Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Wolf by Jennifer Bove
Published by HarperCollins on December 31st 2018
ISBN: 0062432206
Pages: 32
Goodreads

I Wish I Was a Wolf is an informational early reader book that aims to give young readers facts about wolves. Each page is a full color picture of wolves with a white box giving information on a certain aspect of wolves’ lives. Bové structures the book to encourage children to compare aspects of their own lives with those of wolves. Unfortunately, this means that Bové then ends the book with an odd page that asks kids if they really want to “live outdoors? Lick [themselves] clean? Eat thrown-up meat?” and then tells them that luckily they don’t have to because they’re themselves. Structuring the book like this takes away from the informational aspects and adds nothing in return. Additionally, some of the facts are simplified to the point of misinformation.

Included in the backmatter are a “Did you know?” section,  a “Fun Zone” with activities based on wolf sounds, a short glossary, and a link to more information. There is no table of contents. Vocabulary seems to best first a first or second-grade reader.

A secondary purchase where animal books for readers are very popular.

Reviewed by Sarah Cropley, Scarborough Public Library.