Wolf Child (Hardcover)

~ (Author, Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-5-- While the lovely watercolor illustrations and story make this an attractive book, Nolan's Ice-Age world lacks the core of reality which gives good historic fiction its edge. Nine-year-old Teo, too weakened by illness to hunt with the men, is learning to become a toolmaker. When he finds an orphaned wolf cub, he begs to keep it and permission is reluctantly granted by Ohnka, the tribe's stern leader--but only until winter when she is old enough to hunt for herself. He is true to his word and, with the first snow, the wolf child, now a loved companion, is forced into the wild. She returns, however, in time to save both Teo and Ohnka from a mammoth's charge, and is welcomed back to the tribe. Although the book is sprinkled with historic detail and the kinds of legends and beliefs shared by many primitive peoples, both the story and illustrations have been sweetened and sanitized to Disneyesque proportions. The stock characters are handsome, clean, neatly groomed, and, although this is the Ice Age, they wear clean, fluffy furs which only partially cover their healthy, well-porportioned bodies. There is no real sense of cold, danger, or hunger, and illness is only mentioned as the source of Teo's isolation (although he looks healthy in the illustrations). While the sentiment and sense of adventure make this an appealing story, children looking for a story set in a primitive world will get a stronger sense of the daily struggle for food from Scott O'Dell's Island of the Blue Dolphins (1960), and the real dangers faced by a sickly child from T. A. Dyer's A Way of His Own (1981, both Houghton). --Eleanor K. MacDonald, Beverly Hills Public Library
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Too weakened by illness to be a hunter, nine-year-old Teo is apprenticed to the toolmaker Mova but leads a lonely existence until he finds and befriends an orphaned wolf cub. But food is scarce and the leader of the clan is against keeping the animal.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (September 30, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0027681416
• ISBN-13: 978-0027681413
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,027,209 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Long ago when the world was young..., February 3, 2000

By	Renee Boblette (Tustin, CA United States) - See all my reviews

These are the words that start the reader on a journey into the distant past, into the time of cave dwellers, wooly mammoths, and ancient beliefs. The main characters in this wonderful children's story are Teo, a sickly young boy, and an orphaned wolf cub that he rescues and names Ahno-Nyac, which means "Magic Wind". Teo is an apprentice to the tribe's toolmaker. He is unable to become a hunter like the rest of the boys because of a sickness that leaves him weak. Just as life seems too unfair to bear, he stumbles upon the wolf cub, a chance meeting that will change both of their lives. I stumbled across this book while searching for an alternative literature selection for my sixth grade English as a Second Language class (ESL).The sixth grade social studies curriculum begins with the study of cave dwellers. I wanted to find a book that was interesting to read while enriching to the social studies lessons and was on an easier reading level than Maroo of the Winter Caves. The first thing I noticed about Wolf Child was the beautiful illustrations. Dennis Nolan has dedicated full pages to wonderfully detailed watercolors. Although the reading level is still too high for some of my newer ESL students, I knew that we would all enjoy discussing the pictures as they move us through the story. I also think that the themes of love and friendship are easy to relate to regardless of native language or reading ability.Many of my students also relate to the themes of pain and change as they struggle through their pre-teen years. The story of Teo and Nyac may be set 18,000 years ago, but the well-written text and well-balanced plot makes it easier to teach about the reasons for powerful superstitions in a pre-scientific age and the ingenuity and inventiveness of our primitive ancestors. Dennis Nolan also includes the addresses of the Defenders of Wildlife and the Candian Wolf Defenders on the credit page. His summary acknowledges that nature as Teo knew it is long gone, and that if we do not take care of our wildlife and their habitats, we also could lose a way of life many of us enjoy. The reinforced binding and positive student feedback will guarantee that Wolf Child will be on my classroom library shelf for many years.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars About Wolf Child, October 16, 2002

A Kid's Review

The story is about a boy named Teo whose father died in a hunt when he was one.Now he is nine.This story about Teo takes place long ago when the world was young,at the time the first fire was created.Teo is too strong to gather herbs with the woman and to weak to hunt with the men so he has to be a toolmaker.One day he finds a wolf cub which are siad to bring bad luck.Teo is allowed to keep the cub which he names Nyac after the wind which was siad to bring good luck.Will Nyac bring Teo good or bad luck?You'll have to read to find out.I like this book because it has a little action and suspense.