Look to the North by Jean Craighead George illustrated by Lucia Washburn

 

Boulder, Scree and Talus arrive in the world blind and deaf, weighing only one pound. But soon they are playing, tumbling, and howling - all important lessons to learn as they grow up to face 

the challenges of their alpine environment.

I do have to begin this post by telling you this book was published in 1997 so it is long out of print. The library I visit each week hold onto their books knowing they are treasures and they take such good care of their collection that this book continues to look almost brand new even though their paperback copy was purchased in 2014. I noticed this book on the blog Kinderbookswitheverything which is why I borrowed it today. 

You are sure to recognise the name Jean Craighead George (1919-2012) because she is the author of Julie of the Wolves which won the Newbery Medal and My Side of the Mountain. She actually wrote over 100 books. Read more here on this blog post from Kinderbookswitheverything. 

Here is the publisher blurb for Look to the North: Newbery Medalist Jean Craighead George lovingly tells the story of three wolf pups--from the moment they open their eyes to the time they lead the hunt. Lyrical passages in her wolf pup diary describe how the pups tumble and play and when they first learn to howl and talk wolk talk. Readers are reminded of the changes in nature that are happening in the lower 48 states as they look to the north to watch the wolf pups grow. Jean George's words and Lucia Washburn's breathtaking paintings give the reader a rare glimpse of one of nature's noblest creatures: the wolf.

The information, told in the form of a diary, about the wolf pups who grow from one day to eleven months is interesting but it is the cover and illustrations that drew me to this book. I haven't been able to discover much about the illustrator but this book was her debut and she has illustrated other non fiction books especially about dinosaurs and junior non fiction for the series - Penguin Young Readers. I am keen to see these book even though they are also long out of print.