Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-Award-winning photographer and nature writer Brandenburg chronicles the life of a young Arctic wolf. Nicknamed “Scruffy” for his disheveled appearance, the young wolf is shown interacting with his pack and struggling to establish himself within the hierarchical wolf family. As Scruffy begins to take care of some new wolf pups, readers are given a fascinating look at the social structure of these interesting animals. The text occasionally lapses into anthropomorphism in its attempt to give Scruffy’s search for a place in the pack some human dimension. While some readers may be put off by references to human emotions and sensibilities, they’re sure to find the stunning full-color photography and Scruffy’s eventual acceptance compelling.
Ellen M. Riordan, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ellen M. Riordan, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 2^-4. The author of the award-winning photo-essay To the Top of the World (1993), for an older audience, makes further use of his experiences living near and observing an Arctic wolf pack on Ellesmere Island. Here he focuses on the pack’s weakest, lowest ranking member, Scruffy, so called because it was “by far the messiest.” In plainspoken words, laced with obvious affection, he describes Scruffy’s “goofy” ways, harsh treatment by others in the pack, and unsuccessful attempts to handle tasks that came easily to most of the others. He also describes Scruffy’s special talent–nursemaid to wolf pups–and the behavioral changes the wolf experienced while handling its responsibilities. Brandenburg’s photos, several of which are quite amazing, capture it all–Scruffy cowering and abject one moment, growling and fully in charge the next. It’s the book’s design that’s disappointing. The text and neatly bordered, full-color pictures rest atop pale gray or gray-green paper imprinted with an overexposed photo (the same one seems to be used throughout), a technique that not only makes the text occasionally hard to read but also makes the pages seem busy and crowded. Still, there’s much information, especially about animal hierarchy and the way nature tries to find a place for all. Stephanie Zvirin
From Kirkus Reviews
Scruffy is an Arctic wolf who is not fully grown and does not measure up to the other wolves in the pack. Brandenburg (To the Top of the World, 1995, etc.) explains that he met Scruffy while on assignment to Ellesmere Island near the North Pole for National Geographic magazine. Fascinated by the messiest, goofiest wolf in the pack, Brandenburg begins to observe and photograph Scruffy. The technically adept, full-color photographs are engagingly expressive of the “adolescent” wolf’s efforts to grow up. Scruffy is not coddled and is frequently beaten up by the more dominant wolves when he gets out of line. The climax comes when Scruffy finds his niche: caretaker and teacher to generations of new pups. Young readers will come away from this beautiful book with lessons about their own journeys. Scruffy’s perseverance, combined with the text’s conversational tone, makes the story accessible to a wide range of readers. (Picture book/nonfiction. 4-9) — Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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