Sea Wolves: Keepers of the Rainforest

by Megan Benedict, Roy Henry Vickers (Illustrator), Melanie Crowder

This lyrical, stunningly illustrated book explores the sea wolf—an apex marine mammal evolved from the gray wolf—as it navigates the coastline, eats seafood, and lives its extraordinary, unusual life.

Sea Keepers of the Rainforest is the astonishing story of a wolf species that calls the shores of western Canada and southeastern Alaska home. Here, wolves crack clams, feast on fish roe, swipe salmon from rivers, and swim miles between islands—as long observed by the First Nations communities that have lived alongside them for thousands of years.

However, with the rise of industrial logging, pipeline projects, and other threats, sea wolves face a troubled future. Wildlife experts and First Nations members these majestic creatures are a vital part of the ecosystem and need to be protected.

Through beautiful verse and striking illustrations, Sea Wolves captures the fascinating life of an animal with great cultural and scientific significance—one that will inspire awe in young readers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Wolves, Picture Books, Indigenous, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2024

Reviews

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting topic is nearly ruined by awful poetry and mediocre art.

I love wolves, and the end matter describes an interesting branch of the breed that spends their life in and near the waters of the Pacific Northwest, living on seafood as they hunt in tidal pools, and swim between islands.

Unfortunately, the verse in the main body of the book is painfully dull and has annoyingly intermittent rhymes.

The art seems a bit abstract and removed for a nature book, with most of the wolves being rendered in silhouettes that are sometimes cut-and-pasted between the pages. The few times a wolf is drawn face-on, it doesn't look that well rendered. And, hey, if you put a howling wolf in every moon and setting sun, it starts to look pretty ridiculous.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork!

[Little Batties · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love wolves, and I usually enjoy the books that bring in a picture of animals in their natural habitat. However, the way this was introduced to me made me think it would have heavier influences of indigenous culture in it, but I found myself a little disappointed. It was still a beautiful story, and it does showcase the beauty the seas wolves; it was just missing that piece that we were promised.

It was wonderful to read about how they evolved with their habitat in order to survive, as well as how it touched on deforestation. Sadly, it is not entirely clear on how they are the "keepers" of the rainforest. How does this tie into the indigenous cultures there? I feel like a piece was left tour of the overall story.

The illustrations are beautiful, and I can see little ones liking this, but it just wasn't what I was expecting given what the description stated. This, I cannot give this the initial rating I thought I i might give it.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

So disappointing! I love wolves and I had heard of sea wolves, but didn't really know that much about them, so I had high hopes for this picture book. The text was so focused on being poetic it did not convey one scrap of real information. The illustrations are so symbolic and abstract, no information is to be found there either. One or two of them were interesting, but I quickly got tired of most of the wolves being in silhouette and the few that weren't looking a little off somehow. There is some information in the afterword, enough to make me feel even more ripped off that none of that was in the main story. I like the illustrator's story in the afterword of his personal experiences with sea wolves. That story combined with naturalistic illustrations would have been pretty good I think.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The images in this book are of silhouetted cut-outs, black and gray lines, swaths of eye-popping color and above it all, the marching of the titular wolves.

I’ve never heard of sea wolves before now and this book is a lyrical introduction to them. The images are accompanied by short lines giving brief descriptions of their lives on the move, the hunt and the caring of their young. Their rhythmic nature is soothing, almost poetical in nature.

The book also comes with helpful notes in the back. They go into more detail about these unusual lupine creatures, their history and their vital part of the ecosystem. The author urges readers to do what they can to protect these wolves and their coastal habitats.

Go ahead. Read about seafaring wolves. Start a howl.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gorgeous book told in verse about the sea wolves of the Canadian coastal rainforest! The back matter includes extensive scientific information about the wolves, who hunt in the sea and eat seafood as well as forest deer, and how their lives support the ecosystem. Also included is the indigenous illustrator's stories about interacting with sea wolves near his small village of Gitxaala, which is 5000 years old!
Red-tipped ghosts
lope through a sea of ferns,
circle well-worn turns
into the thick of the woods.
My library received a review copy; big thanks to the publisher -- reading this is a transporting experience.

[Bekka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the unique take of this book, which combines a rhyming story depicting the lives and actions of sea wolves with scientific backmatter and the perspective of an indigenous artist from a village that has lived alongside sea wolves for thousands of years. I chose this book to continue my study of Roy Henry Vickers art, which is phenomenal. Now that I read the book, I can see myself including it in a STEAM program focused on wolves or animals and their ecosystems.

Publishers take note: I want more native history and perspectives paired with science for kids!!! This was such a unique team of creators and I desperately want to see more books like this.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous and highly recommended to young naturalists, and to those who believe that nature is a source of spirituality. Main story and art (by a member of Git Lax Moen people) emphasize the mystic, but the back matter emphasizes the science.

I never heard of sea wolves before, wolves who swim and eat clams, etc. Wow.

[Meghan Bohn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but I wish the information in the backmatter about how the wolves bring the salmon nutrients back to the forest was in the story itself. You really don’t get how they’re ‘keepers of the rainforest’ from the story itself.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book are so interesting with the different color schemes. And I enjoyed learning more about these wolves.

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful graphics and look into the rainforest islands of BC.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vickers illustrations are so beautiful!

[Josephina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun and educational!!

[Jbondandrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very beautiful and wonderful book.

[Jeani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice introduction to these animals and to their habitat. The book doesn't dwell, but gently nudges the reader to considering their loss of habitat and their important place in the ecosystem. The illustrations have moments of beauty and interest.