The Littlest Wolf
By: Larry Dane Brimner
Illustrated by: Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey
There are many reasons why I enjoyed this book. It reminded me of my family and the relationships I have with my younger sisters. The illustrations were intriguing, but still very simple at the same time. And, the story line was fun to follow with the repetition.
Little One complains to Big Gray that he can't roll in a straight line like Frankie, run fast like Ana, or pounce high like Tyler. Big Gray reassures him that although he can't roll straight like Frankie, but instead zig-zags that it's just how it should be. Big Gray tells him that although he doesn't run like the wind like Ana, but runs more like a soft breeze that it's just how it should be. He also explains to Little One that although he doesn't pounce as high as the oaks or the clouds, that it's just how it should be. At the very end of the book, "Big Gray looked up at the great gnarled oak above them. 'Remember the acorns, Little One,' he whispered in the little wolf's ear. 'They are just as they should be. And look what they become.'"
My sisters and I have, at times, had a very competitive relationship. We all were very into sports, and we wanted to find one that we excelled at more than the other two. We all tried soccer, we all tried tennis, and we all tried gymnastics. I ended up being better at soccer, my middle sister was better at tennis, and they youngest was by far the better gymnast. Although our parents never had to sit us down and tell us that it was okay that the others were better at what they did, we knew deep down and ended up sticking to what we did best.
For me this was a very relatable book just because I have siblings, and I know how competitive that relationship can be. This would also be a good book to read to young kids because I know I was very competitive with the other kids in my classes at a young age. I used to be jealous of girls who could jump rope better or beat me at tether ball. You could read this book to your students and then have them write something nice about another student that they think they do well. Have them draw a picture to go along with it, and then hang them up on the wall for everyone to see. It could help boost moral in the classroom.
I really liked how you told us how you personally relate to the book, and it is true because I think everyone can relate to this book (including me). This would be a good book to bring to the classroom because it can be used to teach the kids acceptance. We are all not good at everything, but everyone has something that there really good at. Whether it be at soccer, running, drawing, etc. The kids will learn to accept themselves for who they are and what they are good at.
ReplyDeleteI loved this blog!! I missed your book talk because I had to help with computer stuff.
ReplyDeleteI think that this would be a great book for the younger kids because most struggle with competition even amongst friends or classmates if they don't have siblings.
I am the oldest of my siblings, and I sometimes feel like I'm competing with my younger siblings even though it shouldn't be that way.
This would be a good book to use to teach a lesson about finding what you are good at and what you love, and not worrying that you aren't good at everything, no one is.
I loved how your blog came out! I think that this a great reading of younger kids because it teaches them of acceptance and boosts their ego. I think that no matter what age we are, will always run into competition. Everyone can easily relate and the children can learn that they will find certain things they are good at and certain things where others will do better than them.
ReplyDeleteI have had students that would have really benifited from hearing a story like this. I really wished I could have heard your book talk. I would also like to use this book in my annotated bib. if that is okay with you? Thanks for sharing about how this makes you think of your sisters.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really cute. I like the moral that it teaches about healthy competition and it also helps with self-confidence! I can definitely relate to this book as well because I have two sisters, in which we all are competitive with each other! The only difference is that we didn't do different sports lol. My sisters and I all were/are cheerleaders!
ReplyDelete