Eye of the Wolf

by Daniel Pennac

Book Overview

Reminiscent of THE LITTLE PRINCE, Daniel Pennac's fable of a boy and a wolf who dare to meet each other's gaze unfolds with humor, poignancy, and philosophical resonance. They were born worlds apart, the wolf from the Far North and the boy from Yellow Africa. Now all that separates them is a cage at the zoo. The wolf has lost much on his journey, including an eye and his beloved pack. But when he finally consents to trust the strange, still little...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0763618969
• ISBN13: 9780763618964
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

one of my favorites!!!

Eye of the Wolf is a very interesting book. It told lots of different stories which ended up coming together in the end. I liked how the boy closed one of his eyes to make the wolf not feel sad. I also like how the boy could talk to animals and had relationships with all different kinds of animals from camels to wolves and cheetahs. The wolf's story was sad but ended up happy at the end. He lost his family in the wild and then lost his zoo family, too. But the boy became his friend and helped the wolf feel better. I recommend this book for everyone!! (The illustrations in the book are terrific and capture what is going on in the story!)

A Unique Storytelling Experience--Not to be missed!

Africa has a story to tell, and so does the wolf he visits every day at the zoo. At first, the wolf is annoyed by Africa's constant visits to his cage. He wonders why he is there and what he is looking for, so he stares back at Africa, challenging him to leave and let the wolf return to his loneliness. But by looking into each other's eyes, the two are able to understand each other's stories and recognize how their lives relate to one another. The wolf's story is about the family that he lost-his mother, sisters, and brothers-and how he came to live behind the cage at the zoo as a sacrifice to his sister. Africa's story is about the loss of his family and his life as an orphan, a shepherd, and now finally an adopted boy with a last name. But when told simultaneously, the stories suddenly become about looking for home, about being needed, and about being important and meaningful, no matter where you are. What a unique storytelling adventure! The meeting between Africa and Blue Wolf is an unfamiliar way to open a story, and the reader is almost tempted to set down the book. But soon enough, Pennac creates an interaction between the two that is magical and enchanting and that leads the reader into two dynamic worlds. There is an unexpected depth to Africa's existance, and his mystical ways with animals is a brilliant contrast to the very human emotions of Blue Wolf. As Blue Wolf tells his story of daring rescue and escape, he becomes a powerful reminder of all that is beautiful in nature. There was no way to anticipate the manner in which all the characters come together in the end or the final power that Africa and Blue Wolf have upon each other, but it is fascinating, indeed. The language is specific and flows beautifully together as an extension of Africa's famous storytelling abilities.

So beautiful and poignant - Not only for children

I read the book in other language, i.e. Korean, and with otherillustration. However, this is a really beautiful story whatever language it is written in. There is an wolf who has been captured by men and put into a zoo. When he was caught, his one eye was injured, but he didn't mind because he decided that one eye is sufficient to see the sad, miserable world of men-to his eye, men are as sad and miserable as the captured animals in the zoo. There is a boy from Africa who stands in front of the wolf and look at him directly in his one remaining eye. He himself has been through a lat of sad incidents all over the Africa - in yellow, grey, and green ones. What do they see each other's eyes ? How does the wolf change his mind and accept there are something even in this miserable world worth watching with two eyes ? It's a so beautiful and poignant story (and I don't want to spoil your chance to find it^^), worth reading over and over again.