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The Wild Beast
Inspired by a story told to the author while on safari in 2015, The Wild Beast describes the creation of one of Africa's most unusual animals, the wildebeest. According to oral tradition, the Creator built this unique beast out of leftover parts from other magnificent animals found on the continent. Horns from buffalos and stripes meant for zebras. Tails from giraffes and bumps meant for camels. This creative retelling will introduce little ones to a story rich in both imagery and in Take what you need to live. Take no more. Waste nothing.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published September 25, 2018
3 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Eric Walters
160 books914 followersEric was born in Toronto in 1957, which makes him "real old". But, as Eric says, "Just because I have to grow old doesn't mean that I have to grow up!" In his many roles as parent, teacher, social worker, youth sports coach and writer he is in constant contact with children and young adults. He draws from these experiences and feels that this helps him to capture the realistic interaction between young people—the conflicts, tensions, stresses and interests that make up their lives.
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Eric began his writing as a teacher. He taught in classes from kindergarten up and his stories often reflect the curriculum that he was teaching. He always read stories—picture books and novels—to his students and this helped him to understand what children liked, responded to, and were inspired by. He enjoys the enthusiasm of his students and often looks at them to provide him with the inspiration to pursue a particular topic in both the classroom and in his writing.
Eric tries to write every day. When he has a story idea he starts with research. This could involve reading books, watching a documentary, or trying to experience the things that his characters are going to go through. This could include rock climbing or riding white water (for Stars), spending time in a wheelchair (Rebound), playing and walking with tigers (Tiger by the Tail), hanging around a tough biker bar (Diamonds in the Rough), standing out in his backyard in a blizzard wearing a T-shirt and shorts (Trapped in Ice), or traveling to Africa (Alexandria of Africa).
"The most important thing anybody ever told me about writing was to write what you know . . . and the only way to get to know things is to do your homework and research before you write," Eric stated.
Once the writing begins the story is always playing around in his head. He takes any opportunity, even if it's just a few minutes between presentations, to put things down, either with pen and paper or on his laptop.
Prior to entering teaching and writing Eric was a social worker (B.S.W., M.S.W., B.A.Hons—specialized major psychology). He worked in a variety of settings including child welfare, private practice, a mental health centre, and, for twenty years on a part-time basis as a Crisis Social Worker in an emergency department. He stopped teaching 4 years ago and left the ER only last year.
The majority of Eric's time is spent in the company of his wife, children and dogs (Lola a big standard poodle and a little white dog named Winnie the Poodle).
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 8, 2018
"And to each that she created she said this: Take what you need to live. Take no more. Waste nothing."
I like this picture book. It'd be really beneficial for me since it has so much to do with Africa, and my little kiddies love books about their continent during therapy. I also like that the creator is a "she" in this picture book.
There are some very cute creation myths that I very much enjoyed:
At the end, the creator takes all the "leftover" parts of animals and makes the Wild Beast - the wildebeest. Well, it makes sense. Not the prettiest animal.
All in all, a cute creation myth with a vibrant and quirky style that kids will enjoy - for relating to their own country or learning about a far-off one.
I my gosh, the more I look at it the uglier I realise it is. Truly majestic. It's the Frankenstein of Africa.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I like this picture book. It'd be really beneficial for me since it has so much to do with Africa, and my little kiddies love books about their continent during therapy. I also like that the creator is a "she" in this picture book.
There are some very cute creation myths that I very much enjoyed:
At the end, the creator takes all the "leftover" parts of animals and makes the Wild Beast - the wildebeest. Well, it makes sense. Not the prettiest animal.
All in all, a cute creation myth with a vibrant and quirky style that kids will enjoy - for relating to their own country or learning about a far-off one.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 25, 2018
I really enjoyed this story! Eric Walters has written a simple and sweet creation story with the very important reminder to only take what you need so that you don't waste anything.
I especially liked that the story was not wordy -- books like this can be so much more fun to read with children when there is room for them to build on the story themselves.
I also loved the vibrant and unique illustrations by Sue Todd, and was fascinated to read that she created them by using a printmaking technique involving carving the images into linoleum.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I especially liked that the story was not wordy -- books like this can be so much more fun to read with children when there is room for them to build on the story themselves.
I also loved the vibrant and unique illustrations by Sue Todd, and was fascinated to read that she created them by using a printmaking technique involving carving the images into linoleum.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2018
This book, based on a folk-tale from Kenya, is not written by a Kenyan, but by a white missionary from Canada. And I'm sure he means well, but it feels as though he has taken his idea of creation, and tacked on the story he heard.
I chose this book to review because of the cover, and the illustrations, which are quite striking.
The story, the concept of the whole book, is that when the wildebeest was created, it was made up of all the left over bits of all the other animals that had been created. And the illustrator does a great job of conveying that part of the story.
It is just with so many stories out there that are written by white colonists, do we really need one more, no matter how gorgeous the pictures are? I would have loved to have read the original folk tale, which is important to the people of Kenya, because it would have reflected their beliefs and their history.
Lovely illustrations though, so it gets the three stars for that.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
I chose this book to review because of the cover, and the illustrations, which are quite striking.
The story, the concept of the whole book, is that when the wildebeest was created, it was made up of all the left over bits of all the other animals that had been created. And the illustrator does a great job of conveying that part of the story.
It is just with so many stories out there that are written by white colonists, do we really need one more, no matter how gorgeous the pictures are? I would have loved to have read the original folk tale, which is important to the people of Kenya, because it would have reflected their beliefs and their history.
Lovely illustrations though, so it gets the three stars for that.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
June 2, 2018
Prolific Canadian children’s author Eric Walters is known mostly for his novels for the 10-to-14-year-old set that focus on current issues and events (911, the Haitian earthquake, soldiers who return from peacekeeping with PTSD) or that revolve around significant events (and people) in Canadian history (the discovery of insulin, Camp X—Canada’s secret World War II spy-training facility, Hurricane Hazel’s strike on Toronto, Terry Fox: the young Canadian hero who decided to run a marathon a day on his prosthetic leg—having lost his original one to osteosarcoma—in order to raise money for cancer research). In recent years, Walters has set a number of his novels for young people in Africa, and he has begun to author picture books about children on that continent.
In THE WILD BEAST, his latest picture book, Walters tells a creation story—based on those from Eastern and Central Africa—about the origins of the wildebeest. According to legend, this strange herd animal was made by the Creator from all the leftover parts of other creatures. Interestingly, Walters’s “Creator” is a “she” who cautions the animals, even as she creates them, to use no more than they need. Her commitment to conservation, making use of everything and not wasting anything, informs the creation of her final wild beast. The leftover bits and pieces—extra bumps and stripes and horns and beards—all go to good use: to make her last (odd but favourite) animal.
Sue Todd’s lovely, bold, and energetic illustrations go well with Walters’s pared-down alliterative text. They greatly put me in mind of the work of David Diaz, the acclaimed American illustrator who has worked with children’s authors Kathleen Krull (Wilma Unlimited) and Eve Bunting (Smoky Night).
This is a lovely book, which I think will go over well with children of all ages. The clean, patterned sentences make a nice model for kids interested in writing their own creation stories. The important message about conservation is woven effectively and organically into the text.
Thank you to Orca Book Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an advance review copy.
In THE WILD BEAST, his latest picture book, Walters tells a creation story—based on those from Eastern and Central Africa—about the origins of the wildebeest. According to legend, this strange herd animal was made by the Creator from all the leftover parts of other creatures. Interestingly, Walters’s “Creator” is a “she” who cautions the animals, even as she creates them, to use no more than they need. Her commitment to conservation, making use of everything and not wasting anything, informs the creation of her final wild beast. The leftover bits and pieces—extra bumps and stripes and horns and beards—all go to good use: to make her last (odd but favourite) animal.
Sue Todd’s lovely, bold, and energetic illustrations go well with Walters’s pared-down alliterative text. They greatly put me in mind of the work of David Diaz, the acclaimed American illustrator who has worked with children’s authors Kathleen Krull (Wilma Unlimited) and Eve Bunting (Smoky Night).
This is a lovely book, which I think will go over well with children of all ages. The clean, patterned sentences make a nice model for kids interested in writing their own creation stories. The important message about conservation is woven effectively and organically into the text.
Thank you to Orca Book Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an advance review copy.
May 4, 2018
Kind of a remake, at least for the first half, of the origin of creation by christianism, and then twist for the creation of a specific animal. Between spiritual and biological... I guest... Not really good in the content. I gave 2 stars, because the illustration were beautiful and original in their own style... but that's about all!
May 13, 2018
This book is based on the African Tale of the creation of the wildebeast. The creator in this story is a female, which is nice to see. After creating the universe, earth, water, sky, plants, birds, fish and animals, there are leftover pieces. That is what "she" uses to create the strange looking wildebeast. I loved the repetitive message of "Take what you need to live. Take no more. Waste nothing." I wish everyone lived by that mantra. A great book to use when talking about folklore as well as oral traditions of storytelling. The illustrations are wonderful and the style they were created in with carved linoleum and vibrant ink almost makes them seem alive. The back tells about Eric Walters visits and life when living and helping in Africa. A great addition to any library, home, school, class or public. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.
August 20, 2018
A folktale from the Africa, The Wild Beast describes the creation of the wildebeest. Eric Walters bring life to the story in text while illustrator Sue Todd gives it a rich cultural feel. Most cultures have myths concerning creation, with this being one. How the story has been influenced by other cultures, I cannot say.
Children will be entertained by this story, but it is the illustrations that steal the show. It might be best read as a read aloud and discussion. The idea of not taking more than you need is a worthy concept told through the folktale of the wildebeest creation.
The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.
Children will be entertained by this story, but it is the illustrations that steal the show. It might be best read as a read aloud and discussion. The idea of not taking more than you need is a worthy concept told through the folktale of the wildebeest creation.
The publisher through Net Galley provided a digital ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.
November 4, 2023
Genre: Traditional Literature
Grade Level: Pre-K - Kindergarten
I had never read this book and thought it was very interesting. It was about creation in Africa and the creation of the world and about the wild beast. I would not recommend reading this book to children because it is a poor telling of creation. The only thing I enjoyed about this book were the illustrations. The author created very detailed and beautiful illustrations on each page!
Grade Level: Pre-K - Kindergarten
I had never read this book and thought it was very interesting. It was about creation in Africa and the creation of the world and about the wild beast. I would not recommend reading this book to children because it is a poor telling of creation. The only thing I enjoyed about this book were the illustrations. The author created very detailed and beautiful illustrations on each page!
April 19, 2020
Traditional Literature
K-3
This story is about a wildebeest and follows him on some adventures. This book also teaches kids a lesson from the wildebeest to not be greedy and only take what you need because things don't end great for those who take more than necessary. Would definitely recommend this book and it is also full of great illustrations!!
K-3
This story is about a wildebeest and follows him on some adventures. This book also teaches kids a lesson from the wildebeest to not be greedy and only take what you need because things don't end great for those who take more than necessary. Would definitely recommend this book and it is also full of great illustrations!!
April 22, 2020
Modern Fantasy
K
This book is a very creative story. Its visual elements and whimsical imagery are sure to please. I appreciated how far the bounds of reason are pushed in this story as it describes this beast, but it still connects the reader to the familiarity of other animals of whose parts this beast consists.
K
This book is a very creative story. Its visual elements and whimsical imagery are sure to please. I appreciated how far the bounds of reason are pushed in this story as it describes this beast, but it still connects the reader to the familiarity of other animals of whose parts this beast consists.
October 6, 2018
West African creation story. (Love that the creator is female!)
April 24, 2020
Kids will the rich imagery and how the beast is created out of other magnificent animals. Kids can really let there imagination run wild. Genre fantasy fiction
May 6, 2018
Based on African lore, The Wild Beast narrates the story of the creation of the wildebeest. Starting off as a religious story of creation, the author narrates the beginning of existence, making their way to the creation of a lovely animal, the wildebeest.
The Wild Beast is a sweet story accompanied by stunning illustrations. It is beautifully narrated and sweet. However, it could probably have been made a little more interesting by creating some climax in the narrative, so as to be more interesting for children. All in all, it is a very pleasant read.
The Wild Beast is a sweet story accompanied by stunning illustrations. It is beautifully narrated and sweet. However, it could probably have been made a little more interesting by creating some climax in the narrative, so as to be more interesting for children. All in all, it is a very pleasant read.
May 9, 2018
There are several things that I have loved about "The Wild Beast". First, I must commend Ms. Sue Todd for the amazing illustrations! They were colorful and would be very interesting for children. I also loved how the animals were created by God or a deity that is personified as a woman, it was something new and fascinating. I also like the new approach to the creation of the word, that everything was made of clay and the wild beast was created because the deity does not want to waste any clay. Unfortunately, the story was a bit lacking. I would have love if the book was focused on the creation itself and not just the wild beast. Mr. Walters could have at least added the creation of humans or even sea creatures. With the story line, Mr. Walters could have expanded more.
May 25, 2018
This beautifully illustrated story is based on an African creation story of the wildebeast. The Creator makes the universe, the earth, water, sky, plants, fish, birds and mammals, and she tells each animal to "Take what you need to live. Take no more. Waste nothing." When the Creator realizes that she has some leftover pieces, she takes her own advice and uses them to make the unique wildebeast. This is a cute story that I think most kids will find funny and interesting. The illustrations are colorful and vibrant, and I love that the Creator is female!
Thanks you Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for an advance copy of this book.
Thanks you Netgalley and Orca Book Publishers for an advance copy of this book.
May 27, 2018
My favorite part of “The Wild Beast” was the illustrations. Beautiful! I also enjoyed learning a new creation story.
June 6, 2018
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is basically a story of creation. It talks about all the animals and how they came to be. How the earth was formed. The pictures were very colorful and unique. The message was nice. I think kids would enjoy it. Some parents may not like that the creator is referred to as female. I didn't mind.
This is basically a story of creation. It talks about all the animals and how they came to be. How the earth was formed. The pictures were very colorful and unique. The message was nice. I think kids would enjoy it. Some parents may not like that the creator is referred to as female. I didn't mind.
July 9, 2018
This is a wonderful creation story. Yes there is a reference to a “she” who makes the light and the world, but no actual reference to any god or deity. At the end is a bit about the mission of the author, and how this story came about, but if you are against religious things, or religious things that differ in beliefs from yours, just skip this last bit about the author and enjoy the rest of the story. It’s really neat and has amazing illustrations that speak to the land and culture the book speaks about.
(4.5 stars)
(4.5 stars)
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews