This enthralling book will capture the hearts of animal lovers who will be rooting for the successful release of the wolf pups. Recommended for collections seeking fresh, nature-centered stories.
—School Library Journal
In Eric Walters’ new chapter book, The Three Wolves, nine-year-old Andrew and his parents rescue three orphaned wolf pups who can’t survive on their own. Andrew befriends the pups and helps take care of them at his parents’ wildlife rehabilitation center until they can be released back into the wild. Read on to hear from the author about how this story started his writing journey and why animal stories are so important to him.
The Three Wolves was originally a story you wrote for an assignment in fifth grade! What inspired you to write the story then?
I have always loved animals. I had a dog, three cats, baby squirrels, mice, rats and an alligator. I thought I was going to be a veterinarian. I watched TV shows and read books about animals.
How much of your original story made it into the published version of The Three Wolves?
The names of the animals are the same as in my original story, and there are about a dozen lines taken directly from the original story. The plot is different though: In the original story the animals basically raised themselves.
How did the support from your teacher Miss Gay help you on the path to becoming an author?
When she told me I could be a “writer” I thought she was crazy. I was going to be a professional basketball player. What she told me though was that I could be something. Those words came back to me as I started writing my first story.
You also have several other books where kids help rescue animals, including Saving Sammy, Bear in the Family and High and Dry. What draws you to writing stories where kids help animals?
I was the kid in the neighborhood that other kids brought injured animals. I would take care of them, nurse them back to health and in the case of wild animals, release them.
Did you a rescue an animal of your own when you were growing up?
Seven baby squirrels, a grouse and assorted feral cats.
Is there a message that you hope kids take away after reading The Three Wolves or one of your other books involving animal rescues?
I think we always have an obligation to help other people and animals if we have the ability. Caring is contagious and feels good inside.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
This story is special to me, not just because it was the first significant thing I ever wrote, but because of my connection to my fifth-grade teacher. Her encouragement wasn’t so much about me being a writer as saying that she believed in me. She remained in my life until she passed, at age 99. I gave the eulogy at her funeral.
Eric Walters is a Member of the Order of Canada and the author of over 130 books that have collectively won more than 100 awards, including the Governor General’s Literary Award for The King of Jam Sandwiches. A former teacher, Eric began writing as a way to get his fifth-grade students interested in reading and writing. Eric is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year in schools across the country. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.