by Peter Nickl.
North-South Books, 1982
This charming picture book teaches us a lesson about stereotypes. The wolf in the story is not fierce or cruel but is a kind medical practitioner who takes care of other animals. As the story says, "I expect you have often heard people say someone was as fierce as a wolf, as timid as a rabbit, as sly as a fox, or as wise as an owl. But not all wolves are fierce, any more than all foxes are sly or all owls wise. It is as silly as saying all girls are pretty or all boys brave." At the beginning of the tale, wolf is told by the owl that the other animals fear him and that he ought to behave better. After thinking this over, he decides to go away and start a new way of life. When he returns, he finds that it is not easy to convince others that he has changed. The wolf has to overcome both the suspicions of the other animals and the alarmist warnings of the owl who says, "A wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature." In the end, the wolf proves himself by his actions, and the animals come to trust him to be their doctor. This parable from Switzerland gently tells the young reader of the consequences of prejudging other people, and encourages them to look beyond appearances and even past actions when they deal with others.
