Wolf in the Snow

Caught in a blizzard on her way home from school, a girl in a red parka discovers a wolf pup left behind by its pack. Cordell’s story is wordless, but there’s a soundtrack: the cub whines, and distant howls reveal the pack’s presence over the next hill. The snow is deep, and the girl is tired, but she puts the pup first, scooping it up and heading toward the howls, undaunted by frightening encounters along the way. Cordell (Leaps and Bounce) uses his customary light and loopy scrawl for the girl, but the bristling fur and open mouths of the wolves are startlingly real. The mother wolf comes to meet them: her golden eyes blaze, and she growls softly. But she’s grateful, and when the girl collapses going home, the pack shows its gratitude in an unexpected way. Cozy vignettes, framed in rough circles, help reassure readers that the story will end well, and so does a tender opening portrait of the family. The girl’s story is a hero’s journey, and Cordell tells it with skill and heart. Ages 2–6. [em]Agent: Rosemary Stimola, Stimola Literary Studio. (Jan.) [/em]