Peter and the Wolf by Chris Raschka

Peter and the Wolf Reviews

• 
  Matt

  Either my mind is really poor or Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka's version of this classic misses the mark. Neo and I vote for the latter. After each of the key characters are able to introduce themselves in their own way, the wolf makes a play for the duck. Swallowing our web-footed friend, the wolf is ready to hunt a few more animals and see what he can do for an encore. Peter decides to capture this evil animal and, with the help of some hunters, sets a trap. Peter's grandfather appears to add his two cents to the conversation and the story comes to a close. Yep, that's it. And here I ordered the book from the library for a nice moral lesson. Oh well, back there soon to get the version I need to help teach Neo a lesson about tall tales. Until then, we're out of here. This book was not what we wanted or expected. Can't win them all, I suppose!
• 
  Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance

  Peter and the Wolf is the story of the classic symphony. Author/illustrator Chris Raschka uses onomatopoeia and other poetic devices to recreate the musical depiction of the action in the story, and it's a strong and fresh way to do so. The illustrations capture the action of the story, snapping the characters right in the middle of movement.
  
  
• 
  Rebecca Ann

  I LOVED the illustrations in this book. They have a messy, half finished look, with some pages having lots of white space and some a bit more busy and painterly. I especially loved that the whole story was framed on a stage. Raschka retells the story of Peter and the wolf and changed quite a bit. There is a boy, a bird, a duck, a cat and a wolf. The duck and bird argue, the a cat tries to eat the bird and a wolf comes and eats the duck. Peter catches the wolf by the tail and some hunters come and try to make him into a fur hat. At the last minute Peter's grandfather comes and they take the wolf to the zoo where they save the duck.
  
  I could see this being a lot of fun for storytimes, especially if you can figure out how these animals are supposed to talk, which I could not. It really doesn't have much in common with the original tale, so I think it would have been better off with another title and a note that it was adapted from that story.
• 
  Joqui

  Ok, so this is my honest opinion, if you want to read this book go to the library and check it out first. It's cute, has wonderful drawings but in my case it did not keep my child's attention. He just looked at me like I was crazy trying to pronounce the words in the book. Maybe if you quickly read this to yourself before reading it to your child you will have an easier time...
  I would not recommend anyone to buy this book, but it does have some awesome illustrations and it's a cute concept.
• 
  Molly Cluff (Library!)

  I liked this idea, and I bet it's great with a cd or something, but unless you're familiar with the tune of all the animals and characters, you're going to be really lost.
• 
  Esther

  Peter and the Wolf retold by Chirs Raschka
  Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, NY, 2008.
  Interest Level: Grades 2-6 because the read along could interest developing readers but the cultural connection to the music could appeal to older readers.
  
  This book is an interpretation of Sergei Prokofiev's symphony and story of Peter and the Wolf. The story follows Peter, his grandfather, and various animals as they try to evade the wolf's grasp. The framed illustrations are miniature stage sets that are composed of four sheets of heavy paper that come together to make a 3-D illustration. 
  
  The design of the text, illustrations, characters, and miniature stage sets is amazing in this short picture book. Each human character has a somewhat cubist dimension, since their profile and full-face can be seen, but each animal is only seen from one perspective. The flat characterization of the animals places them apart from Peter and his grandfather while also providing contrast in the 3-D stage sets. The various positioning and sizes of the text on the pages set the tone for each animal as well as the story. In addition, the stage and various "parts" of the story create a play-like tone with beginning end papers to state the participants. What is also interesting about the end papers is that at the end there are no end papers and the last page is used for an epilogue, which fully resolves the story and leaves the reader with positive impressions.
  
  I think that this book would make a great reader's theater selection for older students since each part is clearly marked and different. Also, studying this book with the music and discussing how it has been interpreted could be a great way to use the textual content. Overall, this book has a great design, text, and characterization that moves this timeless story to a new level of artistry.
  
• 
  Gale

  Set in wintry Russia a century ago this charming story, specifically designed to entertain children and introduce them to various instruments of the orchestra, was created by an established composer; the best narration occurs in conjunction with the orchestra. The use of "leitmotiv"—assigning one particular instrument to play one melodic strain—helps listeners recognize which character is on center stage.
  
  Young Peter, visiting his grandfather’s cottage by the big woods, is warned repeatedly not to venture too far from the palisade because a ferocious wolf prowls beyond. At first the boy is content to make friends with Ivan the Cat, Sasha the Bird and Sonia, the Duck. But boys will be boys and one day when Grandfather is not watching, the Wolf sneaks close enough to the pond to gobble up the duck in one gulp. Desperate to save his friend Peter, with the aid of Sasha, undertakes to trap the hungry wolf on his own.
  
  Although hunters eventually arrive at the end of the tale it is due to Peter’s courage and quick wit that the wolf is trapped—in some versions the wolf is either shot by hunters or carried in triumph back to the village, slung from a pole. Grandfather struggles between anger at Peter’s foolhardiness and pride in his abilities to defend his own. A tale of a wolf’s tail--beloved by children the world over--whether being read to or listening to the delightful tone poem.
  
  NB: Peter—violin; Cat—clarinet: Bird—flute; Duck--Oboe.
  Grandfather—bassoon; Hunters—Kettledrum,
  The Wolf: 3 French horns
  
  (July 31, 2013. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
  
  
• 
  Tasha

  Raschka has taken Prokofiev's orchestral masterpiece and reworked it into a picture book that both pays homage to the music and also takes it to a different place. The book introduces each character in turn, gives them a voice and a sound and has them appear on the stage. First comes Peter, who is a spinning, twirling, whirling force. Then comes the bird, who is a delight to read aloud with his stutter and rhythm. My favorite then enters, the duck, who virtually yodels, calling his presence to everyone. Other characters enter, each with their own unique sound and style that is shown by their language and the words but also by their appearance.
  
  This book is such a joy to read aloud, but even more it demands to be made into some sort of production with children acting out the various parts. If I had a small class, I could see taking turns doing each part so that everyone has the thrill of reading the wolf. It will work best with older elementary students around age 9 or 10 who will enjoy the humor and not be caught by the words and rhythms.
  
  If you don't have a class to do this, please share it with any preschool group. Listen to the orchestral version first and children will be delighted to recognize each instrument and character and voice. Raschka has taken a nearly impossible retelling and done it with a magical ease and style.
  
  Highly recommended for preschoolers and older: ages 4+.
• 
  Karen

  My newly-five-year-old son picked this book out from our local library last week.
  
  I wanted to really like this book; I've been known to attend concerts performing Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf before I had children (although the last time I was pregnant with my five-year-old son). I wanted to really like this book, but I just didn't.
  
  I like the idea of the book -- telling the story of Peter and the Wolf in a non-Disney way and putting some of the fear and fierceness back into the original story. But after a while, the narration felt disjointed and schizophrenic.
  
  The illustrations in this book are very raw. Again, I like the idea of the rawness, and it works for some of the illustrations, especially the wolf itself, but after a while, they frayed my nerves. I think more of a balance between raw and finished might have worked better (at least for me and my son).
  
  I read this story once to my son, and that was enough for him. He can, however, listen to Bowie's version of Peter and the Wolf for hours on end.
  
  
  
  (Actual rating: 2.5 stars, but I round up.)
• 
  Camille Ryckman

  Peter and the Wolf
  Brief summary Classic retelling of the symphonic children’s classic
  Annotation - This is a book that must be pre-read and practiced before reading aloud. The unusual sounds the animals make to imitate the instruments in the symphony take some time to work through so it sounds natural.
  Age appropriateness 3-5 years
  Connection to six early literacy skills
  Phonological awareness - This book uses a lot of different sounds to imitate animals that may not be what children have heard before, and that is a good thing.
  Opinion - The pictures are intricate and well done, the story as retold is good, but I don’t think children will end up enchanted with this classic tale from this book.
  
• 
  Jennifer

  I loved this! To be able to take a piece of music and turn it into a storybook, complete with musical tones of each character, is simply genius! I could hear the different parts of the music as I read each part, because Chris Raschka retold this story in such a way that each voice had a unique sound. He even wrote out a lot of sounds in his words.
  
  This book is just awesome! It takes a story typically told on stage with music and puts the stage performance straight onto the pages.
  
  And the artwork is phenomenal! =)
• 
  N

  I love the way this book looks. It's so bold and fresh! And before opening it I thought about all the possibilities of pairing it with the musical score. And I reminisced about watching the Disney version in music class every year.
  
  But then I opened the book, and I oh, so loved the collages... but when I tried to read the dialogue, I realized that it was kind of like talking to an acid casualty. It doesn't make any sense.
• 
  Darrielle

  This book is funny and is sure to gain students' interest as they listen to the story of Peter and the wolf. The book is a great tool to incorporate music into a lesson and introduce the class to string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments that make up the orchestra. In the book the orchestra this book incorporates music otehr animals. Students can make predictions as to what will happen
• 
  Meredith

  Lovely and silly. True to the story I remember hearing in music form at my childhood library, the Carnegie in Squirrel Hill many moons ago. The noises were funny to read and my 3-year-old was laughing and repeating the duck sound, especially. Fun read aloud, good pictures. Loved the I spy aspect of the image page. My kids loved looking for all the animals and shapes and colors in the tree. Solid read.
• 
  The Library Lady

  I'm sorry. I don't care how many damn awards Raschka gets, I just DON'T LIKE HIS BOOKS!
  
  I don't see what makes his version of "Peter and the Wolf" worth the $18.00 of taxpayer money I plunked down for it. There are far better versions on the shelf already--and they generally even come with a CD of the music.
  
  
• 
  Molly

  While I already knew I loved Raschka's work, I didn't expect to like this one as much as I did. The illustrations are tremendous and the text is great to read aloud. My son also loved it!
  
  As a side note, I appreciate Raschka's artwork, but because it is so unique, I can understand why some people really dislike it. I think that can account for some of the 1 stars his books receive.
• 
  Stephanie Sesic

  My preschooler enjoyed this retelling. Each character is introduced on their own page, with the facing page framed like a stage and illustrating the action when that character enters the play. The nonsense words and repetition are great for preschoolers. Mine enjoyed it at least. But then, she's obsessed with wolves!
• 
  Samantha

  A picture book version of Sergei Prokofiev's composition that sought to introduce children to the instruments of the orchestra.
  
  For the artwork, the artist constructed miniature stages made of heavy paper, painted in watercolor, and cut and glued together to make a 3-dimensional illustration. I liked the leap the artwork took here, it worked well for the story and added drama and flair.
• 
  Bvlmc Buchanan Verplanck Elementary School

  The author creates a cacophony of sound in this modernistic rendition of the classic folk tale "Peter and the Wolf". With the abstract artistic themes throughout the illustrations, only those well grounded in the original tale will follow this story although young children may find humor in the nonsense words designed to create animal sounds and activity.
• 
  Jenny

  The sounds created through the words in the book were pretty neat but I was not a fan of this style (I'm the first to admit I am not the most cultured or artistic person so maybe I don't appreciate true "art").
• 
  Vilo

  This book can be enjoyed alone or while listening to a record of Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev. Christopher Raschka is the illustrator and writer of the words which have the rhythm of the music. The themes for each animal are clear.
• 
  Ivy

  This book has tons of voice which will be excellent when having my kids do their own retelling of the folk tale. However it is not the best telling of this story. It is a good addition to add to multiple retellings. I did not care for the illustrations.