Wolfie: An Unlikely Hero
is an amusing, entertaining, hilarious story that will make you laugh out loud.
Stories
about wolves usually have a predictable storyline but Deborah Ablea’s first
picture book, Wolfie: An Unlikely Hero
is the exception to this rule.
Wolfie
doesn’t want the author of the story to stereotype him as the villain. He
doesn’t want to be seen as a wolf that eats rabbits, piglets or chickens nor
does he want to be depicted as scary.
Wolfie
wants to be seen as nice wolf, which is loyal and courageous with the ability
to save princesses.
Abela
is a weaver of great words and characters. She has Wolfie talking directly to
the author ‘Just last week I saved my cousin form drowning. Where’s that story?’
and then the author within the story begins again ‘ONCE UPON A TIME there was a
perfectly nice, brave wolf, who…’ and the reader hopes with all their might
that Wolfie gets the story he wants.
The
illustrations by Connah Brecon are a magnificent addition to the story. The
pictures are expressive and show the scene’s mood brilliantly. Brecon depicts
Wolfie at times in a whimsical manner, for example: when Abela describes Wolfie
as ‘sleek and strong, cunning and quick.’ Brecon has Wolfie kissing his biceps.
Wolfie: An Unlikely Hero
is a real page-turner that demands to be read and then read again and again.
Title: Wolfie: An Unlikely Hero
Author: Deborah
Abela
Illustrator: Connah
Brecon
Publisher: Random
House Australia, $24.99
Publication
Date:
1 May 2017
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780143781509
For ages: 4+
Type: Picture
Book
