A contrarian wolf insists on starting his story from back to front. Once readers turn the book over and open the "back" cover, they see the title page. Little Wolf stands with his arms folded, proclaiming "The Story Starts Here""Because I said so," tipping readers off as to the tone of the book. Little Wolf's parents (readers only see their legs) tell him that books don't start from "this end," but Little Wolf insists they do today and continues in this vein (starting his meal with dessert, playing piano with his toes) until he is sent to his room. Little Wolf then escapes into the forest outside through his (strangely paneless) window to see all manner of forest creatures in full sprint. They are fleeing an indescribable creature who turns out to be Little Wolf's father walking on his hands, though readers have to flip the book to make this discovery. After the flip, Little Wolf's father shrinks from his extra-large size back to normal, for no discernible reason, and the pair leaves together, though it's made clear that Little Wolf is as rebellious as ever. Starting a book from what is usually the back cover is a great idea, but unfortunately, Little Wolf's subsequent acts of rebellion are too pedestrian to sustain the concept's promise, and the narrative follow-through is so arbitrary that it's more likely to unmoor readers than to charm them.Nifty concept; imperfect execution. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Even wolves go through the Terrible Twos, apparently. Little Wolf has a red nose, fangs, and wild fur, and he wants to do everything his way. That includes how his story unfolds: it begins at the "end" of the book and reads from back to front. In a fine translation by Li, Little Wolf appears on the title page (in the back), crosses his arms, and shouts the title of the book, adding, "Because I said so." He goes on to make more trouble. "Fine, then I'll play the piano with my toes." When he puts his pants on his head-nicely accenting his ears and giving him a jaunty, sporting look-his parents send him to his room. "I can't do anything around here," he whines. The climax stars a (slightly) scary monster and again requires the assistance of the reader to position the book correctly. What might be a one-note gimmick is redeemed by Merola's (A Night on the Town) ability to capture toddler rebellion. Even after a temporary fright Little Wolf is right back to his old tricks. Ages 3-7. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Little Wolf decides to start his book from the back, so readers must literally proceed from right to left as they follow his (opposite) day (e.g., he eats dessert first). His dad shows him that two can play at this contrary game. The rakishly illustrated book is easy to follow, funny, and painlessly cerebral--the right way to do meta. (c) Copyright 2015. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-K-Little Wolf insists on doing things his way for once: today, he will read a book from back to front, eat dessert first while standing, and play the piano with his toes. His humorless parents disagree and send him to his room, and Little Wolf promptly runs away. Outside he finds the forest animals in full stampede, fleeing an indescribable monster, who says he's feeling "topsy turvy." Readers flip the book over to reveal that the monster is merely Little Wolf's father, inexplicably struck by the urge to "play jokes, too." The premise is clever, but the joke loses its way halfway through. Simple cartoon illustrations are not strong enough to balance the slight text and thin plot. Libraries looking for interactive texts would be better served with additional copies of HervE Tullet's Press Here (Chronicle, 2011).-Suzanne Myers Harold, formerly at Multnomah County Library System, Portland, OR (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.