This twist on the Big Bad Wolf tale inspires young readers to use their imagination. Mr. Warbler, "the keeper of this story" begins each sunny day by waking up the wolf so that he can try to capture and eat Oscar the pig.
Today, however, it is raining, so the conflict between the Wolf, Oscar and all of Oscar's friends is purely hypothetical. On a sunny day, Oscar would enlist the help of Amadeus the hare, Niles the squirrel and Popof the bear. In this tale's telling, readers see only the setting for the plot and must envision story as it unfolds in each picture.
The illustrations themselves are actually quite engaging. Bright, colorful shapes are combined to create houses, trees and other plants. With simple dots, circles and lines, Manceau gives texture to his drawings. Each image lends itself to a discussion as to how the action takes place on each page, leaving much room for creativity on the part of the reader. A former teacher, Jennifer Minicus is currently a full-time wife and mother.