The Wolf of Gubbio [Hardcover]

Michael Bedard (Author), Murray Kimber (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000 | Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

At night we lay in bed and listened to the howl of the wolf on the hill. In sleep, we saw his shadow slink along the moonlit wall as the great beast circled the town. No one in Gubbio is safe from the monstrous wolf that stalks them. The townsfolk, armed with pitchforks, travel in groups and never venture out at night. One day a band of strangers comes to town led by the Poverello, the poor one. People say he understands the language of bird and beast. Even so, when he offers to go into the forest and face the wolf, everyone is certain he will never return. What happens between the wolf and the Poverello as they stand face to face, is a matter of trust and understanding. But for the people of Gubbio, and one boy in particular, it is nothing short of a miracle. Based on one of the legends of St. Francis of Assisi, the story may contain some truth. During repairs to a chapel in Gubbio dedicated to the saint, a large wolf’s skull was found underneath the flagstones. The Afterword recounts this amazing fact and provides historical details on the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 2-4, with an adult. With the same hushed, magical cadences he used in Emily 1993), Bedard once again tells a famous tale through the eyes of a child. In this picture book for older readers, a boy looks out over the walled hill town of Gubbio, waiting for a great wolf to appear at his door. As he watches, he recalls why the hungry wolf stopped terrorizing the town. He remembers when Poverello, the little friar (St. Francis of Assisi) came to Gubbio, heard the villagers' stories, sought out the creature, and blessed it and made peace, promising it sustenance if it mended its ways. Murray Kimber's paintings have the hieratic geometry of stained glass, all angles and forms enriched with sun-drenched russets and golds. The huge gray wolf sits starkly against those colors, as occasional small black-and-white sketches decorate the text pages. The quiet of Bedard's narrative is deeply powerful, and children will be intrigued by the afterword, which adds a bit of history to the legend about the saint who talked to animals. GraceAnne DeCandido
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Stunning artwork accompanies this legend of a wolf who menaces the town of Gubbio until the Poverello, St. Francis of Assisi, brings townspeople and wolf into harmony. Gentle and moving - The Ottawa Citizen. What makes this story so powerful is the beautiful simplicity of the language and the magnificent illustrations. - Resource Links The quiet of Bedard's narrative is deeply powerful, and children will be intrigued by the afterword, which adds a bit of history to the legend about the saint who talked to animals. - Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 23 pages
• Publisher: Fitzhenry and Whiteside; 1 edition (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773732500
• ISBN-13: 978-0773732506
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #973,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Little one loves the illustrations, April 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wolf of Gubbio (Hardcover)

The most beautifully illustrated children's book I have yet to experience. My daughter is enthralled. Also, a delightful story. I highly recommend it.