Gr 2–5 —Meet Bellwether Riggwelter, a sheep who loves blackberries, the smell of flowers, and crafting. Bellwether lives in a cozy cabin in the forest, where he keeps his curtains drawn and the door always locked. This forest is home to terrifying wolves, and Bellwether is resolute in his determination to not become dinner. One day, finding himself out of blackberries, Bellwether summons all his courage and enters the forest to collect some more. After a frightening encounter, the sheep devises a clever plan: crafting and donning a wolf costume, allowing him to go about the forest as he pleases. The costume is so convincing that a pack of wolves invite Bellwether to a gathering later that evening. Much to his dismay, Bellwether finds his wolf suit tearing at the seams and is running out of time to fix it. At the gathering, the suit unravels, leaving the sheep completely exposed. The conclusion that follows reveals several surprises, and paves the way for new friendships and growing community. Some spreads are completely wordless, while others include dialogue or minimal narration. This modern folktale emphasizes themes of being yourself and confronting fears, featuring captivating mixed-media illustrations; eagle-eyed readers will notice the palette growing softer and lighter as the story progresses. VERDICT A timeless message presented in an enthralling tale. Highly recommended for purchase.—Olivia Gorecke

Starred Review Timid sheep Bellwether Riggwelter enjoys the simple things in life. He takes pleasure in picking blackberries, smelling flowers, and listening to the birds sing, but he's terribly afraid of the forest, where ferocious wolves with sharp claws, pointed ears, and wicked smiles roam, feasting on animals like him. Tired of cowering in his small house, Bellwether puts his sewing skills to use, making himself a wolf costume so he can enjoy the pleasures of the forest worry free. Once he dons the costume, he meets a pack of wolves, but he eventually realizes not only that things aren't always as they seem but also that the world can be less scary with friends. Sharp's dark and richly colored paintings in a folk-art style add to the fairy tale atmosphere, and Bellwether himself, with lanky arms and a simply drawn but deeply expressive face, is very charming. With an offbeat feel and a relatable emotional journey at its core, this pithy comic will find an easy audience among kids who like their adventures on the quieter side, as well as readers who prefer stylish and idiosyncratic artwork.

A sheep learns that he is not alone in his fears.Bellwether Riggweller dreams about flowers, but he lives, dances, and crafts alone, his dark cabin's curtains closed and the door firmly shut. Although he puts on a brave face, Bellwether is terrified of the forest and its wolves. When he enters the forest to pick blackberries, his imagination runs wild, but later, in a series of ominous, nearly wordless pages, he actually faces off with a wolf before racing home safely. Still, Bellwether longs to pick berries, smell flowers, and listen to birds without becoming a wolf's supper, so he uses his crafting skills to create a realistic wolf costume-he'll be a sheep in wolf's clothing. Although he does blend in with local wolves, his costume dulls the sounds of birdsong and blocks the scents of flowers, and the costume rips at the seams, is torn when he gets it caught on brambles, and provides a feast for moths just as he is preparing to join a late-night wolf gathering. Filled with anxiety, Bellwether nevertheless attends the meet-up, where his costume completely unravels, and is greeted with a few surprises, including several new friends. Illustrations in dark, rich jewel-tone colors, often set against a black background, create a folkloric look fitting for this well-written, if perhaps overly optimistic, allegory about being yourself. The last image, rendered in a lighter, softer palette, offers a promising glimpse of the future.Poignant affirmation that friendships can blossom when we are brave enough to reveal our true selves. (Graphic novel. 6-10)