Wolf Park and the International Wolf Sanctuary as well as Gina Schrader, Conservation Associate at Defenders of Wildlife, to ensure that all the information presented about wolves is completely accurate. The captivating, realistic color illustrations of a mother wolf and her pups by Susan Detwiler add the perfect touch to this enthralling and highly recommended gift to young fans of these amazing animals. "Six wolves nap in a warm June meadow - / snuffling, snorting, lost in their dreams. / Six wolves nap in a warm June meadow / deep in the woods by the bubbling streams."

This book is not only well illustrated but perfect to help children with counting, there months and for older children it gives them the opportunity to learn about the habits and behaviors of wolves. This is a must have for any child who loves animals!

My Review: I love the educational rhyming of this book that uses the months of the year and the numbers 1 through 12 to introduce children to the behavior of wolves in their natural environment. The story begins with one wolf who howls in the January moonlight and two wolves playing in February's snowfall month to 12 wolves singing a December chorus.

It also provides 5 pages of educational facts and activities.

Wolf Communications Matching Activity
Wolf Fun Facts
Wolf Life Cycle
Wolf Calendar Activity
Hunting
Endangered Wolves

The realistic illustration by Susan Detwiler brings the book to life with the warm and cool colors.

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

My kids would have loved this book when they were still developing language. As it is, they loved it, though they are past its targeted age group of early elementary school or preschool. I loved its visual and emotional impact, and its rolling cadence, almost mimicking the springy gait of a loping canine. It is magical, rhythmical, whimsical and full of natural beauty. One Wolf Howls is a counting book and an affectionate peek at the secretive lives of wolves in their natural environment. Illustrations by Susan Detwiler depict a succession of one, two, three wolves up through twelve per double page, sequentially covering the months of the year. Vibrant background scenes, playful pups and noble pack portraits accompany poetry that entertains, teaches and captivates. One Wolf Howls is a must-have for every young reader's shelf.