4.5 ★s
The Wolf Who Cried Boy is an illustrated story for young readers by British author, Bali Rai. As the title might indicate, itis based on the Aesop’s fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, but Rai sets his story in the jungles of India, and gives the story an extra twist and an environmental message. The lush, colourful illustrations are by Komal Pahwa.

In that part of the jungle on the other side of the river, to where his pack had fled when the humans came, young grey wolf Mistral wanders, taking in the sights and sounds, and letting his imagination run wild. He earnestly tells his stories, but the older wolves disapprove, calling him Liar. “Some day you’ll face real danger,” his father once said. “But no one will believe you. And that will be the end of you.”

So the day he wanders down to the forbidden river bank and spies humans riding noisy monsters, he knows his pack is in danger, but of course, no one believes him.

Mani loves the forest, loves the riverbank and all the animals he sees there. They inspire his imagination, and he loves telling stories. But he is warned “One day, you’ll really get into trouble and no one will believe you.”

When the heavy machinery comes along to build a bridge over the river and clear the forest for more land for crops, he wonders where the animals will live. Then he spots a young silver-grey wolf, and he tells the villagers, but no one believes him: all the wolves left a long time ago.

This is a delightful story with some pleasing parallels besides those already noted. There are two friends prepared to give the storytellers the benefit of the doubt; there’s the ghost of a grandmother, a very old tiger, and a scientist. Between them, they concoct a very clever way to save the animal habitat.

Rai also includes age-appropriate information about Indian wolves, about Bengal Tigers, about endangered animals, about habitat loss, about fables and the particular fable that inspired this tale. The author and the illustrator are introduced, and there’s a Book Chat section to get the readers thinking more widely about these issues. Topical, informative, well-presented.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Collins.