Big Wolf & Little Wolf is a touching story of friendship between a big wolf and a little blue wolf who moves into the neighborhood. Big Wolf is accustomed to being the biggest wolf in the woods, and also quite set in his solitary ways. He feels threatened by the small new wolf who wants to befriend him. When Little Wolf disappears for the winter, Big Wolf realizes “a little one, indeed a very little one, had taken up space in his heart.”

Big Wolf & Little Wolf was recently recognized as an Honor Book for the Batchelder Award. The Batchelder Award honors children’s books which were originally published in another language. The translation from the French is fluid, evoking many feelings with just a few words. Oliver Tallec’s illustrations are wry and charming. The slightest expression or tilt of the head conveys volumes. This is a lovely lapsitbook for children and adults.

Coincidentally, there is another excellent picture book called Big Wolf and Little Wolf by Sharon Phillips Denslow.
reviewed by Victoria