Many book lovers worldwide have an unsatisfied curiosity regarding wolves, whether in fiction or nonfiction literature. Wolves are associated with a unique wildness, while their formation of packs symbolizes people’s description of a family.
Additionally, wolves are social animals that rarely live alone.
Some books about wolves tell stories of devoted, playful, caring, and intelligent animals. Others twist the plot to fit wolves into villain characters, mainly ending with a moral lesson.
Whether you are looking for a fictional story or National Geographic wildlife narratives, there is always an interesting book from a wide range of selections. Here is our list of the best books about wolves.
Check Amazon- Describes a pack of wolves' most common behavioral patterns and social lives
- Young readers can also follow interviews with scientists and environmentalists on the subject
- Contains maps and engaging photographs for a visual impression of the content
Check Amazon- Authors are the same people responsible for reintroducing the wild wolves to Yellowstone
- Describes facts about newly researched behaviors, diseases, genetics, and relationships between wolves and prey
- Eye-catching images, stimulating foreword, and literary contributions from globally-renowned conservationists
Check Amazon- The triumphant victory of an outcast written by a bestselling author
- A rollercoaster of emotions
- 4.5/5 average review on Amazon
Check Amazon- Written by two people who lived among wolves and studied their social behavior
- Recommended for readers aged 12 years or older
- Features up-close photography that gives the human-wildlife relationship a new meaning
Check Amazon- Classic children's story that represents the harshness of Alaska’s environment
- Both dog and wolf behaviors are covered
- Customers rate this book 4.7 out of five stars
Check Amazon- A great reference guide for research
- Features visual illustrations, maps, and photos to guide you better
- Lots of useful scholarly information on wolves
A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Books About Wolves
1. National Geographic Kids Mission: Wolf Rescue: All About Wolves and How to Save Them by Kitson Jazynka
This book is suitable for readers between 10 to 14 years, 5 to 9-grade level. The paperback version has a print length of 128 pages and one of the 118 books in the National Geographic Kids collection.
Kitson Jazynka authored the book, and the illustrated edition was released on April 8, 2014. It has a high-quality visual design, describing a pack of wolves’ most common behavioral patterns and social lives.
Besides highlighting wolves’ physical features, this book explains their feeding practices, predatory features, and habitats. Young readers can also follow interviews with scientists and environmentalists while viewing their pictures in action.
Additionally, the book, which is available in library binding and paperback, contains maps and engaging photographs for a visual impression of the content.
You can learn more about the success and challenges that wolves face with an actionable guide on how you can participate in saving them. This book will increase your passion for wolves and increase your interest in their fascinating lives.
This book received 4.7 stars (out of five). The only critical reviews had to do with “bad binding.”
Pros and Cons of National Geographic Kids Mission: Wolf Rescue: All About Wolves and How to Save Them by Kitson Jazynka
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book is appropriate for kids 10 to 14 years old. | The only critical reviews had to do with “bad binding.” |
| The paperback version has a print length of 128 pages and one of the 118 books in the National Geographic Kids collection. It’s also available in library binding. | |
| The book, which was authored by Kitson Jazynka, contains engaging photographs to enhance the content, which describes a pack of wolves’ social lives and most common behavioral patterns. | |
| It also contains interviews with scientists and environmentalists. | |
| Young readers can learn about the challenges that wolves face and how they can participate in saving them. |
- Describes a pack of wolves' most common behavioral patterns and social lives
- Young readers can also follow interviews with scientists and environmentalists on the subject
- Contains maps and engaging photographs for a visual impression of the content
2. Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World’s First National Park by Douglas W. Smith (Editor), Daniel R. Stahler (Editor), Daniel R. MacNulty (Editor), Jane Goodall (Foreword)
Wolves make an amazing story, especially when it is a real-life narrative of how they were reintroduced into Yellowstone, the first national park in the world. This book takes you back to 1995 when 41 wild wolves from northwest Montana and Canada were brought back to the national park.
It narrates the occurrence made possible after the United States removed the extermination policy over a century before the reversal. The real-life encounter will have you glued to the book from cover to cover, considering the authors are the same people responsible for reintroducing the wild wolves into Yellowstone.
Here, you will learn about the dynamics, challenges, and step-by-step events in transitioning the wolves into their new habitats. The book further describes facts about newly researched behaviors, diseases, genetics, and relationships between wolves and prey, besides their ripple effect on the ecosystem.
Accompanying the book are eye-catching images, foreword, and more literary contributions from global conservationists and wildlife observers.
This title is available in Kindle edition with audio/video and hardcover formats. It has a 4.8 rating on Amazon. Only one reviewer left a negative review, saying: “This is such a comprehensive overview of Yellowstone Wolves. The text is great, info great, interviews and bonus documentary such amazing additions.”
Pros and Cons of Yellowstone Wolves: Science and Discovery in the World’s First National Park by Douglas W. Smith (Editor), Daniel R. Stahler (Editor), Daniel R. MacNulty (Editor), Jane Goodall (Foreword)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This book follows the story of how 41 wild wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone. | Only one reviewer left a negative review, saying: “This is such a comprehensive overview of Yellowstone Wolves. The text is great, info great, interviews and bonus documentary such amazing additions.” |
| The authors are the same people who were responsible for reintroducing the wolves into the park. | |
| You’ll learn about the dynamics, challenges, and events that unfolded as they transitioned the wolves into their new habitat. | |
| The book also describes newly researched behaviors as well as facts about diseases, genetics, relationships between wolves and prey, and the ripple effect that wolves have on the ecosystem. | |
| The book includes eye-catching images, a foreword, and literary contributions from global conservationsists and wildlife observers. | |
| This title is available in Kindle edition with audio/video and hardcover formats. |
- Authors are the same people responsible for reintroducing the wild wolves to Yellowstone
- Describes facts about newly researched behaviors, diseases, genetics, and relationships between wolves and prey
- Eye-catching images, stimulating foreword, and literary contributions from globally-renowned conservationists
3. Lone Wolf (Wolves of the Beyond, Book 1) by Kathryn Lasky
Kathryn Lasky is a bestselling author who did justice to this amazing fictional narrative about wolves. The story features a female wolf with a newly born pup. Despite its good health, the wolf puppy’s paw is twisted, which goes against the pack’s code since it is interpreted as a weakness.
This book is a rollercoaster of emotions as the author takes you through the agony of a wolf mother whose puppy faces the risk of abandonment. Any pack member is condemned to death if they are not strong enough, regardless of whether their weakness is beyond their control.
As the story unfolds, you will read about how the pup, Faolan, went against the odds to survive and emerge triumphant amidst the harsh wilderness. It is also a story of change and new revelations as the pup’s victory reveals new possibilities to the Wolves of the Beyond.
This book is geared toward children ages eight to 11. It’s available in the following formats: Kindle, audiobook, hardcover, and illustrated paperback. It has a 4.7-star rating. There are some negative reviews, most of which have to do with issues that those readers had with the author’s style of writing. We recommend that you peruse the reviews to determine whether you want to get this book for your child.
Pros and Cons of Lone Wolf (Wolves of the Beyond, Book 1) by Kathryn Lasky
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This fictional narrative is about a wolf with a new pup that was born with a twisted paw. | There are some negative reviews, most of which have to do with issues that those readers had with the author’s style of writing. We recommend that you peruse the reviews to determine whether you want to get this book for your child. |
| The twisted paw is perceived as a weakness by the pack. | |
| The pup, Faolan, defied all odds and survived the harsh wilderness alone. | |
| The book is appropriate for children eight to 11 and is available in the following formats: Kindle, audiobook, hardcover, and illustrated paperback. |
- The triumphant victory of an outcast written by a bestselling author
- A rollercoaster of emotions
- 4.5/5 average review on Amazon
4. The Wisdom of Wolves: Lessons From the Sawtooth Pack by Jim Dutcher and Jamie Dutcher
Here is another nonfiction story about wolves to keep you glued for the next couple of days- or hours, depending on your reading speed. Jim and Jamie Dutcher, the book’s authors, take you through their one-on-one encounter with a pack of wolves called Sawtooth.
The book narrates a close observation of wolves that defied the laws of nature as we know them to develop a close relationship with two brothers, Jammie and Jim Dutcher. Besides recounting the wolf pack’s behavior, the Dutchers describe the compassion, respect, teamwork, trust, and curiosity they observed in their interactions.
You can also enjoy the up-close photography that gives the human-wildlife relationship a new meaning. The book creates a new understanding of the wolf society from an intimate real-life human interaction experience.
The book is 224 pages and is recommended for readers aged 12 years or older. It’s available in Kindle, audiobook, illustrated hardcover, and paperback formats. Reviewers gave this title 4.7 stars. Most critical reviews had to do with the way the authors conducted the study, which was to observe a pack of wolves that they raised from pups and released into a 25-acre pen. This methodology caused readers to question the validity of the authors’ observations.
Pros and Cons of The Wisdom of Wolves: Lessons From the Sawtooth Pack by Jim Dutcher and Jamie Dutcher
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This nonfiction book is recommended for kids ages 12 and older. | Most critical reviews had to do with the way the authors conducted the study, which was to observe a pack of wolves that they raised from pups and released into a 25-acre pen. This methodology caused readers to question the validity of the authors’ observations. |
| It documents the authors’ observations about a pack of wolves called Sawtooth. | |
| The authors, who are brothers, described compassion, respect, teamwork, trust, and curiosity among the wolves. | |
| This title is available in Kindle, audiobook, illustrated hardcover, and paperback formats. |
- Written by two people who lived among wolves and studied their social behavior
- Recommended for readers aged 12 years or older
- Features up-close photography that gives the human-wildlife relationship a new meaning
5. Child of the Wolves by Elizabeth Hall
Elizabeth Hall, the author, opens up this amazing fictional story of a Siberian husky puppy called Granite seeking a new identity in Alaska after running off from a kennel in which he was restrained. The dog faces challenges in the snowy terrain as he navigates the new routes toward a new chapter of his life.
Granite encounters humans whose main hobby is hunting wolves on these sides of the forest. Unfortunately, he also faces the risk of freezing in the unknown territories and must remain watchful of wolves that constantly attack him. On the brighter side, you’ll read about Granite’s newfound friend, Snowdrift, who welcomes him to a wolf pack.
The author tricks you into thinking that Granite’s misery is over, but is it? How will he prove his loyalty and worth to the new pack? You can satisfy your curiosity as you read this interesting book and get the rest of the story.
Published on November 10, 1997, the book is suitable for grade levels three to seven or readers aged between eight and 12. It is an easy read with a good flow of events which keeps you glued from the first to the last page.
It’s available in hardcover and paperback and has a 4.7 rating on Amazon. There were no negative reviews aside from one reader who received a used book.
Pros and Cons of Child of the Wolves by Elizabeth Hall
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This fictional story follows a Siberian husky puppy named Granit who is seeking a new identify after escaping from a kennel in Alaska. | There were no negative reviews aside from one reader who received a used book. |
| Granite encounters humans who hunt wolves, risks freezing, and must remain on the lookout for wolves that constantly attack him. | |
| You’ll also read about Granite’s new friend Snowdrift, who welcomes him into a wolf pack. | |
| This title is suitable for kids eight to 12 and it’s an easy, fast-paced read. | |
| It’s available in hardcover and paperback and has a 4.7 rating on Amazon. |
- Classic children's story that represents the harshness of Alaska’s environment
- Both dog and wolf behaviors are covered
- Customers rate this book 4.7 out of five stars
6. Wolf Almanac: A Celebration of Wolves and Their World by Robert Busch
Robert Busch has you covered if you’re looking for a nonfiction book with a deep and intriguing description of wolves. He delves into this interesting wildlife species’ mythology, sociology, behavior, physiology, and biology.
The book, which is available in Kindle and paperback versions, has valuable information that comes in handy as a reference for academic research or scholarly knowledge.
The book has charts, illustrations, black and white, and color photos across various sections. It also highlights the human perspective of wolves and how it influenced ancient cultures.
You can read more on the reintroduction of wolves in this newly revised book. The author also gives detailed information on the conservation of wolves in various parts of the world.
This book received 4.8 stars on Amazon. There are no critical reviews.
Pros and Cons of Wolf Almanac: A Celebration of Wolves and Their World by Robert Busch
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This nonfiction book delves into the mythology, sociology, behavior, physiology, and biology of wolves. | None |
| The book is available in Kindle and paperback versions. | |
| It would be a wonderful reference for academic research. | |
| It’s filled with charts, illustrations, and black and which and color photos. | |
| The book also discusses how the human perception of wolves influenced ancient cultures. | |
| This book received 4.8 stars on Amazon |
- A great reference guide for research
- Features visual illustrations, maps, and photos to guide you better
- Lots of useful scholarly information on wolves
How to Choose the Best Book About Wolves
When you’re shopping for a book about wolves, keep the following criterion in mind: the reader, fiction or nonfiction, and format.
The Reader
Is the reader an adult or a child? If the book is for a child, the most important thing to consider is their age or reading level. Each of the children’s books in this review indicate what age group their geared toward.
Fiction or Nonfiction
This list includes fiction and nonfiction books about wolves. The two fiction titles were written for kids, but we won’t tell if you want to read them yourself!
Format
Most of the titles featured in this review are available in multiple formats, such as Kindle, hardcover, softcover, and audiobook. Does the intended recipient have a Kindle or use the Kindle app on their phone? Maybe they have a long commute and prefer to listen to books, in which case audio format will be ideal.
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