cbr15bingo. In the Wild: Willa is a shifter, she is a Pig by Day and a Wild WereWolf-Pig at night in the wild world of Paris Fashion!
The abstract realism to the illustrations of Willa the Werewolf: A Fractured Fairy Tale V01 was not something I enjoyed. Jan Dolby’s effort, I appreciate, but the results did not work for me. However, I can see how people would like the goofy, passionate, and sweet character of Willa, and how her world unfolds because of them. Her secret is presented with both humor and care.
The story has been done before (be yourself, and things work out), but done in a slightly more humorous manner than usual, by having it in a fairy tale format that mixes (for me) The Three Little Pigs and even a hint of Cinderella (not that she is a slave to her family, but she is able to go to the ball in a unique way). Michele McAvoy’s presentation can be interpreted in several ways (you are the person in your group that likes apples, not oranges; you like country music and your friends like metal; or more serious such as you are queer, or neurodivergent; or you are a pig who is a werewolf at night.)
Overall, this is a good book, just not one I am jumping up and down about. I might go onto others if there is a series, but I’m not completely sure I will. Read via an online reader copy, this book due in September 2023, will be one I will watch. And I do wish to see the final results as I am not sure how the final format will be, but if it is a picture book, all ages can enjoy and if it is a beginner reader copy it feels like it would be for read to kindergarten up, and solo read strong first and second graders to third graders. (Best guess then ages five to nine).