First Friend: How Dogs Evolved from Wolves to Become Our Best Friends

by Kersten Hamilton, Jaime Kim (Illustrations)

With lyrical text by Kersten Hamilton and luminous illustrations by Jaime Kim, First Friend is an exploration of how the wild wolves became dogs, and how we learned to communicate and grow alongside the creatures we love.

Long, long ago, when the world was new. . .a girl met a pup.

In those days, everyone knew that wolves and children could not be friends. Still, they learned from each other―how to hunt, how to trade, how to survive, how to play. And years and years went by, and the world spun and changed. And then―a boy fished with a wolf, and a girl traded with a wild dog, and animal and human grew up side by side. . .into the best friends we are today.

Genres: Picture Books, Dogs, Nonfiction, Animals, History, Childrens, Evolution

40 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2021

Reviews

[Aneesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Redeemed by the afterword.

[Laura Mossa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to author Kersten Hamilton and Farrar Straus Giroux/Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for sharing an eARC. First Friends celebrated its book birthday on February 9, 2021. All opinions are my own.

How did dogs become our best friends? This picture book uses a nonfiction narrative format to explain to kids how wolves evolved into dogs. The story begins in the Stone Age. A young girl and wolf pup meet and play but once they both grow up, their friendship must end, for humans and wolves are rivals hunting the same prey. Many, many years pass and a young boy living in a hut meets a wolf pup. They interact more closely with the boy scratching the pup and sharing his food, but like the girl, the relationship does not last although the pair watch each other from afar. Over time, more children and wolf pups befriend each other. Their relationship is more intimate trading items, drinking from the same water hole, sleeping side by side, and finally, traveling together to a new home. On the last page spread, it is now present day and a beagle (yes, a beagle!) and a girl run toward one another full of excitement and love.

Hamilton’s concise, melodic text and Kim’s warm and radiant illustrations are in perfect harmony. Words were chosen and art was drawn thoughtfully and with purpose to show how wolves evolved into dogs. At the end of the book, back matter includes more facts about their progression from competitor to companion as well as a bibliography. And pay special attention to the gorgeous endpapers, for the front depicts their rival relationship in hieroglyphics and the child-like illustrations of a girl and her dog grace the back endsheets.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so-o-o much not told in this intriguing book by Kersten Hamilton and illustrated by Jamie Kim with action-paced, double-page spreads following the years and years of history from wolves to dogs. that it feels like "first" knowledge. It pulls one in beautifully, so now you know this, time to research more! In the beginning, as in each era shown, a girl meets a pup (see that cover) and they chase and sometimes hunt "and they both were very brave". The text changes slightly but it follows along until "thousands and thousands of years went by". There is terrific back matter, too! My students and I studied this topic once, integrating it into human and animal evolution. Each chose a dog breed and research back and back, from wolf to today. It was fascinating to learn about.

[Darius Billings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wonder if a lot of the wolves that met a boy or a girl were thinking, “Whatever this is, I really like it.” Then maybe they were howling to the other wolves and were saying, “I’m gonna stay with this human, so I don’t think I’m coming back!”

The book said “long, long ago” a lot. I think the wolf pup with feathers might have met a bird. On the back cover, it looks like the wolf pup’s tail is a feather. A white feather. Unless its tail is just white.

I like the bunny in the field next to the mountains, where, unfortunately, people and a wolf were hunting.

[Angie Counsell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute introduction into evolution and how things change over time through the use of human and wolf interactions and how wolves evolved into the pets that we have today. The pictures were really engaging and colorful while showing what life possibly looked like during the ice age and such. I kinda liked that the people in the books reminded me of the peanuts characters, which are a personal favorite.

[Cyndie Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is 100% cute overload I can barely stand it in the best way. As a veterinarian I'd love to have this book in our clinic for kids to read while they're waiting.

It uses the story of children throughout the ages to describe how humans slowly built a relationship with wolves that led to the dogs we know today. There's even a great educational section in the back that explains details more in depth.

[A Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not know of any other children's picture books that try to explain dogs evolving from wolves; I am not entirely certain that Hamilton was successful in this attempt but the book is unique at least. Toward the start of the book, Hamilton writes, "everyone knew wolves and girls could not be friends." This statement changes as time passes and eventually becomes "everyone knew they were best friends." Hamilton writes that humans and wolves learned how to hunt and fish from one another.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evolution is a complex subject to explain to kids. This picture book simplifies the thousands of years it took for dogs to develop into a sweet story with colorful illustrations. My child enjoyed this picture book, but it left her with many unanswered questions. Thankfully, the information at the back of the book provided more answers than the story itself.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork and a great idea for a story. The writing is that interesting but the illustrations and the idea of wolves, dogs and children are entrancing. Great notes about the the evolution of dogs helps the adult understand it better.

[Becca Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have really enjoyed this book but it needs some serious editing help. It was awkward to read out loud to my daughter and many times I felt like I had skipped a page or sentence. The ellipses are in odd places. The artwork is beautiful though!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harrison makes a good attempt at an interesting topic, but it doesn't quite work. Like other readers, I often thought I missed a page or the hadn't included on the pages. The hanging storyline doesn't work with the intended audience.

Not recommended. But this is a fascinating topic for kids!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very basic and cute introduction to evolution. Definitely doesn't get into the weeds, and is the perfect mix of sweet and science for a preschool classroom.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a perfect pair with FROM WOLF TO WOOF! This one takes a more narrative approach but a cute place to start before getting into all the details of evolution.

[DiKrLa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great picture that explains the evolution of our furry best friends.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

An elementary and up picture book about the friendship between dogs and their owners and how over the centuries wolves adapted to be friends with humans and become dogs. Lengthy afterward.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

We’ve been reading a lot of wolf books lately

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations

[Brandon Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this, but found the narrative confusing. The back matter was the best part!!

[Emily Clifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated the ambitious arc of this story. It's very understated.

[Shannonmde]

Library of Things adventure kit? Wolf Park?

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really cute, and a fun introduction to the concept of evolution. Very sweet!