Whispers of the Wolf - Hardcover

Ts'o, Pauline

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1937786455 ISBN 13: 9781937786458

Publisher: Wisdom Tales, 2015

Synopsis

"Ahrooooooo" went the cry. It was the call of the wolf pack. A young boy named Two Birds heard it, and so did his wolf. Two Birds had found the abandoned wolf pup, and they had grown up together. Now, the wild was calling, and Two Birds had a choice to make. Struggling with a mix of emotions, he must decide whether his love for the wolf is greater than his need to be near it. Will Two Birds learn to let go—not just of the wolf, but also of his own fears?

Whispers of the Wolf is a beautiful picture book set around 500 years ago among the Pueblo Indians of the desert Southwest. A heartwarming piece of historical fiction, it weaves together themes of community, tradition, self-esteem, and respect for all life, creating a realistic portrait of a culture that continues to exert a vibrant, living influence today.

About this title

About the Author

Pauline Ts'o is an author, illustrator, screenwriter, photographer, and co-founder of Rhythm and Hues Studios, a computer animation and visual effects company that has won multiple Academy Awards (Life of Pi, Babe, and The Golden Compass―Best Visual Effects). Pauline's production credits as a digital artist and lighting/art director include Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Disney's theme park attraction It's Tough to be a Bug, and various commercials, including the first Coca-Cola Polar Bear spot. She lives in Los Angeles, CA, with her husband and two fast-growing twins.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Two Birds is shy and feels isolated from the other boys in his 16th-century Pueblo village. One day, he finds an abandoned wolf pup and decides to rescue and raise it. Through his wolf, he finds his voice as a storyteller and earns the respect and friendship of his peers. Eventually, he must choose whether to keep his wolf in captivity or allow it to run free and pursue its true nature. The stylized pastel illustrations successfully support the emotions of the story and do a particularly nice job of connecting the grandeur of the natural world to Two Birds's daily life. Ts'o includes notes on each of the illustrations, including information about cultural practices, environmental and historical context, and suggestions for further reading. The story is historical fiction, not a retelling of a traditional story or legend, and although she is not Native herself, the author has made an effort to respectfully tell a story that will resonate with modern-day Pueblos without appropriation. In her foreword, Rosemary Apple Blossom Lonewolf, who is enrolled in the Santa Clara Pueblo (Tewa) tribe, states that "I am happy to declare Whispers of the Wolf a satisfying blend of words and images descriptive of a young Pueblo boy's life." The book also includes an approving preface by Vivian Arviso Deloria, an educator enrolled in the Navajo nation. VERDICT With its respectful portrayal of historical Pueblo life and universally appealing animal rescue story, this title is recommended for purchase by most libraries.—Anna Haase Krueger, Ramsey County Library, MN

Edition details

• Publisher: Wisdom Tales
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1937786455
• ISBN 13: 9781937786458
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 40