First friend How dogs evolved from wolves to become our best friends

PreS-Gr 1--This sweet and simple picture book provides one version of how the relationship between humans and dogs evolved over thousands of years into the bond we know and cherish today. In a time line across millennia, each section of this story begins with a setting, e.g., "Long, long ago, when nomads hunted through Europe and Asia fought lean hungry wolves for their prey…a girl met a pup." Then more years pass, and a pup meets a boy. They bond, lightly, over bones, and watch each other grow up and learn to hunt, but they never quite become friends. This scenario is repeated several times over with human and wolf getting a bit closer each time until finally, "The boy looked back and called…and Dog left the wolf pack to follow his boy away." Hamilton's repetitive story is simple but effective in conveying the evolution of wolves into dogs. Kids will love noticing the difference in the humans' lives as the years pass. A more in-depth explanation of the science behind the author's story appears in the back matter, along with a bibliography, making it appealing for a wide variety of ages. Kim's watercolor, acrylic, and gouache artwork adds warmth and familiarity to the story with its friendly faces, guarded-then-playful pups, and use of vivid colors. VERDICT A great story time choice for all libraries, perfect for launching discussions of fact and speculation, and how they can be combined.--Kristy Pasquariello, Westwood P.L., MA

A lyrical exploration of how wolves evolved into dogs. Thousands of years ago, humans and wolves competed for prey, but gradually some wolves evolved to become the companions of humans. This picture book uses a simple repeating narrative theme to effectively present this evolution. A Stone Age girl meets a wolf pup, and they become friends, but the pup stays with its wolf family as it grows because "everyone knew girls and wolves could not be friends." Moving forward "years and years" ahead, a boy, now living in a hut of "branches and hides" befriends a wolf pup. Their friendship is closer, but still they separate as they grow. This scenario is repeated twice more, each scenario advancing the evolutionary time frame while cleverly underscoring the enduring constancy of the child-puppy attraction--an attraction that is delightfully played out in the story's conclusion as well as the wonderful endpapers. The colorful, uncomplicated illustrations follow a pattern in their design that echoes the comfortable rhythm of the narrative--but these are no stodgy presentations. The confident use of light as both definitive highlights and atmosphere gives them a bright, clear, and uplifting buoyancy. A more detailed explanation of the science and history of the wolf-to-dog evolution and a bibliography are contained in the backmatter. All human characters are illustrated with light brown skin and black hair. (This book was reviewed digitally with 8.5-by-19.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 33% of actual size.) Delightful--especially appealing for young readers who have or wish for a puppy. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.