It felt really off-putting to pick up this picture book and find that it was front-loaded with an author's note, a preface, and a foreword, whose purpose partly seemed to be to justify the existence of this story of a 15th or 16th century Pueblo boy created by a 21st century Chinese American woman who lives in California. Throw in the pages of endnotes, and this suddenly feels like homework.

Having eventually made it to the story pages, the tale of an insecure boy who thinks he is only growing in popularity with the other boys in his community due to the cool wolf pup he has rescued seems a bit thin.

And why is it only introduced late in the book -- out of nowhere -- that the boy ties up his wolf every night? That really undercuts the bonding we are supposed to believe occurs in the first part. Oops. ( )

Whispers of the Wolf is a deceptively simple story with surprising depth. A small lonely boy doesn’t like to run with his tribe because he’s always last. A small lonely wolf will surely die if nobody saves it. And a boy with a wolf learns to see through different eyes (and ears and paws), to tell stories, to make friends, and finally to run.

But Whispers of the Wolf isn’t just about friendship. It’s about finding yourself, learning to trust, and even letting go. Two Birds lets go of his isolation, lets go of his fears, and finally even lets go of his beloved wolf.

Whispers tells of an unchanging world, for all that it's set in a well-researched and convincing Pueblo village of the 1500s. Paws still pad today on the same ground. Winds still blow from distant lands. And if we stop talking long enough, we might still hear and see.

Add wonderful illustrations, beautifully described in fact-filled notes at the back of the book, and this becomes a volume to treasure, for parents and children, for growing and learning together. Meet the pueblo Indians, run like a prayer, and look into the eyes of story. Enjoy.

Disclosure: I was given a free copy by the publisher and I offer my honest review. It’s wonderful! ( )