Wolf in the Snow
Age 5+
Picture Storybooks
Winner of the 2018 Caldecott Medal
A girl is lost in a snowstorm. A wolf cub is lost, too. How will they find their way home?
Pictures rich with feeling tell this satisfying story of friendship and trust. Here is a book set on a wintry night that will spark imaginations and warm hearts, from award-winning author and illustrator Matthew Cordell.
"Beautifully paced....ultimately reassuring." Wall Street Journal
"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 girl's story is a hero's journey, and Cordell tells it with skill and heart." Publishers Weekly, starred review
Creators
Matthew Cordell is the Caldecott award-winning author and illustrator of Wolf in the Snow, Trouble Gum, Another Brother, hello! hello!, and Wish. He has illustrated numerous books by renowned authors including Philip Stead (Special Delivery), Rachel Vail (the Justin Case series), and Gail Carson Levine (Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems). He lives with his family in Gurnee, Illinois.
Reviews
A clever tale of trust and friendship and a joy to share
Irish Independent
What distinguishes this book are the many feelings that Cordell’s pen-and-ink-with-watercolor illustrations capture so well – cold, fear, courage, exhaustion, relief – keeping readers hooked to the end. Deeply satisfying.
Kirkus Reviews
Cordell’s pen-and-ink illustrations balance detail and emotion…The setting is brought to life through changing sky colors, cold breaths, and extensive snowscapes in watercolors. The handlettered, inky text, wordless except for sound effects, supports the cinematic feel created through the use of varying perspectives and loosely demarcated panels. Suspenseful page-turns and aerial views on double-page spreads keep readers worrying about the protagonist until the very end, when the family is shown by the fireside with steamy mugs and pet dog’s cozy contrast to the fraught outdoor adventure.
Horn Book, starred review
A stunning near wordless picture book which will inspire the story teller in all of its readers… a quite different and hugely heart-warming drama about trust and friendship.
LoveReading4Kids
This nearly wordless picture book is a tender, never precious story of kindness and cooperation. Expect this wintry tale to bring only warmth
Booklist
