Book review: 'Who is Afraid of Little Wolf?' teaches that being friendly trumps obeying parents

"Who is Afraid of Little Wolf?" has darling illustrations. However, that's about all I liked about it.

Image from Prestel Publishing

In this board book, none of the forest animals will play with Little Wolf. Each time Little Wolf asks a potential friend to play with him, he gets the same answer: they can't because their moms have told them not to play with wolves.

Finally, a little bee suggests they play together and the two have a fun time. As the previously unfriendly forest animals see how harmless Little Wolf is and the great time Little Bee is having with him, they eventually join in, creating one big happy forest family where everyone is included.

Image from Prestel Publishing

Okay, so I get this book is trying to teach kids the value of including others who are different. Reaching out to kids who aren't included is something that most parents, including me, hope their children will do. However, I don't like that "Who is Afraid of Little Wolf?" slants parents in a negative light. Parents usually have rules for good reasons and any book that teaches disobeying parents in order to make others happy isn't one that I'd recommend.

Other than teaching children that disobeying parents for the sake of their peers is okay, this book doesn't have have anything else offensive in it.

Author and illustrator Yayo Kawamura lives in Berlin, Germany.

Book breakdown:
24 board book pages
Color illustrations
Best for ages: 2-5
Educational factor: low
Christian: no
Parents could be concerned about: this book teaches that following the crowd trumps listening to parents