by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 16, 2010

Woolbur is a sheep "who never follows the flock," according to the book's title jacket - and there's more clues to the book's message even before the story starts. Author Leslie Helakoski dedicates the book to his mother, "for honoring all." From the very first page, young Woolbur is breaking all the rules. The wild-haired sheepling startles his parents by announcing that he wants to play with the dogs instead of standing around with the other sheep!

"But those dogs are half wild" his father warns.
"I know," Woolbur replies. "Isn't it great?"

The book's jacket  promises if you're a free spirit, "this book is for you," and the message soon snaps into focus. The sheep's worried parents pull their wool all night with worry - while a grandfather sheep thinks it'll be okay. And soon Woolbur is breaking other rules - like not wanting to have his wool sheared off. ("Being wooly feels nice!" he explains to his parents.) And again, the grandfather remains calm and unconcerned - while the parents pull their wool with worry.

But what really makes this book is its funny illustrations by Lee Harper. The title page shows three sheep holding the ladder, so a sheep can add the letters of the author's name underneath the title - while below him, an audience of more sheep look on. The worrying parents make funny faces, while Woolbur himself is a fright when he appears as a walking explosion of long, uncarded wool. But my favorite picture shows Woolbur running down the hill - happily leading his friends to run off and play with the dogs.

Woolbur takes a ride on the spinning wheel. Woolbur dyes himself dark blue. But I love how this book turns its formula into something subversive. The drama of the book isn't when Woolbur disobeys his parents. Instead, it's when his parents tell him "You will stay with the herd like everyone else!" Woolbur has to brood about their warning all night long.

And that's when he joins his friends to run down the hill to play with the dogs. ("To let their wool grow, to spin crazy yarn, to experiment with color...") Soon they're all chasing butterflies in a two-page illustration of a field. And that's when the parents discover that Woolbur has left even that pack of happy, frolicking sheep.

Because he still doesn't want to be like everybody else!

Learn more about this author, Moe Zilla.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.