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Tristan Wolf
When Tristan was a baby he was abandoned in the forest. He was discovered and raised by wolves. Even though he loves his wolf family, Tristan has the need to find himself. He starts a journey where he will find adventures, new friends and a big surprise. Recommended for kids ages 8 to 12, it is also a great read for any adult that enjoys timeless and exciting stories.
34 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2013
About the author
Mariana Llanos
91 books35 followersMariana Llanos is a children’s books writer, poet, and translator. Born in Lima, Peru, she’s the author of several books including the 2024 Pura Belpre Honor Book and Oklahoma Book Award Finalist, Benita y las criaturas nocturnas/Benita and the Night Creatures, and the 2022 Oklahoma Book Award winner Run Little Chaski/Corre Pequeño Chaski!. Other titles include Luca's Bridge/El puente de Luca (2021 ALSC Notable Book Awards), Eunice and Kate (Paterson Prize Books for Young Readers) Kutu, the Tiny Inca Princess (Campoy-Ada Awards), the audio story Qoritika and the Three Alpacas, featured on Tiny Tales by Pampers Podcast produced by Sony Music Entertainment. among others. In 2017, Mariana received the Oklahoma Human Rights Award for her work visiting schools in different countries around the world through virtual technology. That same year she was selected as the Best Latino Artist by the Hispanic Arts Council of Oklahoma. Her upcoming books include two chapter book series, Vampirita (July 2024) and Martina and her Bright Star (2025) with Reycraft Books. She’s a co-founder of LatinxPitch, a virtual event that boosts the representation of Latino creatives in the children’s publishing industry and co-chair of the Latino Committee for the Firehouse Arts Center in Norman Oklahoma. In addition to writing, Mariana is an experienced speaker who visits schools regularly. She resides in Oklahoma City with her children. marianallanos.com
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 25, 2013
This is a delightful tale, whimsically told and wonderfully illustrated, about a young boy raised in the wild by wolves. Reading this to an eight-year-old and a two-year-old, I was delighted at how it held the attention of both, as I was prodded, again and again, to turn the page, to see what happens next. One wonders what the outcome could possibly be as Tristan discovers his true nature and sets out into the world.
Children will readily identify with Tristan as he sets out on his journey of discovery, as all mythic heroes do, to find who he really is. And readers will be surprised at the outcome.
Assisted by art that is refreshing but never overpowering, the story moves at a pace that will leave neither child nor adult bored. Engaged from the first page, and sorry to see the last page arrive, I can recommend Tristan Wolf as a tale beautifully rendered in words and art.
Children will readily identify with Tristan as he sets out on his journey of discovery, as all mythic heroes do, to find who he really is. And readers will be surprised at the outcome.
Assisted by art that is refreshing but never overpowering, the story moves at a pace that will leave neither child nor adult bored. Engaged from the first page, and sorry to see the last page arrive, I can recommend Tristan Wolf as a tale beautifully rendered in words and art.
June 8, 2013
This review can also be seen on topoftheheapreviews(dot)com
Tristan Wolf, a child abandoned as a child and raised by wolves realizes that she is different from the others around her. She is able to use two legs, and she doesn’t have the fur that the other members of her family do. She decides to go on a journey to meet the people that she looks like, the other humans, and meets some interesting characters and learns a little bit about his self along the way.
Written in a very simple, very accessible style the book is still really for older children. Possibly eight or older. The reason for this in my opinion is that there are time when the story text is two full page and has no illustrations. The text on the other pages are almost full pages of text, so it will take a little bit more focus and attention in order to get through it. The child reading will be rewarded though when finished, by a satisfying ending that will help them to understand their imagination, and really empower them to use it and create worlds of their own.
Each character is described fully by actions and illustrations in ways that the readers can understand and are believable.
The illustrations by Rocio Perez del Solar are done beautifully. While abstract a bit compared to other kids books, it really sets it apart, and is really approx-pro of of how the text is written and the story within.
The Bottom Line: The book is a good edition to any library. It can open conversations about the differences between people who look differently and live differently, it can also open up conversations about the differences between fact and fiction. The story is well written and the illustrations match the text. You can’t ask for anything more in a children’s book!
Tristan Wolf, a child abandoned as a child and raised by wolves realizes that she is different from the others around her. She is able to use two legs, and she doesn’t have the fur that the other members of her family do. She decides to go on a journey to meet the people that she looks like, the other humans, and meets some interesting characters and learns a little bit about his self along the way.
Written in a very simple, very accessible style the book is still really for older children. Possibly eight or older. The reason for this in my opinion is that there are time when the story text is two full page and has no illustrations. The text on the other pages are almost full pages of text, so it will take a little bit more focus and attention in order to get through it. The child reading will be rewarded though when finished, by a satisfying ending that will help them to understand their imagination, and really empower them to use it and create worlds of their own.
Each character is described fully by actions and illustrations in ways that the readers can understand and are believable.
The illustrations by Rocio Perez del Solar are done beautifully. While abstract a bit compared to other kids books, it really sets it apart, and is really approx-pro of of how the text is written and the story within.
The Bottom Line: The book is a good edition to any library. It can open conversations about the differences between people who look differently and live differently, it can also open up conversations about the differences between fact and fiction. The story is well written and the illustrations match the text. You can’t ask for anything more in a children’s book!
May 30, 2013
The story tells of a young child who as an infant is left alone in the woods and is adopted by a wolf. The young child grows up living with the pack and is cared for by his “mother”. A day eventually comes when Tristan begins to question who he is and heads to the world of humans. The illustrations by Rocio Perez del Solar do a great job of adding to the allure of the book.
The story is written in a manner that those who read the book will keep interested no matter the age. The unique illustrations add to the story and are another way to keep a person interested. The target age would be for those over 8 years old and being 40 I found I was equally interested in the story.
What you will find within this children’s book is a story that teaches a few things to a child. Through pages as you follow Tristan you find how he tries to interact in the world and wants nothing more than to learn. He wants to find what humans are like but at the same time is like any child and questions the world. A youthful questioning that can be contagious to the reader and those listening to the story as it is read.
The other great thing from this book is it helps to show the importance of using your imagination. It is engaging and helps to show the importance of taking time and letting your mind run wild. It may help rekindle the love of reading to your child, and rekindle the use of your imagination. It’s what makes a children’s book so great. A story that is engrossing enough a child will learn and the adult will cherish that time.
The story is written in a manner that those who read the book will keep interested no matter the age. The unique illustrations add to the story and are another way to keep a person interested. The target age would be for those over 8 years old and being 40 I found I was equally interested in the story.
What you will find within this children’s book is a story that teaches a few things to a child. Through pages as you follow Tristan you find how he tries to interact in the world and wants nothing more than to learn. He wants to find what humans are like but at the same time is like any child and questions the world. A youthful questioning that can be contagious to the reader and those listening to the story as it is read.
The other great thing from this book is it helps to show the importance of using your imagination. It is engaging and helps to show the importance of taking time and letting your mind run wild. It may help rekindle the love of reading to your child, and rekindle the use of your imagination. It’s what makes a children’s book so great. A story that is engrossing enough a child will learn and the adult will cherish that time.
October 7, 2013
If your children are fans of, or your inner-child is a fan of Walt Disney’s ‘Jungle Book’, then you will love Tristan Wolf by Mariana Llanos!
Right off from the start, you have the feel of the ‘wild-child’ in the jungle, only with Tristan Wolf, you are in the woods. Tristan is captured by his reflection in the water and by questions mulling around in his head of why he is so different compared to his pack family of wolves.
With approval from his wolf mother and some caution to be watchful of humans, Tristan runs off on an adventure seeking the answers to his complex questions.
Tristan Wolf does ignite the imaginations of all children and all readers. The fun tale of Tristan Wolf is packed with suspense, adventure and family.
Although, this book reminds me of Jungle Book in the start, Tristan Wolf carries a uniqueness of its own with bright, complimentary, native-like illustrations and a brilliant, twist ending that will catch all readers off guard!
I highly recommend this book. It is one that your children will remember for a long time and most likely will want to read again. Tristan Wolf by Mariana Llanos is 5 Stars! This book is suitable for all children, starting with those who are read to and up to about age 10.
We look forward to reading more Tristan Wolf books!
Right off from the start, you have the feel of the ‘wild-child’ in the jungle, only with Tristan Wolf, you are in the woods. Tristan is captured by his reflection in the water and by questions mulling around in his head of why he is so different compared to his pack family of wolves.
With approval from his wolf mother and some caution to be watchful of humans, Tristan runs off on an adventure seeking the answers to his complex questions.
Tristan Wolf does ignite the imaginations of all children and all readers. The fun tale of Tristan Wolf is packed with suspense, adventure and family.
Although, this book reminds me of Jungle Book in the start, Tristan Wolf carries a uniqueness of its own with bright, complimentary, native-like illustrations and a brilliant, twist ending that will catch all readers off guard!
I highly recommend this book. It is one that your children will remember for a long time and most likely will want to read again. Tristan Wolf by Mariana Llanos is 5 Stars! This book is suitable for all children, starting with those who are read to and up to about age 10.
We look forward to reading more Tristan Wolf books!
July 6, 2013
What a cute book! I really enjoyed this children’s book. It not only will keep the reader guessing but it kept this reviewer guessing. I was drawn into the tale of this child who was raised by a loving mother who happened to be a wolf. Tristan had a suspicion that he didn’t quite fit in but it wasn’t until he saw his reflection in a lake that he realized that he didn’t look like the rest of his pack. He also had no fur to keep him warm and enjoyed eating plants that his brothers and sisters rejected. He started to suspect that he was not really a wolf but had been taught to fear the very humans that he might belong to.
This tale keeps the reader guessing and has a twist at the end that will surprise you. It celebrates the imagination of childhood and brings us back to a time in our life when everything we could imagine was possible. I am sure that children everywhere will enjoy and be surprised by the unique qualities of this work. I highly recommend this book and give it five stars for being both well-written, well-illustrated, and different from the typical children’s book. Well done!
September 23, 2013
Even though my writings are for those 18+ years of age and older, I'm always looking for a good book to share with our nieces and nephews and I have a feeling they're going to love this read!
The story is well thought out with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and interested. I was impressed with the threads of diversity, compassion, and imagination that ran through the story without being over the top. There's also a brief, cautionary tale about choosing friends.
The whole story left moments for conversation between adult and child which I think is the best thing of all when reading to a child. The ending was not only unexpected but left an impression that Tristan will be back. YEA!!!
Begotten with Love: Every Family Has Its Story
The story is well thought out with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and interested. I was impressed with the threads of diversity, compassion, and imagination that ran through the story without being over the top. There's also a brief, cautionary tale about choosing friends.
The whole story left moments for conversation between adult and child which I think is the best thing of all when reading to a child. The ending was not only unexpected but left an impression that Tristan will be back. YEA!!!
Begotten with Love: Every Family Has Its Story
May 28, 2014
Tristan Wolf is a delightful story of a young boy who believes he was raised by a wolf, and that he is indeed a wolf. As you read about his life with the wolves, you almost believe the story. Tristan knows he is different from the other wolves, but he doesn’t know why. He decides to set out on his own to find out what humans are like, even after many warnings from his mother wolf about how dangerous they are. Tristan comes face-to-face with a human, and shows his bravery by standing up to her. But who was she?
Like most children, Tristan has a good imagination. This is a fantastic tale for school-aged children to read or to have read to them.
Mariana Llanos has a distinct ability to capture a child’s inventive mind and weave a story that will keep his/her interest time after time. This book would be a perfect gift for a young elementary age child. I recommend it to all parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends of young children. I give it five stars.
Like most children, Tristan has a good imagination. This is a fantastic tale for school-aged children to read or to have read to them.
Mariana Llanos has a distinct ability to capture a child’s inventive mind and weave a story that will keep his/her interest time after time. This book would be a perfect gift for a young elementary age child. I recommend it to all parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends of young children. I give it five stars.
July 14, 2013
What a wonderful story… Excellent illustrations and a beautiful design and layout!
The author takes you on a ride into the mind of a child… where fantasy and reality meet.
The theme is one we are all familiar with, namely our ability to communicate with animals. In this way, she gives us a fresh look at the dreams and fantasies that run through children's minds when it comes to speaking and interacting with animals.
Without revealing anything, I will say that the end was unexpected and a real joy to read!
What we were left with was a feeling that a child's imagination is still the most powerful and beautiful thing in the world.
Great job… Please give us more like these. Children will benefit from the encouragement of using their imagination from stores like Tristan Wolf.
The author takes you on a ride into the mind of a child… where fantasy and reality meet.
The theme is one we are all familiar with, namely our ability to communicate with animals. In this way, she gives us a fresh look at the dreams and fantasies that run through children's minds when it comes to speaking and interacting with animals.
Without revealing anything, I will say that the end was unexpected and a real joy to read!
What we were left with was a feeling that a child's imagination is still the most powerful and beautiful thing in the world.
Great job… Please give us more like these. Children will benefit from the encouragement of using their imagination from stores like Tristan Wolf.
May 10, 2013
As a new title in children's literature, I find this story to be well-written and a fun story to read. A most effective aspect of the story is the element of surprise in the plot resolution. Who can resist the "twist" at the end of a story? Don't we all remember the first time we read a story or book with a surprise twist at the end? I remember the experience as being one of surprised exhilaration. The experience tends to sharpen imagination, thinking and analysis in future reading. I think this is especially true for young readers. A young mind, fresh in the world of reading, may be stimulated to read more with increased interest and expanded imagination.
August 21, 2013
Journey into the imagination of a child with Tristan Wolf by Mariana Llanos. The story has a simplicity that makes it delightful to read. But, it's the magical illustrations by artist Rocio Perez de Solar that made this a unique reading experience for me. I believe this is a book that a child will want to read several times. There is much to discuss there after the story is over. Many teachable moments to share with your child. (About kindness, the power of imagination, etc.)
I highly recommend Tristan Wolf for children. And for those adults who appreciate beautiful children's book illustrations, you'll want to add this one to your collection.
I highly recommend Tristan Wolf for children. And for those adults who appreciate beautiful children's book illustrations, you'll want to add this one to your collection.
May 2, 2013
Tristan Wolf is a “howling good” book with a surprising twist which should appeal to children. The charming artwork adds a fanciful touch to the well-crafted story. This book will pique the imagination of older children and is a fun book to read aloud to younger children. I look forward to more stories from this author.
August 26, 2013
This book is one that I would encourage my students to read, it shows great imagination and a nice unexpected twist at the end. It also has a good message that children who may feel out if place can learn from.
March 31, 2014
As a baby, Tristan was abandoned in the forest and raised by wolves. He loves his Wolf Family but knows he is different so heads out to find the humans in the city. We follow his adventures along the way.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
October 9, 2014
This book was recently entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our young readers thought:
FEEDBACK
Author: Mariana Llanos
Title Tristan Wolf
COVER: 6/10
The readers very much liked the cover. They thought it was a little ‘different’ from other covers for children’s books. They particularly liked the lettering on TRISTAN WOLF and the bright yellow. They thought it was very eye-catching. A few of the readers thought the picture was a little too small and lacked ‘punch’. Also, a few of the readers felt the cover looked too ‘old’ for a book for young children.
CONTENT 7/10
The readers thought this story was very good and fun to read. They enjoyed watching Tristan meet so many animals and the twist at the end of the story. They also liked the illustrations although a few of the readers thought they were a bit too simple. The only problem seemed to be the length and design of the text in relation to the length of the book. One reader (teacher) put in her feedback, ‘This story is probably for nine year olds and over; but the story is very short. I think the author should write a number of shorts and put them together into a much longer book.’
EDITING 8/10
The readers thought the book was well edited and discovered no glaring problems with grammar, punctuation or spelling. The readers though the book had excellent pacing and was well-structured. One reader (boy, aged 10) put in his feedback, ‘I really liked this story. On every page he met a new fun animal and I thought the surprise at the end was really good.’
STYLE 9/10
This is where the book scored very highly. They children liked the style of writing very much. They seemed to love the way the author handled speech between the animals and how the author gave each of the animals a very different personality, particularly the coyote! One reader (girl, aged 11) put in her feedback, ‘I read this book very quickly. I understood most of the words but I had to look up ‘vivacious’. It was a fun story and I thought the author really brought the animals alive. I would like to read another book by her.’
TO SUM UP 30/40
STATS
Of the 17 readers:
17 finished the book.
3 felt the cover was for an ‘older age group’.
10 though the best part of the book was the animals he met.
7 felt the best part of the book was the twist at the end.
17 would read another book by this author.
‘A stylish story with a twist. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
FEEDBACK
Author: Mariana Llanos
Title Tristan Wolf
COVER: 6/10
The readers very much liked the cover. They thought it was a little ‘different’ from other covers for children’s books. They particularly liked the lettering on TRISTAN WOLF and the bright yellow. They thought it was very eye-catching. A few of the readers thought the picture was a little too small and lacked ‘punch’. Also, a few of the readers felt the cover looked too ‘old’ for a book for young children.
CONTENT 7/10
The readers thought this story was very good and fun to read. They enjoyed watching Tristan meet so many animals and the twist at the end of the story. They also liked the illustrations although a few of the readers thought they were a bit too simple. The only problem seemed to be the length and design of the text in relation to the length of the book. One reader (teacher) put in her feedback, ‘This story is probably for nine year olds and over; but the story is very short. I think the author should write a number of shorts and put them together into a much longer book.’
EDITING 8/10
The readers thought the book was well edited and discovered no glaring problems with grammar, punctuation or spelling. The readers though the book had excellent pacing and was well-structured. One reader (boy, aged 10) put in his feedback, ‘I really liked this story. On every page he met a new fun animal and I thought the surprise at the end was really good.’
STYLE 9/10
This is where the book scored very highly. They children liked the style of writing very much. They seemed to love the way the author handled speech between the animals and how the author gave each of the animals a very different personality, particularly the coyote! One reader (girl, aged 11) put in her feedback, ‘I read this book very quickly. I understood most of the words but I had to look up ‘vivacious’. It was a fun story and I thought the author really brought the animals alive. I would like to read another book by her.’
TO SUM UP 30/40
STATS
Of the 17 readers:
17 finished the book.
3 felt the cover was for an ‘older age group’.
10 though the best part of the book was the animals he met.
7 felt the best part of the book was the twist at the end.
17 would read another book by this author.
‘A stylish story with a twist. Highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Awards
August 3, 2016
This is an interesting little tale that kept me hooked all the way through to the end.
The accompanying colour drawings are perfect for kids to copy and put onto their walls.
An excellent debut book from the author.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Wolf-Ma...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
The accompanying colour drawings are perfect for kids to copy and put onto their walls.
An excellent debut book from the author.
See my review also at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-revie...
http://www.amazon.com/Tristan-Wolf-Ma...
http://www.amazon.ca/product-reviews/...
http://www.amazon.com.au/product-revi...
October 11, 2015
Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=7615
Tristan Wolf is truly a modern fable that really delves into perception, discovery, and, most importantly, imagination. This book is wonderful read aloud material. It lends itself easily to prediction, inferring, and conversations about theme. Tristan’s story also lends itself loosely to the hero’s journey and would be a good introduction to the idea. l I also liked the choice of illustrations. It lends to the feeling of the story and, though a bit abstract, added the additional touch of magic to the story and really pull the whole book together.
Tristan Wolf is truly a modern fable that really delves into perception, discovery, and, most importantly, imagination. This book is wonderful read aloud material. It lends itself easily to prediction, inferring, and conversations about theme. Tristan’s story also lends itself loosely to the hero’s journey and would be a good introduction to the idea. l I also liked the choice of illustrations. It lends to the feeling of the story and, though a bit abstract, added the additional touch of magic to the story and really pull the whole book together.
July 15, 2014
A simple but extremely effective story of a little boy's adventure into his own imagination. There is an old-fashioned fairy tale quality to this book and a gentleness. I loved the illustrations; I read the story first on my kindle keyboard and the sketches were very effective in black and white, but checked it out later on my ipad and saw that colour had been used. Either way they are delightfully stylised and very fitting to the whole feel of the story.
Lovely!
Lovely!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews