Antoinette and the Wolf

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Little Antoinette wanders happily through the forest in search of
flowers for her mother. She comes to the aid of a snared rabbit, but in
the process of helping him she becomes hopelessly lost. A wise old owl
tells Antoinette that the only creature who knows the way out of the
woods is a huge, hungry wolf. Antoinette goes to the wolf’s lair and
asks for his help. The wolf demands a rabbit to eat in payment for his
services. Antoinette agrees to his request, but to receive the rabbit,
the wolf must meet her under the owl’s tree. When the wolf arrives,
Antoinette and the animals all sing “Happy Birthday.” Sweet-talking
Antoinette then manages to convince the wolf that it is not rabbit flesh
he really craves, but friendship. The wolf has a good cry and, after a
hug from Antoinette, declares that he will be good. The rabbit gives the
wolf a birthday present and then the grateful wolf takes Antoinette home
to her family.

Although there is something appealing about the idea of a big bad wolf
getting in touch with his inner pup, unfortunately this story fails to
be convincing. Unlike the Grinch, Scrooge, or Oscar Wilde’s Selfish
Giant who experience redemption after confronting their own past, this
wolf decides to change his evil ways just because a pretty little girl
says he should. Clichés also run rife throughout the text and
illustrations. Not a first-choice purchase.