Wolf in the Snow gets 4 Stars {picture book, wordless, caldecott}

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell is the 2018 Caldecott Medal Winner!  Wahoo!  That's a pretty big deal, so you'll soon be seeing all of these books with a pretty gold sticker on it.   Just so you know, the Caldecott is an award for the book with the best pictures/illustrations that was published in America last year.  

Wolf in the Snow is a wordless picture book which obviously means there are no words.  The pictures tell the story.  I love using wordless books with my toddlers all the way up to 3rd grade.  With my preschooler I first tell her the story, but after we read it a few times she usually begins to take over with the "reading."  This builds her confidence with books, and I get to see that she knows how a story is laid out.  At 3 years old she knows there are characters, a problem, and a solution. This is a reading strategy you can do with young children as well as older students.  

When I was an elementary school librarian I had my 2nd and 3rd grade classes writing "words" aka the story to a wordless book.  Wolf in the Snow would be perfect for a winter time writing lesson.  This picture book is sweet and simple.  All animal lovers will feel a special pull to this book, and parents with young children will feel something reading this book.   It's definitely a book you need to check out. 

Overall, I felt Wolf in the Snow is a good book with good illustrations.  I didn't think the illustrations and story were great, and that's the main reason it lost a star in my book review.  However, the message of helping others and they, or karma, will help you in times of need.  

What did you think of Wolf in the Snow?    

Happy Wordless Caldecott Medal Winning Sweet Story about Karma reading!

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 2-8 year olds, Toddlers and up. 
Worth a Check Out: Yes
Buy It or Not: If you are an animal lover than definitely.
Read Aloud: No. 
Lesson Ideas: Snow, snowstorms, family, wolves in packs, wolf cubs, write the story/tell the story to a classmate; karma, Golden Rule.