Sheepish (Wolf Under Cover)

January 1, 2021

K-Gr 3-What's for dinner? A famished wolf with a stealthy plan spies on an unsuspecting herd of sheep as they finish their chores before dinner. With the use of an obviously homemade sheep costume, the wolf successfully sneaks in among them. The sheep grow suspicious as the wolf grabs a tray and slides into line for dinner. After that, the wolf helps out with the dishes, laundry, and chopping wood, winning the sheep's trust through friendly games of shuffleboard and bedtime stories. Everything is going according to plan until a goodnight kiss from a tiny lamb ruins everything. The wolf is struck with the realization that eating these new fluffy friends is no longer an option. Plot thwarted, the wolf flees for home in the middle of the night. Missing the sheep, the wolf sits down with a cup of tea and new vegetarian cookbooks to peruse. VERDICT This hilarious story of finding friends in unlikely places will surely entertain and surprise early elementary-age children, and given the cartoon-style illustrations, pique an interest in graphic novels. Share this one along with Morag Hood's Brenda Is a Sheep and Lucky Platt's Imagine a Wolf for a silly story time.-Emily Brush, Novi P.L., MI

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Starred review from January 1, 2021
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* At sunrise, a stealthy wolf disguises himself as a sheep, scoots across the fields, and joins a nearby flock crowding into their cafeteria. His costume does not fool the sheep, but they play along with his deception. After breakfast, the wolf carries out his nefarious plan to gain their trust. He washes dishes, participates in aerobics, and plays shuffleboard with them, while dreaming of the feast to come. After he reads a picture book to the lambs, a little one shyly kisses his cheek. Startled, disarmed, and befuddled, he runs home, muttering "NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE." The next day, he's reading about vegetarianism when the sheep arrive at his door in hastily made wolf costumes to tell him, ""We missed you!"" Amusing and endearing in equal measure, the detailed mixed-media illustrations use light beautifully in the outdoor scenes and effectively in the cafeteria-line picture, where the wolf's shadow reveals his identity. The straightforward story unfolds with simplicity, wit, and a certain irony based on the sheep's knowledge of the wolf's secret. While their awareness of his duplicity gives them the upper hand, their decision to befriend a would-be enemy makes them completely lovable. A well-crafted picture book that's great fun for reading aloud.

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Starred review from November 15, 2020
A wolf in sheep's clothing gets the wool pulled over its eyes. A wolf adorned in fleecy disguise stealthily scuttles along to the farm's sheep quarters, visions of scrumptious ovine delicacies dancing in its head. The wolf is so convinced it's incognito among the crowd, it doesn't notice the herd's completely on to it the whole time. As if in a guidebook for would-be sheep predators, the wolf outlines steps in its master plan: "Be helpful...handy...fun...friendly...a team player...[and] the sheepiest sheep that ever was." Giggle-inducing illustrations depict the wolf helping the sheep wash dishes, do laundry, bake, cut wood, enjoy exercise class and shuffleboard, and read to youngsters. Naturally, all these activities are designed to lull woolly critters into becoming...a wolf banquet. But wait! A winsome lamb's post-storytime peck on the cheek tears the wolf's plans asunder and sends it scurrying home, where it doffs its woolly duds and forsakes its former lifestyle and diet. All ends well when a knock on the door springs a bevy of costumed visitors on the incredulous erstwhile hunter. This amiable tale comically explores how love and acceptance can turn a dedicated curmudgeon's stony heart to mush. The dynamic, cartoonish illustrations are the real draw and will capture kids' chuckling attention; the minimal, humorous text will appeal to emergent readers. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10.3-by-16.8-inch double-page spreads viewed at 81.1% of actual size.) Kids will wolf this one down--and won't feel sheepish about it. (Picture book. 4-7)

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