Review of The Big Bad Wolf in My House by Valerie Fontaine

Authors

Hannah Elizabeth Smith, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publisher

Groundwood Books

City

Toronto / Berkeley

Date of Publication

2021

ISBN

9781773065014

Date of Review

2022

Disciplines

Library and Information Science | Modern Literature

Keywords

Children's literature, reviews

Review

After her mother marries the Big Bad Wolf, the young daughter is verbally, physically, and possibly sexually abused. She watches her mother’s spirit droop as the Wolf yells and throws dishes, and she tries to hide herself in her room, under her blankets – and when the Wolf breaches those barriers, she retreats into herself. At the end of the story, her mother takes her to a shelter where she finally feels safe and protected. While the book is appropriate for young children as it distances itself from reality by drawing the abuser as an actual Wolf and never explicitly states the abuse, it offers little agency to children who are being abused. For example, although it shows that children can hide, it also shows that abusers can find them. While this story does end on a positive upturn, it does not show the practical steps children can take to protect themselves, such as calling the police or talking to a loving parent, teacher, or other adult. This book has the potential to be a conversation starter in situations of guessed or known abuse, but as it does not provide children with any clear resources to escape or prevent abuse, its usefulness and appropriateness is limited. Optional Hannah Smith, Centennial Library Intern, Cedarville University

Recommended Citation

Smith, Hannah Elizabeth, "Review of The Big Bad Wolf in My House by Valerie Fontaine" (2022). Library Intern Book Reviews. 341.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/341

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