- Picture Books
- Ages 4–8
- Comedy
Wolves
Part of the Emily Gravett universeOpen the collection
A brilliantly clever, slightly dark picture book about a rabbit reading a library book about wolves. Essential Emily Gravett: funny, metafictional, beautifully designed and just scary enough to thrill older preschool and early primary readers.
- Best for4–8
- FormatPicture
- Length40 pp
- Read aloud~8 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
- Literary
Tone
- Funny
- Dark
- Suspenseful
- Irreverent
- Thought provoking
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
A rabbit borrows a library book about wolves and becomes so absorbed in reading that the book and the real world begin to blur. As the facts about wolves become more alarming, the reader notices what Rabbit does not: a wolf may be getting closer and closer. Wolves is a masterclass in picture-book design, using the book-within-a-book format, visual clues, torn paper, jokes, suspense and an alternative ending to play with what a story can do. Emily Gravett makes the danger funny rather than genuinely frightening, but the darker joke is part of the appeal. It works especially well with children who enjoy being in on a visual gag, spotting clues and feeling a little shiver of fear in a safe context. Adults will appreciate the craft, wit and confidence of the concept.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 4–8
- Read aloud · 4–8
- Independent · 6–9
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: scary imagery, animal harm.
Bedtime suitability
2 / 5 · Better outside bedtime
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Clever picture books
- Metafiction
- Dark humour
- Visual literacy
- Greenaway winner
Avoid if
- Very sensitive to predator prey
- Wants cosy bedtime
- Dislikes ambiguous endings
Particularly good for children who are…
- Interested in art and creativity
- Reluctant reader
- Nightmares or fears
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A witty, award-winning read-aloud that plays with books and fact-vs-fiction — a clever story-time pick with a sly twist to discuss.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is the book-within-the-book — a rabbit borrowing a library book about wolves, getting more and more absorbed, the reader noticing what Rabbit doesn't: a wolf creeping into the pages. The Gravett with the alternative ending and the torn-paper joke.
- Surviving danger
- Secret world
- Trickery and cleverness
Why parents love it
The Emily Gravett Kate Greenaway winner — book-within-a-book design, torn paper and visual clues and an alternative ending, the danger funny rather than properly frightening. Survives repeat reads. Strong for children old enough for a meta-joke about reading.
- Shared humour
- Beautiful illustrations
- Conversation starter
- Great writing
About the author & illustrator
Emily Gravett.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
- Bookshop.org ↗
- Waterstones ↗
- Amazon UK ↗
- Hive ↗
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