The Dog Who Cried Wolf
Michelle points out that her dog Moka looks a lot like the wolves in the picture book they are sharing. Moka is intrigued and decides to try life as a wolf. His decision is made in the middle of a tea party where Michelle has him dressed in a hat, skirt, and socks! At first, life is good—“he ran, he jumped, he danced, and he peed wherever he wanted.” He soon finds out that live food is very hard to catch, real wolves are a little scary to a dog, and that his life is lonely without Michelle. All ends well when Moka runs home to his relieved owner.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
At the end of the book, Michelle, the little girl, reads a book about monkeys and the last picture shows Michelle swinging from a ceiling light holding a banana. Ask your child what Michelle and Moka are feeling in the last picture based on their facial expressions. Provide your child with a variety of writing and drawing materials and have your child draw a picture of what Moka might do next.
Encourage the families to read a variety of nonfiction materials to their children. In this story, Moka, the dog, was inspired to act like a wolf because Michelle, the little girl, read a book about wolves. Help the families locate brief encyclopedia entries, newsletters, periodicals, online articles, and nonfiction books about wolves. Together, highlight interesting facts on wolves that would be fun to share with the children.