Book Review: Wolf Pack of the Winisk River by Paul Brown

Wolf Pack of the Winisk River
written by Paul Brown
illustrated by Robert Kakegamic
Lobster Press, 2009

audience: upper elementary  and Middle Grade
AR Book Level: 6.8

This is a novel in verse that has tons of factual information about wolves. Readers join this pack of timber wolves as it travels 200 miles in the northern Ontario wilderness tracking down their favorite prey, the woodland caribou. Here on the Winisk River, a harsh winter and scarce food supply made their annual trek extremely difficult. 

Educational Opportunities

 This is, first and foremost, a story about a pack of Gray Wolves who are making their annual 200 mile trek along the Winisk River.

There is a second story – almost subliminal – that focuses on the global struggle of dealing with environment, habitat, and wildlife. The author has interwoven the two themes and helps the reader appreciate the complexity of the problem and the seriousness of the issues.

A Reader’s Thoughts

• Paul Brown tells great stories, especially animal stories. Wolf Pack of the Winisk River is a remarkable animal story. (Link takes you to the book on BigUniverse.com.)
• The book is superbly illustrated by native artist, Robert Kakegamic.
• Wolf Pack is well- written, informative, and worthwhile story about wolves, habitat, and environment.
• Once the cover is opened, the pages will hold the reader’s attention to the end.

Click here to see other reviews of Lobster Press books on BigUniverse.com.

* “Dormant reader” and “underground reader” are descriptive terms coined by author / educator Donalyn Miller, aka The Book Whisperer. As an advocate for reading as a positive experience, I prefer these glass-half-full terms in describing young readers. You can learn more about the definitions in Donalyn’s slim but idea-packed book The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child.