Look to the North: A Wolf Pup Diary

by George, Jean Craighead. Illustrated by Lucia Washburn. (HarperCollins, 1998 ISBN 0064435105. Order Info.) Picture Book. Grades Prek+.

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Random House Children's Books BEYOND THE DEEPWOODS and STORMCHASER --- the first two novels of "The Edge Chronicles" by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell --- made their U.S. publication debut in June. To celebrate the books' U.S. publication, Random House Children's Books is hosting a special contest for U.S. readers open through October where one Grand-Prize Winner will win a trip to the Grand Canyon. For complete rules and regulations visit http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/edgechronicles/index.php?p=news. More information about the books --- including games, a "creature guide" and maps --- can be found online at http://www.edgechronicles.com. The third volume in the series, MIDNIGHT OVER SANCTAPHRAX, is scheduled to hit U.S. bookstores this fall.

Review

We follow three new wolf pups in the den in the far north. A record of the passing time is expressed in number of weeks at the top left of each spread. Italic sentences tell what its happening at that time in the world of many readers. A vignette on the opposite page illustrates a part of that experience while the large illustrations and the major part of the text shows how the baby wolves are progressing.

Activities

Time, Calendar
Mark the times indicated in the book on a calendar and then go back to the book. This time, state the month as you read each event.

Comparing Literature, Time, Calendar
Find and read the book, Happy Birth Day featured on page 38 of Picture Books in the Classroom. Use the calendar from the activity above and mark down what the baby would be capable of doing at that age, if it is born at the same time the wolf pups are.

Wolves
Write down a list of facts about wolves that you learned from this book. Then read Seymour Simon's book Wolves on page 218 of Picture Books in the Classroom. Add facts to your list from that book.

Main Idea
Why do you think Jean Craighead George wrote this book? What does she want you to know?

Fact and Fiction, Main Idea
Compare this book to Seymour Seymour's book Wolves (see page 218 of Picture Books in the Classroom) and Walk with a Wolf by Janni Howker (Candlewick, 2002 ISBN 0763618721). Then make up a chart like the one below.

Map Skills
On a globe, locate some of the places where Jean George's book could have happened. Locate some of the places where the person could be who sees the other things in the book like the arrival of red-wing blackbirds.

Comparing Personal Experience
Do all the things mentioned in the part of the book in italic print happen in your part of the world? Which ones do not? Change those things to those that do happen in your area.

Calendar, Weather, Climate
Mark on a calendar the time of the year when, if ever, you can expect to see snow in your area. When does the weather start to get hot? When do green things start to grow? When do the leaves turn brown?

Community
Notice how the whole wolf pack helps to care for the cubs. What other animals are part of a community? How does your community help to raise children?

Food Chain
Make food chains for each animal mentioned in the book.

Related Areas Within Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Web Site

• This newsletter is an excerpt from our CD book:
  Picture Books in the Classroom available online at:
  http://www.carolhurst.com/products/picturebooks.html

• Other books by us:
  http://www.carolhurst.com/products/products.html

Related Areas Elsewhere on the Internet

• Wolf Pictures and Facts http://fohn.net/wolf-pictures-facts/ including links to more wolf sites.

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