When a Wolf Is Hungry, by Christine Naumann-Villemin, illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo

Poor Wolf is hungry, and his dinner plans keep getting interrupted. in Christine Naumann-Villemin' When a Wolf Is Hungry, a rabbit who is the target of his craving has some unwittingly protective neighbors who divert wolf from his culinary pursuits.  The result of the story, vividly illustrated by Kris Di Giacomo, is that wolf enjoys a bunch of new friendships with neighbors, none of whom he is going to eat.

I'm not a vegetarian, and I'm not totally certain Naumann-Villemin has set out to convert children to vegetarianism.  On the surface, this is the story about a wolf who came to judge that his neighbors are more valuable as friends than as meat.  The greater message is that all of us should view our neighbors as friends, not as targets from whom we might finagle our next meal or some other benefit.

So bring on the meat for dinner (for us humans), but let us look out for our neighbors, too.  Most of us don't take enough time for the people around us.  Like the wolf and his new neighbors, we should consider a get together on the roof, or whatever convenient gathering place you can find.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!