Wolf Wanted - Hardcover

Machado, Ana Maria

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0888998805 ISBN 13: 9780888998804

Publisher: Groundwood Books, 2010

Synopsis

When Manny Wolf sees an ad in the paper announcing Wolf Wanted” he responds right away, only to realize the company is looking for a real wolf. Luckily for Manny, so many wolves respond to the ad that he is hired to answer all the letters. As Manny reads between the lines of the wolves’ letters, with their glowing descriptions of themselves, he realizes that all the applicants are famous fictional wolves! Finding no suitable candidates, Manny finally rewrites the ad, clarifying that a real wolf is needed so that a documentary can be made to show people what real wolves are like and how different they are from their big, bad fictional counterparts. Mixing fantasy and reality with zany illustrations, this hilarious story highlights the very serious risk of the extinction of wolves worldwide.

About this title

About the Author:

Ana Maria Machado is one of the world's most distinguished writers for children, with over one hundred books published in her native Brazil and in more than eighteen other countries. She has won the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the SM Iberoamerican Children's Literature Award, and she has been elected to the Brazilian Academy of Letters — the first writer for children to be so honored. She has also been chosen for the honor list of the highly prestigious Dutch Prince Claus Award. Groundwood has published three of her novels, Me in the Middle (Américas Award Commended List), From Another World and Until the Day Arrives, and her picture books Wolf Wanted, which won the FNLIJ Hors Concours, and What a Party! Ana Maria lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Laurent Cardon works as a storyboarder and teaches film. He has illustrated many books, winning the Hors Concours (FNLIJ) twice. He lives in Sao Paulo.

Review:

It is rare that a plea for conservation can be embedded so happily, so humorously, in a picture book as well as this one is. (Susan Perren Globe and Mail 2010-07-01)

The story’s understated wit is magnified to high comedy in Cardon’s dramatic, mixed-media illustrations. (Carolyn Phelan Booklist 2010-04-15)

The artwork adds interest and appeal... (Gregory Bryan CM Magazine 2010-03-19)

a wonderful story...a valuable contribution to the classroom library. (Heather Sellers Multicultural Review 2010-09-01)

Machado makes us think about the play between the fairy tale figure and the real thing, a gentle nudge toward conservation made comic through Cardon's exaggerated characters and collage illustrations. (Deirdre Baker Toronto Star 2010-07-11)

A howling success... (Mary-Alice Downie 2010-01-10)

Manny was looking for a job. He opened the paper and saw:

Wolf Wanted
A good-looking adult with experience for a responsible position. Well paid. Guaranteed. Send a letter describing expectations and a CV to the jobs wanted address at this newspaper.

Manny doubted that wolves could read the paper. Or that they would understand anything about CVs or qualifications... But he did...He knew all about job ads and what the words in them mean. He had been looking for a job for quite a while and had read quite a few of them.

Manny was a Wolf but he wasn't a wolf. He was a person. Just like other people whose last names are the same as certain animals - Coyote, Peacock, Lamb - his last name was Wolf, Manny Wolf. So he decided it was worth trying his luck. And he answered the ad, as though this company wanted to hire someone whose name was Wolf.

About this edition

• Publisher: Groundwood Books
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0888998805
• ISBN 13: 9780888998804
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 40
• Illustrator: Cardon Laurent