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Red Wolf Country
With a poetic love and respect for wildlife, Jonathan London tells the story of two red wolves who search for a den in which to birth and raise their pups. This close-up look at endangered red wolves "brings environmental awareness to readers by[putting] readers in wolf country, running with the pack" (Kirkus Reviews). "Breathtaking paintings and a dramatic text make this wildlife adventurea stunning success." School Library Journal
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Jonathan London
197 books203 followersJonathan London is the author of several celebrated children's books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. He is the author of more than 70 children's books, many of which are about nature. He's also the author of the popular Froggy series. He lives in Graton, California with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 19, 2020
There aren't enough books about red wolves, and though this is just a children's poem, it's beautifully illustrated, enjoyable, and the afterword is filled with good information.
October 31, 2017
"She-Wolf has a secret nobody knows…"
In Red Wolf Country Jonathan London creates a visceral experience for us as we join a mated pair of red wolves searching of a meal in a frozen marsh and searching for a den sight among cutbanks, while narrowly avoiding the dangers of humans and alligators. Throughout we are told the she- wolf carries a secret. In due course the two wolves find a place safe enough to make a home. It is then that the she-wolf's secret is revealed... she has been carrying pups.
As the pups safely play, mother and father keep a look out. Jonathan does an excellent job of conveying two central thoughts in only a few pages. One is that wolves are families not unlike our own. At the center of every pack are simply two parents wanting to protect their children. And concurrently, that man is a constant danger to such wolf families. The climax of the story has a nervous farmer firing his rifle at the passing wolves.
I am reading this for the second time after having just heard Kim Wheeler, executive director of The Red Wolf Coalition, speak at the Smithsonian about the red wolves living in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. This is Red Wolf Country the setting of Jonathan's story. Just as depicted by Jonathan here, the human population of the area is agrarian and fearful of the wolves. When you are viewed as the ultimate criminal, any and all crimes, real or imagined, are attributed to you. In Jonathans story the wolves happen too close to a farm house, a dog raises an alarm, a fearful farmer raises his rifle, fearful wolves hear the whizz of bullets as they plunge into a river. I learned from Kim that ten percent of the wolf population is lost each year to gun death. Jonathan does not preach the wolf's plight in the story he simply shows it in the simplest and most intuitive way possible from the perspective of a mother and father looking to survive, to find a home, and to raise their children.
A short afterward is provided by Roland Smith a former red-wolf species coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the agency responsible for reintroducing red wolves into the wild). This book was put out in 1996. According Mr. Smith’s afterword there were at that time “nearly a hundred wolves running free in Red Wolf Country.” Unfortunately, as reported by Kim less than a week ago there are now only… twenty five.
This is a beautiful book, beautifully illustrated by Daniel San Souci and beautifully written by Jonathan London. I strongly encourage sharing the beauty of the book and its subject with children and then having a conversation about the need for Red Wolf Country.
In Red Wolf Country Jonathan London creates a visceral experience for us as we join a mated pair of red wolves searching of a meal in a frozen marsh and searching for a den sight among cutbanks, while narrowly avoiding the dangers of humans and alligators. Throughout we are told the she- wolf carries a secret. In due course the two wolves find a place safe enough to make a home. It is then that the she-wolf's secret is revealed... she has been carrying pups.
As the pups safely play, mother and father keep a look out. Jonathan does an excellent job of conveying two central thoughts in only a few pages. One is that wolves are families not unlike our own. At the center of every pack are simply two parents wanting to protect their children. And concurrently, that man is a constant danger to such wolf families. The climax of the story has a nervous farmer firing his rifle at the passing wolves.
I am reading this for the second time after having just heard Kim Wheeler, executive director of The Red Wolf Coalition, speak at the Smithsonian about the red wolves living in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina. This is Red Wolf Country the setting of Jonathan's story. Just as depicted by Jonathan here, the human population of the area is agrarian and fearful of the wolves. When you are viewed as the ultimate criminal, any and all crimes, real or imagined, are attributed to you. In Jonathans story the wolves happen too close to a farm house, a dog raises an alarm, a fearful farmer raises his rifle, fearful wolves hear the whizz of bullets as they plunge into a river. I learned from Kim that ten percent of the wolf population is lost each year to gun death. Jonathan does not preach the wolf's plight in the story he simply shows it in the simplest and most intuitive way possible from the perspective of a mother and father looking to survive, to find a home, and to raise their children.
A short afterward is provided by Roland Smith a former red-wolf species coordinator for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the agency responsible for reintroducing red wolves into the wild). This book was put out in 1996. According Mr. Smith’s afterword there were at that time “nearly a hundred wolves running free in Red Wolf Country.” Unfortunately, as reported by Kim less than a week ago there are now only… twenty five.
This is a beautiful book, beautifully illustrated by Daniel San Souci and beautifully written by Jonathan London. I strongly encourage sharing the beauty of the book and its subject with children and then having a conversation about the need for Red Wolf Country.
June 24, 2015
Beautiful illustrations tell a simple story of wolf partners and a few of their biggest challenges to survive and make a family. This is a good book to help children see that animals have families and live lives that are as important to them as our lives are to us. It's also a good foot in the door book to talk about this particular critically endangered animal. I suggest rereading wiki to get up to speed on: Taxonomy, fossil and historic record, physical description and behavior, range and habitat, history and conservation, discovery and persecution, and captive breeding and reintroduction.
This could also be part of a broader discussion on the current mass global extinction we're in and the ethics of our food choice of meat (which takes away habitats and causes many carnivores to be killed as predators of livestock). Because things are changing so rapidly with coyotes, wolves and foxes - it would be wise to check for current endangerment status and campaigns prior to introducing curriculum. Wolves - there endangerment and loss of habitat - are good candidates for class service projects.
This could also be part of a broader discussion on the current mass global extinction we're in and the ethics of our food choice of meat (which takes away habitats and causes many carnivores to be killed as predators of livestock). Because things are changing so rapidly with coyotes, wolves and foxes - it would be wise to check for current endangerment status and campaigns prior to introducing curriculum. Wolves - there endangerment and loss of habitat - are good candidates for class service projects.
January 27, 2011
This book teaches a lesson on how animals that we might be scared of are just as scared of us. It also shows how they are very similar to humans in the way they live and raise their families. Nice way to teach children to respect nature and all living creatures.
August 22, 2020
This is like a slightly more sophisticated version of numerous little books with...this kind of story...that I read and was given as an under-12. They're kind of cute.
Of course, it's pretty hilarious these days to realize that this book recommendation pretty much only came from a Charlotte Mason list...quite unlike Odean's Great Books for Boys/Girls, which I had looked through a few weeks before that. Both sources were okay to get a few books from, which I hadn't ever read. Someone like Odean wouldn't be caught dead recommending a book like this.
Of course, it's pretty hilarious these days to realize that this book recommendation pretty much only came from a Charlotte Mason list...quite unlike Odean's Great Books for Boys/Girls, which I had looked through a few weeks before that. Both sources were okay to get a few books from, which I hadn't ever read. Someone like Odean wouldn't be caught dead recommending a book like this.
February 9, 2024
London Odyssey #75
Well I have reached 75 Jonathan London books now and this one is another book of animals and nature wrapped around a skinny but engaging tale.
Filled with information that makes the facts come alive a decent read for young people that will help them learn about the red wolf.
Well I have reached 75 Jonathan London books now and this one is another book of animals and nature wrapped around a skinny but engaging tale.
Filled with information that makes the facts come alive a decent read for young people that will help them learn about the red wolf.
October 17, 2012
Grade:2
Wolves travel, wolves hunt, wolves work hard. They have these habits and features just like humans, except they are predators. They can be cautioned toward and people are always putting on a wall toward them. What most people don't know is that the life of a wolf is a never ending traveling journey. Wovles are interesting animals. This book can be classified under the animal book shelf for the students who are interested in learning more about these wild animals!
Wolves travel, wolves hunt, wolves work hard. They have these habits and features just like humans, except they are predators. They can be cautioned toward and people are always putting on a wall toward them. What most people don't know is that the life of a wolf is a never ending traveling journey. Wovles are interesting animals. This book can be classified under the animal book shelf for the students who are interested in learning more about these wild animals!
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February 9, 20144K got this first.
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April 19, 2018This is a book based on a true story about how two red wolves were released from captivity back to wilderness and now there are near one hundred wolves. I would introduce this book to my class if we are talking about animals in extinction or wolves, and have them reflect on it. The ilustrations are beautiful and students would relly enjoy the story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews