THREE IMPORTANT JOBS

A young wolf is given three jobs that are more innocent than they first appear.

Wolf Cub has been assigned three “important” jobs by Big Wolf and sets about completing them with a sense of purpose, but without any context—which creates a sense of suspense and sets up the twist at the end. Wolf Cub’s first job is to capture Little Mouse in her jaws, with a full page showing Wolf Cub’s “sharp and strong” teeth from an interior perspective, making the scene intimidating and ominous. After Little Mouse pleads not to be eaten, Big Wolf promises she “won’t feel a thing.” Wolf Cub’s next task is to capture Floppy Rabbit in a similar manner and deliver him to Big Wolf. This whole time, the reader expects something gruesome to happen with those big teeth, but Big Wolf’s “den” turns out to be a dentist’s chair, and the creatures, including Wolf Cub, get their teeth cleaned under Big Wolf’s care. The full-color painterly acrylic artwork is beautifully rendered, but the story, which is presumably meant to help young readers overcome anxiety-provoking situations, might do the opposite: In this age of learning about consent and bodily autonomy, not letting the animals know what’s going on beforehand strikes a sour tone, and the twist at the end falls flat. Adults may want to intervene to offer context and explanations.

The payoff might not be worth the ride but could be a springboard for important conversations if used correctly.