A 2018 Caldecott Medal winner, WOLF IN THE SNOW is written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell (Feiwel and Friends, 2017).

This picture book is deceptively simple and absolutely delightful. Cordell uses pen and ink sketches and watercolour to tell a story of survival in a vast and treacherous winter landscape.

Pretty much wordless and almost filmic, Cordell’s sparing use of text creates an audio dimension and shape and colour cleverly weave in elements of fairy tale.

Both visually and narratively, human and animal are aligned in this cold universe and a little girl’s heroic act of kindness in the face of adversity is quietly imbued with themes of family and love.

And who doesn’t love a cosy ending?  Ah.

Though clearly created for the very young, our ten-year old was captured by this story, declaring it “the best book I’ve ever read.” She ran off to copy her favourite illustration… here it is.  HOOOOOWWLLL!