BEWARE OF THE STORYBOOK WOLVES (PRIMARY).

By Lauren Child. Scholastic, 2001; 32 pages; $15.95 (K-3).

Every night, after Herb's mother reads him a bedtime story, he insists his mother take the book with her. Why? "Because there's a wolf in it, of course," Herb tells her. One night, she forgets, and sure enough, when Herb turns on the light, there are two menacing storybook wolves hovering over him, ready to gobble him up, right down to his little pink toes. As a lead-in to exploring the world of fairy-tale characters, Herb's predicament and how he resolves it with the help of a fairy godmother will leave kids agog and laughing. Reread "Little Red Riding Hood" and "Cinderella" to your students, two tales central to the story.

ACTIVITY: Visit the Web site of the International Wolf Center (www.wolf.org) to learn more about these fascinating animals. Then compare and contrast the qualities of storybook and real wolves.