Wolves Are Back, The
1 Hardcover/1 CD (see all formats)

Starred Review “Many years ago the directors of the national parks decided that only the gentle animals should grace the beautiful wilderness. Rangers, hunters, and ranchers were told to shoot every wolf they saw. They did. By 1926, there were no more wolves in the 48 states.” But in 1995, wolves were returned to Yellowstone National Park, and George’s book illustrates that the return of wolves was a vital component to maintaining balance in the wilderness ecosystem. All elements of this recording work together smoothly and beautifully to reassure listeners of the “rightness” of the wolves’ reintroduction to the park. Packaged as a read-along and including the hardcover book, this audio helps youngsters enjoy Minor’s beautifully detailed illustrations and George’s rhythmic text. Minor, who also narrates, reads easily and calmly, assisted by soothing background music. Other ambient sounds, including chirping crickets, rushing water, panting wolf pups, and singing birds, come together to reinforce how the absence of one species disrupts nature’s delicate balance. Stunning illustrations, simple narrative, and calming reading stand out in this inspirational and powerful program. This combination—Minor’s deep baritone, set against the soft music and nature sounds—helps assure listeners (who can choose the option of page-turn signals) that the balance of nature has been restored in Yellowstone. "

"George's story follows the life of a wolf pup in current-day Yellowstone National Park. The story entertains while explaining how wolves were reintroduced into the park to reestablish ecological balance after they had become extinct due to a flawed understanding of their role in nature. Wendell Minor, who is also the book's illustrator, narrates. His voice has a tone of reassurance and safety, and his pacing and cadence allow the listener to amply enjoy both the text and its illustrations. However, Minor's delivery of the repetitive phrase "the wolves are back" sounds slightly awkward. And the production's sound effects, which evoke setting and specific events, detract from the story and narration."

"The wolves are back!" So begins this poignant and thought-provoking tale tracing the interconnectedness of nature and the far-reaching effects that occur when one aspect of a particular ecosystem is disrupted, in this case, the wolf population. By 1926, there was no more wolves in the 48 states -"rangers, hunters, and ranchers were told to shoot every wolf they saw. They did." -and the ecological balance was disrupted. Wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park in 1995, and as their numbers grew, balance returned. Moving deftly between the past and present, and set against the backdrop of Wendell Minor's wonderful panoramic paintings, Jean Craighead George 's text (Dutton, 2008) beautifully demonstrates the effects of the presence and absence of wolves on the delicate ecosystem. "The vast elk herd had eaten the grasses the little bird needed for food and nesting material. When the wolves returned, they frightened the elk into the mountains. The grasses grew tall. The sparrows raised babies and sang. The wolves are back." Minor's engaging and lively reading is accompanied by excellent sound effects, including fluttering bird wings, songbirds, trampling bison, croaking frogs, and the stirring and plaintive howling of wolves. An excellent purchase for schools and libraries for units on wildlife protection and ecology." .