What This Book Is About
The hero of this book is not a child but a sheep: Bellwether Riggweller, who loves blackberries and is terrified of the wolves in the forest where the blackberries grow. His solution is to sew himself a realistic wolf costume so that he can pick them in peace.
The disguise does not work well. It falls apart at a night-time gathering of wolves, where Bellwether finds out that the wolves are not what he feared, and comes away with friends. Written and drawn by Sid Sharp, this is a graphic novel rather than a prose story, published by Annick Press in 2022 for ages six to ten.
Available at Popular bookstores, Kinokuniya, and the Singapore National Library.
Why We Recommend This Book
For A1-level readers (Grade 2), The Wolf Suit is a standout recommendation for three reasons.
First, it takes fear seriously and then takes it apart. Bellwether is frightened of a whole species he has never actually met, and the story is about what happens when he finally meets them. Many children in international schools are busy being afraid of something new, so the shape of that will be familiar.
Second, it is a graphic novel, and the panels carry much of the story. Children who find a page of prose heavy going can follow this one, which makes it a good bridge rather than a soft option.
Third, it sparks a useful conversation: Bellwether's disguise is a bad plan that fails, and the thing that actually helps is finding out what wolves are really like. That is a better talking point than most books about being brave.
Reading Level Guide
Building reading foundations? Start with picture books and read-alouds first.
Perfect difficulty. The illustrations carry the story alongside the text, making every page accessible and emotionally rich.
A comfortable, quick read. Focus on the visual storytelling and deeper emotional themes.
Other UWC Recommended Books for This Grade
Not sure if this book is right for your child? Take our free English assessment to find their CEFR level, then choose books that match.