First Night of Howlergarten

by Benson Shum, Benson Shum (Illustrator)

Overview

First-day-of-school jitters take on a whole new meaning at howlergarten, where future werewolves prepare for their big transformation!

Most kids go to kindergarten, but there is a special place for those who turn into werewolves. Instead of attending school during the day, these supernatural students go to howlergarten at night! There they practice tracking scents, listening to whispers on the wind, and more. But when one student named Sophie doesn't seem to possess the basic skills, she worries she won't become a werewolf at all. What will happen if she remains human when the full moon appears? Will she still be accepted as part of the pack, or will she be cast aside as an ordinary outsider? 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593660256
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	08/08/2023
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Benson Shum (he/him) is an author-illustrator who enjoys creating and telling stories through animation and illustration. He is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, but now lives in sunny southern California.

Editorial Reviews

"A playful, funny, and heartfelt tale to soothe the back-to-school blues." —Kirkus Reviews

“[A]n empathetic telling of first-day jitters with a diverse cast of young werewolves...reinforces the axiom to accept and celebrate differences.” —BCCB

"Readers drawn in by the supernatural elements at play will stick around for a feel-good story line that involves very human concerns." —Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2023-05-10
A young lycanthrope frets about the first night of school.

It’s time for Sophie to head off to howlergarten for her first full moon—but what if she fails to transform into a werewolf like her parents? She worries about being away from her parents, too, but she meets new friends, participates in werewolf training (which entails tracking scents, moving like a wolf, and listening “to the whispers of the wind”), and survives her first full moon. Warm and empathetic Sophie even offers reassurance to a classmate who doesn’t transform. Shum’s story is a sweetly encouraging and appealing take on the perennial topic of first-day-of-school jitters. Though the book features werewolves, Sophie is relatable, her concerns—separation anxiety, fears that she won’t fit in or do well at school—likely to resonate with many youngsters. The illustrations alternate between full- and half-page spreads and vignettes; the use of panels on one page gives the book the feel of comics. Though the main characters are werewolves, they’re nevertheless an endearing bunch, sweet and furry, with oversized round heads and sturdy bodies. One adorable scene shows Sophie and the other children at howlergarten snoozing, curled up like pups rather than kids. Sophie’s mom has dark brown skin, while Sophie and her father are tan-skinned. The howlergarten students are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A playful, funny, and heartfelt tale to soothe the back-to-school blues. (Picture book. 4-6)

Kirkus Reviews