First Night of Howlergarten

June 1, 2023
A young lycanthrope frets about the first night of school. It's time for Sophie to head off to howlergarten for her first full moon--but what if she fails to transform into a werewolf like her parents? She worries about being away from her parents, too, but she meets new friends, participates in werewolf training (which entails tracking scents, moving like a wolf, and listening "to the whispers of the wind"), and survives her first full moon. Warm and empathetic Sophie even offers reassurance to a classmate who doesn't transform. Shum's story is a sweetly encouraging and appealing take on the perennial topic of first-day-of-school jitters. Though the book features werewolves, Sophie is relatable, her concerns--separation anxiety, fears that she won't fit in or do well at school--likely to resonate with many youngsters. The illustrations alternate between full- and half-page spreads and vignettes; the use of panels on one page gives the book the feel of comics. Though the main characters are werewolves, they're nevertheless an endearing bunch, sweet and furry, with oversized round heads and sturdy bodies. One adorable scene shows Sophie and the other children at howlergarten snoozing, curled up like pups rather than kids. Sophie's mom has dark brown skin, while Sophie and her father are tan-skinned. The howlergarten students are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A playful, funny, and heartfelt tale to soothe the back-to-school blues. (Picture book. 4-6)

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June 26, 2023
Even werewolves get first-day-, er, night-of-school jitters. In this case, young Sophie has big doubts about beginning howlergarten, where, under a full moon, “our students will transform into their true were-selves for the first time.” Holding onto hearsay about a kid who didn’t transform, Sophie worries about the event. Though her supportive parents and positive self-talk give her an initial lift, she continues to fret when she can’t seem to pounce or track like other classmates. But before the full moon rises, she discovers that feeling like she’s in a pack is the greatest boost of all, and something she can share—whether or not transformation’s in the cards. Shum’s comics-style art presents a playful cast of young werewolves portrayed with various skin—and fur—tones. Readers drawn in by the supernatural elements at play will stick around for a feel-good story line that involves very human concerns. Ages 4–6.

August 1, 2023

PreS-K-On the first night of Howlergarten, Sophie, a young tan-skinned girl with reddish brown hair worries that she won't transform into a werewolf under the full moon. Sophie's parents assure her that they will love her whether or not her tail and paws appear. At school, the half-canine class jumps into werewolf exercises; tracking scents; honing their hearing; and perfecting galloping, trotting, and pouncing on all fours. To her dismay, these basic skills do not come naturally for Sophie, and she fears exclusion from the class pack if she doesn't transform. At recess, Sophie hears a classmate shedding tears over the same worries, and offering them some wolfie grahams sparks a fast friendship that rapidly spreads to include the entire class. The rise of the full moon at dusk finally ushers in the awaited moment. Drawing up courage, Sophie counts to three and greets the moon with a howl. The moonlight reveals something quite unexpected. Colorful, animated illustrations rendered in watercolor and outlined in black ink with digital effects play nicely with and expand on the third-person narrative and dialogue. An uproar of giggles will ensue from the illustrations of the human children pouncing and digging for bones. This delightful story entertains while acknowledging the fear of exclusion children may experience before starting kindergarten. VERDICT A feel-good story of solidarity and acceptance, this first day (or night) of school story offers the lesson that things are not always as they appear.-Emily Brush

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
First-day-of-school anxiety and the fear of not fitting in take a hair-raising twist when aspiring werewolf Sophie begins howlergarten. Sophie wants "to be part of a pack" but worries she'll never grow fangs or a bushy tail like her werewolf parents. As she struggles through "furry fun were-activities," humorously depicted in Shum's comic-style illustrations, Sophie discovers that being in a wolf pack runs deeper than fur. While Sophie's desire for community will resonate with all readers, Shum uses the werewolf theme to subtly subvert ideas of which identities and social behaviors equal acceptance, imagining a world where everybody has a pack. Connor Batsimm

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)