Wolf Child

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Summary: About Wolf Child
Review: The story is about a boy named Teo whose father died in a hunt when he was one.Now he is nine.This story about Teo takes place long ago when the world was young,at the time the first fire was created.Teo is too strong to gather herbs with the woman and to weak to hunt with the men so he has to be a toolmaker.One day he finds a wolf cub which are siad to bring bad luck.Teo is allowed to keep the cub which he names Nyac after the wind which was siad to bring good luck.Will Nyac bring Teo good or bad luck?You'll have to read to find out.I like this book because it has a little action and suspense.

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Summary: Long ago when the world was young...
Review: These are the words that start the reader on a journey into the distant past, into the time of cave dwellers, wooly mammoths, and ancient beliefs. The main characters in this wonderful children's story are Teo, a sickly young boy, and an orphaned wolf cub that he rescues and names Ahno-Nyac, which means "Magic Wind". Teo is an apprentice to the tribe's toolmaker. He is unable to become a hunter like the rest of the boys because of a sickness that leaves him weak. Just as life seems too unfair to bear, he stumbles upon the wolf cub, a chance meeting that will change both of their lives. I stumbled across this book while searching for an alternative literature selection for my sixth grade English as a Second Language class (ESL).The sixth grade social studies curriculum begins with the study of cave dwellers. I wanted to find a book that was interesting to read while enriching to the social studies lessons and was on an easier reading level than Maroo of the Winter Caves. The first thing I noticed about Wolf Child was the beautiful illustrations. Dennis Nolan has dedicated full pages to wonderfully detailed watercolors. Although the reading level is still too high for some of my newer ESL students, I knew that we would all enjoy discussing the pictures as they move us through the story. I also think that the themes of love and friendship are easy to relate to regardless of native language or reading ability.Many of my students also relate to the themes of pain and change as they struggle through their pre-teen years. The story of Teo and Nyac may be set 18,000 years ago, but the well-written text and well-balanced plot makes it easier to teach about the reasons for powerful superstitions in a pre-scientific age and the ingenuity and inventiveness of our primitive ancestors. Dennis Nolan also includes the addresses of the Defenders of Wildlife and the Candian Wolf Defenders on the credit page. His summary acknowledges that nature as Teo knew it is long gone, and that if we do not take care of our wildlife and their habitats, we also could lose a way of life many of us enjoy. The reinforced binding and positive student feedback will guarantee that Wolf Child will be on my classroom library shelf for many years.