• Grade 1
• Wolf! – Becky Bloom

Wolf!

Written by Becky Bloom

Illustrated by Pascal Biet

Synopsis

This story is about perseverance. Once upon a time, a howling Wolf leaped at a Pig, a Duck, and a Cow—and got no reaction at all! No running away, no frightened ‘oinks’ or ‘quacks’ or ‘moos’. “What’s wrong with you?” growled Wolf, “Can’t you see I’m a big and dangerous Wolf?” “I’m sure you are,” replied the Pig. “But couldn’t you be big and dangerous somewhere else? We’re trying to read. This is a farm for educated animals…” That gets Wolf thinking. Maybe he, too, could learn to read. And as this witty and winning tale reveals, an exciting new chapter in Wolf’s life begins.

Vocabulary

• emergency
• concentrate
• ignore
• educated
• hardworking
• interrupted
• admire
• genie
• emerging
• swashbuckling pirate

Discussion Topics

Before Reading

• Explain to the students that they are going to hear another story about a character that perseveres.
• Review the meaning of perseverance. Explain that they are going to find out what kind of positive things happen after Wolf tries and tries again.
• Ask the students if they know what a Wolf is. What characteristics does a Wolf have? Are people generally afraid of wolves? Why?

During Reading

• When Wolf saw a Cow reading in the sun, why did he say, “I think my eyes are playing tricks on me.”?
• Why do you think Wolf backed away when the Pig told him to be big and dangerous somewhere else? What happened to Wolf’s plan to scare the animals?
• Wolf quickly learned to read. Explain that Wolf felt really good about himself because he accomplished a task.
• Wolf went back to the farm animals and showed them how well he could read. The reaction by the Duck was, “You’ve got a long way to go.” The rest of the animals ignored him. How do you think Wolf felt about this? What do you think he will do next?
• Wolf continues to improve his reading skills. He went back to the farm to show the animals that he’s even better. Again, the Duck hears Wolf’s improved skills and says, “Stop all that racket. You need to work on your style.” How do you think Wolf felt when the Duck said that?

After Reading

• Explain the benefits of persevering using the example of Wolf.
• Review some tasks the students could persevere at today in class or out on the playground.

Fin’s Tales

My favourite book to read is Moby Dick. It is about a big whale just like me! When I first learned to read, I found it difficult. Sounding out the letters and putting the words together was a challenge for me. Sometimes I thought I would never learn how to read!

• What do you think I did?
• Do you think I gave up completely?
• Do you think I got angry and threw the book?
• Or, do you think I kept at it?
• Do you think I practiced for hours and hours and days and days until I got better?