It's So Nice to Have a Wolf Around the House

This book is one of my favorites. The illustrations are terrific. Each of the characters in this book choose to help each other through hard times and end up happy and healthy in the end.

As a child, I remember reading Harry Allard and James Marshall's "It's So Nice to Have a Wolf Around the House," and feeling a deep sympathy for the main character, Cuthbert Q. Divine. All children can learn from this lovely children's tale that teaches the danger of quick assumptions. Although Cuthbert is a fugitive from the law, it is obvious that this is not the life he wants. Despite all of the stereotypes about wolves, Cuthbert truly loves the Old Man and his pets with no ulterior motive involved--"all he wanted to do was make the old man and his three pets happy." In fact, the Old man and his pets seem happier than ever when Cuthbert is around, as he takes care of all the chores while, at the same time, making the house a funloving place to live in. Cuthbert makes fancy desserts and organizes costume parties. When the Old Man discovers that Cuthbert is actually a wolf disguised as a the German Shepard he hired as his "charming companion", he feels betrayed and frightened. However, upon this confrontation, it is Cuthbert who is "pale and shaking." In fact, when faced with his sordid past, Cuthbert faints. In a sorrow-evoking mini-monologue, Cuthbert reveals that he's always wanted to be good but no one expected him to be, as he was a wolf. This is representative of many children today who feel as if they have a "label." In many schools, there is a "bully" who it seems never does anything kind or good. In so many fairy tales, wolves are depicted as a wholly evil and manipulative species. So, by Cuthbert breaking free of the stereotype his race of creatures elicits, a moral shines through for our children: Always be who you want to be, not who people think you are.