The Wolf Mother

This award-winning series about animals of significance to the Gitxsan of northwestern British Columbia continues with a fifth book, this one devoted to the grey wolf and, in particular, to Nox Gibuu, the wolf mother. Readers meet her black pup at three weeks of age, the smallest but most aggressive of the six siblings. The pup’s growth and development skips ahead for two years until she is ready to venture out on her own, seeking a new group of wolves to live with. She takes her place as dominant female in a new pack as it is her time to become Nox Gibuu to five pups. The social aspects of the pack parallel those of a Gitxsan village as both are closely linked to the land. The value of wolves to maintain a healthy balance within the ecosystem emerges as a powerful message left for readers to ponder.

The story flows smoothly through the seasons from the pup’s first spring, Lasa ‘yanja, with well-integrated text and illustrations. Small inserts near the text define new terms for the 9-12 reading level. More details of Gitxsan culture, along with a chart to explain the Moons and a sketched map of Gitxsan territory in British Columbia, complete the book.

The full-spread art in rich colors enhances comprehension and enjoyment with its lifelike depictions of the wolves and their world. Engaging animation brings the wolves to life on these pages: the pups snuggling in the den, the black wolf approaching her new pack for the first time, howling at the moon. Included in most illustrations is a formline depiction of an Indigenous feature (wolf, moon, salmon).

Add The Wolf Mother to your collection of the “Mothers of Xsan” series, with still another title forthcoming about the raven. Together, the books in the series present an informative facet of Gixsan culture in a captivating storytelling format.