Rabbit goes to the library in search of a book about wolves and gets more than he bargains for. This book-within-a book is full of surprises as the wolf leaps out off the pages and after rabbit. There are flaps and letters to open and hints at how wolves behave in fairytales. Emily Gravett’s innovative style blurs fact and fiction. Two alternative endings help children to think about what they want to happen to rabbit. Lots to think about, talk about and enjoy.
Share the story
Read aloud Before reading the story, encourage children to look at the back and front covers and the end papers and talk about what they see. Then read through the story, pausing to talk about the pictures. It’s a book that lends itself to being read expressively to bring out the suspense, excitement and humour.
Join in As you read and reread the book, encourage children to join in with the reading where they can. This will build as you reread the book together and children become more familiar with how the story goes.
Talk about the story Which pages did especially children like? They can choose their favourites and say why.
Talk together about which ending they like best and why. Why did rabbit chose a book about wolves?
Tell the story Using the pictures in the book, children can tell the story in their own words.
Things to make and do
Make a wolf picture
Using a thick, soft lead pencil or charcoal, and a large sheet of paper children can fill the space with a big wolf picture. Begin by talking through the pictures to remind children of the features of the wolf: shaggy coat, large claws, jagged teeth, long tongue…
Read Little Red Riding Hood
Read (or tell) the story of Little Red Riding Hood and talk about what is the same and different about the wolves in the two stories. You could write down some wolf characteristics that children notice, for example: fierce, big and scary, sharp teeth, clever, hungry…
Tell a scary story
Children can make up their own scary story about a wolf, using their wolf drawing to help them. You can help them write it down and they can draw more pictures if they’d like to. When it’s finished, you can read it aloud together.
Make a book
Find out more about wolves using the links below. Children can make a simple zigzag book with drawings and interesting facts about where they live, what they eat and what they look like. Do they deserve their ‘bad guy’ reputation?
Find out more
Read more books by author/illustrator Emily Gravett here
Meet our wonderful lovemybooks patrons Michael Rosen, SF Said, David Almond, Mini Grey, Julian Grenier, Myra Barrs, Jessica Souhami, Marilyn Brocklehurst, Chris Riddell, Chitra Soundar, Joseph Coelho, Imogen Russell Williams, Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Sonia Thompson
With lovemybooks you will find out about wonderful books to read with your child. You will find many creative activities based on each book to make reading even more enjoyable and interactive.
Emily Gravett
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