Review - The Wolf Will Not Come

The Wolf Will Not Come
by Myriam Ouyessad
illustrated by Ronan Badel
Date: 2019
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 28
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

"Mom, are you sure the wolf will not come?" "Absolutely, my rabbit." "But how can you be so sure?" This clever story disarms childhood bedtime anxieties in an unexpected way. A small rabbit getting ready for bed questions his mother on how she can be so sure that the wolf will not come to their house. Meanwhile, on the opposite page, we follow the progress of the wolf indeed creeping closer and closer to them, foiling the mother's reassurances one by one. In a delightful twist, the rabbit's fears are defused and all ends well. The irresistible drawings and surprise ending put nighttime anxieties in light-hearted perspective.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book just has me confused. It's a story about a little rabbit who needs constant reassurance that the wolf is not on the way to their apartment in the city. Their mom keeps telling them all the reasons why the wolf couldn't reach them (it would get hit by a car in the city, it can't figure out how to use the elevator, etc.) and eventually just ends the evening with the equivalent of, "Because I said so!"

It's at this point that things really take a turn for the weird. What was, up until that point, a simple picture book about a mother trying to assuage her child's fears becomes utterly confusing. After going to bed, the little rabbit hears a knock at the door. So they run to answer it, excited that it might be the wolf. And it is! The wolf has come for the rabbit's birthday party. The rabbit hugs the wolf and they all have a party.

Sorry, but... I don't get it. Is the rabbit afraid of wolves in the first place? I went back and looked again, and they certainly seem to be. Okay... so why is it happy to see the predator at the door? If, on the other hand, the rabbit family and the wolf are friends (and the book just didn't tell us), the mother's "reassurances" are kind of cruel. Telling her kid that the friendly wolf will probably be hit by a car if he tries to come to the party? What kind of mind game is that?!

The pictures are nothing special. I did like some of the illustrations with the sneaky wolf and some of the city scenes, but the pictures weren't all that memorable for me. I think the head-scratcher of a story will be what I remember most about this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 3/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5

Review - Dragons in Love

Dragons in Love
by Alexandre Lacroix
illustrated by Ronan Badel
Date: 2019
Publisher: words & pictures
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Drake is playing happily in the park when a little girl kisses him on the snout and a fire begins to roar inside him. What should he do with his new-found emotions? Perhaps his dad will be able to give him some advice…

Dragons in Love is a funny and moving story about young love and the bonds between fathers and children, with a positive message—and all the magic and mayhem you’d hope for in a tale about dragons.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

I have to say, this is a weird little book. I don't think it's really appropriate for its intended audience, and I don't really feel comfortable recommending it in the #MeToo era.

The plot/premise is all over the place. At first, it seems like a story about a little dragon awakening to feelings of love/lust. But then it turns into a story about bullying. So I'm really not sure what the point was supposed to be.

I had problems almost from the beginning, when Violet kisses Drake on the snout without his permission. I know this is something little kids sometimes do, and this is why teaching about consent early is an important thing. Poor Drake is so "hot and confused", and he ends up flying around and breathing fire (which appears to be what happens when dragons get aroused, if his father's story about meeting his mother is anything to go by). I really didn't like the passage that read:

My friend Violet kissed me. It didn't hurt. In fact it felt soft.

What a horrible message to give kids who might be subjected to sexual abuse. If it doesn't physically hurt, it's okay?

I was just as confused as Drake for much of the rest of the book. He seems to be most worried about his body's reaction to the kiss, and not the fact that his so-called friend put him in an uncomfortable position to begin with. Everything is "fixed" at the end with another kiss, this time from Drake, to which Violet gives consent. (I have to wonder: if the genders were reversed, would more people see the initial kiss as problematic?)

The illustrations are kind of cute and have a very European feel. I like seeing Drake's dad in his wife-beater (although I'm not sure why you need underwear if you don't wear any other type of clothing). But the whole consent issue just rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe this sort of message still flies in Europe, but I don't think we should be teaching kids that it's okay to kiss their friends without consent. A whole discussion could've been had about how Violet's actions made Drake uncomfortable because of the lack of consent; instead, the focus was on his confusion because of how his body responded. It was kind of a missed opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley and words & pictures for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 1/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 1.67 out of 5