WHO LIKES WOLFIE?

A comically patchy book with poignant charm. Wolfie is upset because nobody likes him and sets out to win friends. His toothy smile reassures no one, but his singing brings about better results. He sings so loudly that he wakes up the hibernating bears and all the other animals in the snowy forest; by and by, along comes a beautiful white wolf, who likes his singing, and likes Wolfie, too. The illustrations have a humble, unassuming expressiveness, made even more attractive by a mostly wintry palette, warmed with orange. The awkward-looking wolf will earn much sympathy and there are moments to please onlookers, e.g., an awakened bear points to a clock that has the names of the months instead of numbers on it. For anyone unsure of being welcomed, Scamell (Buster's Echo, 1995, etc.) shows that clumsiness can be endearing and that a song need not be musical to be heartfelt. (Picture book. 6-8)