Full Moon Pups
Deep in the forest, Mama Wolf gives birth to an adorable litter of pups under a sky full of moon. Over the next month, the pups will open their eyes, stretch out their tiny paws, and playfully explore the world around them—all under the watchful eyes of Mama Wolf and the rest of the pack. And before long, these pups will be big enough to yip at the full moon themselves! This lyrical, gorgeously illustrated picture book in verse follows a litter of baby wolf pups in the wild through their first full lunar cycle. Illustrated by Chuck Groenink and published by Putnam/Penguin in 2023.
“Irresistibly adorable wolf pups come of age in this attractive tale.” – Kirkus
“Scanlon shines new light on a keystone species’ life cycle through the subtle framing of a lunar cycle. The text’s tightly structured rhyming stanzas, softened by sweet alliteration and an earnest tone, lend well to a thoughtful, informational storytime itinerary.” – The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“…the illustrations effectively showcase both the wolves and the moon, while the rhythmic, rhyming verses include just enough information about the pups to interest young children. An attractive dual-topic picture book for animal lovers.” – Booklist
“Rhyming quatrains by Garton Scanlon trace the birth and early lives of a litter of wolf cubs in this closely observed picture book marked by the moon’s phases… Lush, deep blue multimedia spreads splashed with sunset tints by Groenink convey the majestic sweep of mountains and pine forests, and the animated facial expressions of the approachable-looking wolves. — Publishers Weekly
A Dolly Parton Imagination Library selection
2024 Honor Book: SCBWI Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals
A Junior Library Guild selection
A 2024 winner of the Wisconsin Library Association’s Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature Award
Also published in German, French, and French Canadian.
