Wolf

A gray wolf trots through a meadow with wildflowers and distant pines.

Fold 3, ages 8 to 10FOLD3AGES 8–10Fold 3 · Early Reader
Ages 8–10

WolfVoices on the Wind

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Words to know

wolf
a wild animal
pack
a family of wolves
howl
a long call
A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.

A gray wolf stands in the pines. This is its home.

A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.

A wolf lives with its pack.

Arjun Let's see what this pack does!
A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.

A wolf pack is a family. It is a mom, a dad, and their pups. The mom and dad pick when and where to hunt.

Three tiny wolf pups with closed eyes lie curled together inside a paper den.Three tiny wolf pups with closed eyes lie curled together inside a paper den.Three tiny wolf pups with closed eyes lie curled together inside a paper den.

A wolf mom can have four to six pups. That is a lot of pups!

A mother wolf lies at the entrance of a den dug into a forested hillside.A mother wolf lies at the entrance of a den dug into a forested hillside.A mother wolf lies at the entrance of a den dug into a forested hillside.

A wolf mom has pups in a den. Their eyes are shut, so they cannot see.

A mother wolf lies at the entrance of a den dug into a forested hillside.A mother wolf lies at the entrance of a den dug into a forested hillside.A mother wolf lies at the entrance of a den dug into a forested hillside.

At about three weeks, the pups step from the den. Then they can see the big world.

Two wolf pups play in a forest clearing while an adult wolf watches nearby.Two wolf pups play in a forest clearing while an adult wolf watches nearby.Two wolf pups play in a forest clearing while an adult wolf watches nearby.

The pups run, jump, and roll. It helps them get fit to hunt!

Elena Can you jump like a pup?
An adult wolf bends down to feed a pup while another adult watches nearby.An adult wolf bends down to feed a pup while another adult watches nearby.An adult wolf bends down to feed a pup while another adult watches nearby.

All of the wolf pack helps bring up the pups. It is not just the mom and dad!

An adult wolf bends down to feed a pup while another adult watches nearby.An adult wolf bends down to feed a pup while another adult watches nearby.An adult wolf bends down to feed a pup while another adult watches nearby.

On a hunt, a big wolf gulps down chunks. Then it brings some back up for the pups!

Three tiny wolf pups with closed eyes lie curled together inside a paper den.Three tiny wolf pups with closed eyes lie curled together inside a paper den.Three tiny wolf pups with closed eyes lie curled together inside a paper den.

A pup licks a big wolf on the lips. It says hi and asks to be fed.

Two gray wolves howl together on a rocky ridge beneath an evening sky.Two gray wolves howl together on a rocky ridge beneath an evening sky.Two gray wolves howl together on a rocky ridge beneath an evening sky.

A wolf can howl to find its pack. Then the pack howls back!

Two gray wolves howl together on a rocky ridge beneath an evening sky.Two gray wolves howl together on a rocky ridge beneath an evening sky.Two gray wolves howl together on a rocky ridge beneath an evening sky.

A howl can tell rival packs not to come in.

Arjun Can you howl like a wolf?
Two wolves walk through a clearing, their tails held at different heights showing different status.Two wolves walk through a clearing, their tails held at different heights showing different status.Two wolves walk through a clearing, their tails held at different heights showing different status.

A wolf can talk with no words at all. It can wag, bend down, or stand up tall.

A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.

A wolf can twist its ears one at a time. It helps the wolf tell where a twig snaps.

A gray wolf walks through the forest with its nose low, following a scent.A gray wolf walks through the forest with its nose low, following a scent.A gray wolf walks through the forest with its nose low, following a scent.

A wolf's nose is packed with smell cells. It can smell an animal more than a mile off.

A gray wolf lies on snow, its thick double coat of layered paper folds clearly visible.A gray wolf lies on snow, its thick double coat of layered paper folds clearly visible.A gray wolf lies on snow, its thick double coat of layered paper folds clearly visible.

A wolf has two coats at once! One is soft, and one is long.

Elena Is your jacket thick or thin?
A gray wolf lies on snow, its thick double coat of layered paper folds clearly visible.A gray wolf lies on snow, its thick double coat of layered paper folds clearly visible.A gray wolf lies on snow, its thick double coat of layered paper folds clearly visible.

A gray wolf can be black, tan, or white! What a mix!

A gray wolf sprints across an open meadow with its legs fully extended.A gray wolf sprints across an open meadow with its legs fully extended.A gray wolf sprints across an open meadow with its legs fully extended.

Run, wolf, run! A wolf can sprint fast, but not for long.

A thick-coated gray wolf walks through a snow-covered pine forest.A thick-coated gray wolf walks through a snow-covered pine forest.A thick-coated gray wolf walks through a snow-covered pine forest.

A wolf can trot on and on and on. It can go for miles and miles!

Three wolves travel together through a meadow toward a distant elk herd.Three wolves travel together through a meadow toward a distant elk herd.Three wolves travel together through a meadow toward a distant elk herd.

A wolf pack hunts as one. They chase big animals, such as elk.

A lone gray wolf trots across a wide meadow with distant mountains and forest.A lone gray wolf trots across a wide meadow with distant mountains and forest.A lone gray wolf trots across a wide meadow with distant mountains and forest.

A wolf pack's home land can be huge! The pack checks it from end to end.

A lone gray wolf trots across a wide meadow with distant mountains and forest.A lone gray wolf trots across a wide meadow with distant mountains and forest.A lone gray wolf trots across a wide meadow with distant mountains and forest.

When pups get big, some set off from home. They go and make packs with mates.

Arjun Where would you like to go?
A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.

A wolf can live in lots of places. Some live in pines or on hills. Some live on flat, frozen tundra.

A gray wolf walks away along a forest trail toward a distant meadow.A gray wolf walks away along a forest trail toward a distant meadow.A gray wolf walks away along a forest trail toward a distant meadow.

Run, wolf, run! Run home to your pack.

Elena Can you wave to the pack?
A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.A wolf pack of two adults and three younger wolves stands together in a forest clearing.
Arjun Let's think back on the book!

What does a wolf pack hunt?

What does a wolf do to call its pack?

A gray wolf walks through the forest with its nose low, following a scent.A gray wolf walks through the forest with its nose low, following a scent.A gray wolf walks through the forest with its nose low, following a scent.

What helps a wolf smell so well?

Name three shades a wolf can be.

Elena Can you look back in the book to check?

Time to check

  1. What is a howl for?

    Show the answer

    To call the pack and to tell rivals to go.

  2. Does a wolf live alone?

    Show the answer

    No, a wolf lives with its pack.

A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.A gray wolf stands among tall pine trees in a deep, sunlit forest.

Tell a friend what a wolf can do!

Arjun Will you come back to see the pack?

The end

Wolf: Voices on the Wind

See the printed pages
Front cover of Wolf: A Life in the Pack, Fold 4The next fold upWolf: A Life in the PackFold 4 · Explorer · Ages 10–12 All six books

For grown-ups

Read the three pictured words on page 3 together first; each is set in bold the first time it appears in the story. Then let your child read the book to you. Almost every word can be sounded out with the phonics most children learn in first grade. When a word stops them, give them time and help them sound it out; only for the three bold words, point back to the word and its picture on page 3. Arjun and Elena ask questions along the way, pages 28 and 29 ask recap questions, and page 30 has a short quiz with its answers. The book says pack, not alpha, because wolf packs are families, not ranked groups. Children needing shorter text can start with Fold 1, Run, Wolf, Run! Readers ready for chapters can go on to Fold 4, Wolf: A Life in the Pack.

Short sentences for children starting to read on their own, with a picture on every reading page and useful new words taught first.

Ages
8–10
Trim
6 × 9 in
Pages
32
Words
504
Reading grade
-0.7
See the printed pages

From the wolf facts episode of our video series. All six books tell this fact too.