The Five Wolves
by Peter McCarty; illus. by the author
Intermediate, Middle School    First Second    288 pp.
10/25    9781250170620    $29.99

McCarty presents a sprawling, image-rich meditation on art that asks readers to slow down and wander through its nonlinear, episodic journey. Five wolves set out on a ship, their canvasses at the ready. A shark lunges to steal the wolves’ art; five rival cats in fancy hats fire their cannon at the wolves; and later encounters bring a bunny guide, flying creatures called Yorbas who steal art, a dragon, a princess, and more. All the while, an unnamed narrator hovers just out of frame. The story is laced with both humor and drama, circling back to questions about the essence of art, such as who should see it, who lays claim to it, and what counts as worthy subject matter. McCarty’s meticulously textured, inventive ink drawings, mostly in blue-grays, carry readers through shifting landscapes, with recurring numbers adding another layer to explore. His digitally hand-lettered sentences, small and densely clustered, float within the cream-colored pages, inviting gazes to linger. Bold text often acts as a guide, suggesting an entry point or a through line. The adventure culminates in a moment of stillness: “Everybody stops.” The tale resolves in transformation and two uncaptioned photos of children, an ending that deepens what came before. Not easily categorized, the story rewards close attention and revels in questions more than answers.

From the November/December 2025 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.