When I was a Wolf
If you want to know anything about wolves, Jasmine is the girl to ask – what she doesn’t know about wolves is not worth knowing. Like wolves, Jasmine loves her family and friends but life isn’t always easy and this book explores a topsy-turvy time when young Jasmine finds herself counting on her favourite wolf book just to get through the day.
Dedicated to ‘all the grandparents’ this book is a celebration of family, friendship and love. Set in winter, the climax of the story burns with the passions of this girl who is struggling to steer a course through a tumultuous time. Flanagan deals with the illness of Jasmine’s mum with a light touch but the absence of this most important relationship permeates the entire story – despite Gran’s trojan efforts to help. The talented and creative Ali adds a fresh perspective among the books’ characters as he helps Jasmine to cope by channelling her worry and frustration into an art project.
This short and accessible book will engage readers with a wide range of reading abilities. Nikola Aronova’s illustrations are gently appealing, attracting the eye of the reader and adding texture to the surrounding text. I predict that a lot of readers will reach for pen, paper and glue pots on reading this generous-hearted story, which leaves us wanting to know more about Jasmine’s aunties … a follow-up book perhaps?
