Wolf in the Snow

Book title Wolf in the Snow 

Author, Illustrator Matthew Cordell

Publisher, Year Feiwel & Friends, 2017

Bibliography

Cordell, M. (2017). Wolf in the Snow. New York, NY: Feiwel & Friends.

Plot

Wolf in the Snow is the story of a young girl who gets lost in the snow as she heads home from school. As the snowstorm becomes more intense, the young girl encounters a young wolf. The young pup is lost as well. The young girl takes the pup and travels with it until they can find the pup’s parents. Once the pup is returned to their pack, the young girl continues on her journey. As night settles in, the wolves help the young girl but getting the attention of the girl’s family. By the end, the two lost characters are reunited with their families, safe and sound.

Critical Analysis

The story of Wolf in the Snow shows that one can tell a story through illustration. The story has no dialogue and the only works are in this book are the sounds and actions the characters make. The thing that stands out about the artwork is the shapes that are used throughout the story; particularly triangles. From our main character shaped like a red triangle in her coat to the building and tree, the illustrator uses this shape throughout the story. He distinct the human characters through color even though they are shaped similarly when wearing their coats. Another thing that is profound in the artwork is the passage of time. The story begins in the morning as the girl leaves for school and ends in the night as her parent finds her. We are also able to see how the storm worsens as the day progress which increases the severity of the situation. Though it may not state where this book is being taken place, it can be inferred that it is taking place up north where snowstorms are common during the winter.

What is insightful about this picture book is the contrast of another book dealing with a girl in a red cloak that encounters a wolf in her journey. In the story of Red Riding Hood, the wolf eats the young girl and her grandmother. With Wolf in the Snow, the girl in the red coat is spared and saved by the wolf due to her kindness and saving their pup. This is a message to the reader that an act of kindness can be rewarded in unexpected ways.

Awards & Recognitions

2018 Caldecott Medal - Winner (Picture Book)

Kirkus Reviews Best Books of the Year

Booklist Editors' Choice  

School Library Best Books of the Year

Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List 

CPL: Chicago Public Library Best of the Best

Evanston IL Public Library Best Books of the Year 

NPR Best Book of the Year