Wolf in the Snow

This nearly wordless picture book, set on the prairie, tells the story of a little girl who gets lost in a snowstorm on her way home from school and a wolf pup who becomes separated from his pack during the same snowstorm. Before the title page, there are vignettes of the child with her family and in her red parka setting off for school. The story opens with the little girl leaving school to walk home as the snow starts to fall. As the snow picks up, the wolf pup gets separated from his pack and the little girl gets lost. The two meet in what has now become a blizzard, and the child picks up the frightened wolf pup and trudges on. She hears the wolf pack howling in the distance and moves toward their howling, carrying the pup over hills, across a stream and through the woods, reuniting the pup with his pack. She tries to make it back home but falls, exhausted and unconscious in the snow. The wolves have followed her, and lick her face to wake her. When that doesn’t work, they start howling. Their howls alert her parents and guide them to her. The last scene shows the parents and child at home, cozy in front of the fire with hot cocoa.

The pen and ink drawings and watercolor illustrations in this book have just the right amount of detail and do a wonderful job depicting the emotions of the story. The desperation of being lost in a blizzard, the girl’s exhaustion, the wolves’ concern for the girl and the cozy safety of home at the journey’s end are all clearly conveyed without a word. Wolf in the Snow, by Matthew Cordell, is a heartwarming story of kindness and courage that is perfect for one-on-one sharing.

Guest post by Allison C. 

Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers!

Though Isaac may look like everyone else, he has special superpowers that make him different from other children at school. Kids who don’t understand Isaac sometimes call him names. In Melanie Walsh’s new book, Isaac and His Amazing Asperger Superpowers!, Isaac’s differences are explained in ways that kids can understand:

“Because I’m a superhero, I have lots of things to think about. I try to remember to be friendly and say hello to people I know, but sometimes I forget. I’m not being rude.”

“Because my teacher knows I’m a superhero, she lets me fidget with my special toy in class. It helps me feel calm and I can listen better.”

“Superheroes listen carefully, but sometimes get confused. When my brother told me that my tummy would go POP if I ate too much...I believed him! I don’t really get jokes like that.”

This is a perfect book for kids who know someone with Asperger syndrome to gain a clearer understanding of the way it manifests itself, and in turn, show compassion and respect. It’s also a great book for any child to read to learn to celebrate some of the differences that make each of us unique.

Don't Be Naughty...Be NICE!

Since this is the time of year when kids generally try a little harder to be nice, why not encourage them with books? Today.com’s perfectly timed article, “6 Books for All Ages That Will Teach Your Kids to Be Nicer Human Beings,” has some great suggestions. All three of the picture books--A Sick Day for Amos McGee, The THANKFUL Book, and Each Kindness--are ones that I know and love. A Sick Day for Amos McGee, especially, always leaves me with a case of the warm fuzzies. Check out these books now to prevent your little one from finding a spot on The Naughty List, and keep them in mind for other times during the year when your child could use some encouragement to behave a bit more lovingly. What are some of your favorite books that promote kindness?