The wolf suit

Timid sheep Bellwether Riggwelter enjoys the simple things in life. He takes pleasure in picking blackberries, smelling flowers, and listening to the birds sing, but he's terribly afraid of the forest, where ferocious wolves with sharp claws, pointed ears, and wicked smiles roam, feasting on animals like him. Tired of cowering in his small house, Bellwether puts his sewing skills to use, making himself a wolf costume so he can enjoy the pleasures of the forest worry free. Once he dons the costume, he meets a pack of wolves, but he eventually realizes not only that things aren't always as they seem but also that the world can be less scary with friends. Sharp's dark and richly colored paintings in a folk-art style add to the fairy tale atmosphere, and Bellwether himself, with lanky arms and a simply drawn but deeply expressive face, is very charming. With an offbeat feel and a relatable emotional journey at its core, this pithy comic will find an easy audience among kids who like their adventures on the quieter side, as well as readers who prefer stylish and idiosyncratic artwork.

A sheep learns that he is not alone in his fears. Bellwether Riggweller dreams about flowers, but he lives, dances, and crafts alone, his dark cabin's curtains closed and the door firmly shut. Although he puts on a brave face, Bellwether is terrified of the forest and its wolves. When he enters the forest to pick blackberries, his imagination runs wild, but later, in a series of ominous, nearly wordless pages, he actually faces off with a wolf before racing home safely. Still, Bellwether longs to pick berries, smell flowers, and listen to birds without becoming a wolf's supper, so he uses his crafting skills to create a realistic wolf costume--he'll be a sheep in wolf's clothing. Although he does blend in with local wolves, his costume dulls the sounds of birdsong and blocks the scents of flowers, and the costume rips at the seams, is torn when he gets it caught on brambles, and provides a feast for moths just as he is preparing to join a late-night wolf gathering. Filled with anxiety, Bellwether nevertheless attends the meet-up, where his costume completely unravels, and is greeted with a few surprises, including several new friends. Illustrations in dark, rich jewel-tone colors, often set against a black background, create a folkloric look fitting for this well-written, if perhaps overly optimistic, allegory about being yourself. The last image, rendered in a lighter, softer palette, offers a promising glimpse of the future. Poignant affirmation that friendships can blossom when we are brave enough to reveal our true selves. (Graphic novel. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.