School Library Journal Starred Review (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2006)

Gr 1-3-This imaginative, cleverly designed story unfolds in a delectable blend of spare text and eloquent multimedia illustrations. A textured welcome mat serves as background for title and publisher information, the pages feel somewhat scratchy, and the wolves are expressively drawn with charcoal pencil. In the story, Rabbit borrows Wolves by Emily Grrrabbit from the West Bucks Public Burrowing Library and leaves with his nose already stuck in the red book. His long, wavy ears ooze movement. The author ingeniously develops her story on two levels: children will absorb the information that the rabbit is reading-"An adult wolf has forty-two teeth"-but also enjoy the suspenseful tale of what is happening to the rabbit as he walks along. As a "real" wolf becomes gradually more threatening, Rabbit becomes progressively smaller. Expressive illustrations show him obliviously walking up a bushy tail onto the back, and then the snout, of a wolf; but it is the uh-oh expression on his face as he slowly realizes that he is in trouble that is so piercingly vivid. The following page depicts a partially eaten book, and no rabbit. However, the author then reassures readers that "no rabbits were eaten during the making of this book" and thoughtfully provides an alternative ending for "sensitive children." This delightful picture book is best shared with children who can appreciate the sly humor.-Kirsten Cutler, Sonoma County Library, CA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

ALA Booklist (Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2006)

The story couldn't be simpler: a rabbit borrows a book about wolves from the Public Burrowing Library. Lost in the pages of his good book as he strolls home, the rabbit fails to recognize that he has encountered the real thing honest-to-goodness, knife-and-fork-wielding, big bad you-know-what. But not to worry. This is a postmodern picture book that has fun with narrative convention; there's an alternate ending, accompanied by playful interjections from the author-illustrator (who bills herself as Emily Grrrabbit on the title page). Wolves is a long way from being The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, but it's a bit of a lark for younger readers and listeners, and its sly celebration of libraries and reading is a treat for older ones.

Horn Book

With attractive designs and lively texts, these books present information about animal characteristics, locale, feeding and communication, reproduction and child-rearing practices, and ways in which animals play. Each four-page chapter features a full-page color photograph, a second picture, and a concluding sidebar with additional facts. Glos., ind.

Kirkus Reviews

With a nod to David Wiesner's classic, The Three Pigs (2001), newcomer Gravett creates a postmodern story that can easily be enjoyed by a less sophisticated audience. A rabbit checks out a book of information on wolves from the library. As he reads, absorbed, he fails to notice a wolf stepping out of the book, ever larger and more menacing. Wolves "have bushy tails," reads Rabbit, while trodding unaware on the wolf's tail. The wolf creeps up on the feckless bunny until Rabbit comes upon the information that wolves eat rabbits! The rabbit is bug-eyed with alarm, while the consummate page-turn reveals the library book clawed to shreds . . . the rabbit gone. Never fear, delicate readers, there is an alternate ending in which the rabbit and the wolf, who is a vegetarian, share a sandwich. Like many postmodern picture books, the mixed-media illustrations call attention to the book itself, and establish an ironic relationship between the deadpan text and the endearingly expressive rabbit stalked by the slavering wolf. Brilliant fun. (Picture book. 5-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

When Rabbit goes to West Bucks Public Burrowing Library and becomes immersed in a book called Wolves, he can't wait to start reading, and buries his moist little nose in its pages on his way home. In British author-artist Gravett's series of sly pencil spreads, the wolf book's pages serve as a backdrop for Rabbit's absent-minded journey. Children will notice the appearance, menacingly close to Rabbit, of certain furry and very large animal parts: """"They have sharp claws..."""" Rabbit's book tells him, while four hairy legs dwarf the long-eared hero, who stands between two evil-looking claws, """"bushy tails..."""" which Rabbit, not looking where he's going, starts to climb, """"and dense fur..."""" through which Rabbit, still oblivious, begins to trudge, as if it were a grassy field. Will Rabbit escape from the wolf's jaws, which his book says are """"twice as powerful as those of a large dog""""? Graciously, Gravett provides two endings: one for children who long for excitement, featuring a ravaged red book cover, the other for more faint-hearted readers-take your pick. (""""No rabbits were eaten during the making of this book,"""" Gravett explains primly. """"It is a work of fiction."""") A smaller number of children may decide the book is too heartless, but those who have grown past the fuzzy bunny stage and on to irony will howl at the fun. Ages 4-8.