This Is the Path the Wolf Took
What’s inside...
The stories Gabe 'reads' to his little sister start out sounding familiar - a red-caped girl on her way to Grandma's house meets a wolf in the woods - but then, just in the nick of time, Sir Gabriel swoops in to save the day. His sister points out that's not how the story is supposed to go. The boy says his way is better: 'Nothing bad happens in my story.' But when his sister stops listening, the boy realizes he needs to reconsider. Are his stories boring? Why does it seem like there's always something missing? A funny and bighearted tale about what makes a story good. This picture book shows how a brief period of being afraid or sad is necessary to make a story worth hearing. It makes for a great discussion starter and works well for loads of language arts applications, including writing skills, elements of a story, and fairy tales or other literary genres. With its playful humor, endearing sibling relationship and high-energy illustrations by Elina Ellis, this book also makes an entertaining read-aloud.
Age
3-7
Length
42 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
The Child
Father
Wolf
Discussion points
How do you think Gabe felt when he decided to tell his own version of the story?
What would you do if you were in a story with a wolf? Would you be scared, excited, or something else?
Why is it important to tell our own stories, just like Gabe does?
How can changing a story change the way we feel about it?
What did you learn from the way Gabe and his sister reacted differently to the same story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings about different characters and events in the story, validating their feelings and views to foster open communication.
Draw parallels between the story and the child's personal experiences to deepen their understanding and connection to the narrative.
Ask your child to imagine alternative endings or plot twists to stimulate their creative thinking and engagement with the story.
Discuss the idea of perspective with your child, explaining how different people might interpret the same story in varied ways.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Critical Thinking
Explanation: In 'This Is the Path the Wolf Took,' children are presented with different versions of fairy tales that make them question and analyze the motives and actions of characters. This stimulates their critical thinking.
Real-World Application: Children can use these skills to assess situations in their own lives, understanding different perspectives and making informed decisions.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Imagination
Explanation: The book encourages children to think beyond traditional narratives and imagine alternative outcomes or viewpoints in familiar stories.
Real-World Application: This fosters creativity, allowing children to devise unique solutions and ideas in their play, storytelling, and problem-solving activities.
Example Lesson: Understanding Consequences
Explanation: As characters in the book make different choices, the story explores the various consequences of their actions, teaching children that choices have impacts.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children understand that their actions affect themselves and others, guiding them to consider the outcomes before acting.
Example Lesson: Empathy
Explanation: By exposing children to different perspectives and motives of characters, the book fosters an understanding and empathy towards others' feelings and situations.
Real-World Application: Empathy cultivated through reading can lead children to be more compassionate and understanding in their interactions with peers and adults.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Characters in the book often face challenges or setbacks, yet they continue to persevere, illustrating the value of resilience in achieving goals.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to persist through difficulties in their academic or personal lives, understanding that overcoming obstacles is part of growth.