The Big Bad Wolf in My House

A young girl describes what it’s like when her mom’s new friend comes to stay — a moving story about domestic violence that ends on a hopeful note.

Book Genre:

Picture Books

Audience:

ages 4 to 8 / grades K to 3

Written by

Valérie Fontaine

Illustrated by

Nathalie Dion

Book Description
The young girl tells us that her mom’s new friend is just like the big bad wolf. At first the wolf is sweet and kind to her mom, though the girl notices the wolf’s cold eyes from the very beginning. When her mom arrives home late one day, the wolf suddenly hurls angry words and terrible names at her. From that day on her mother doesn’t smile anymore. The girl is careful to clean her room and brush her teeth and do everything to keep the peace, but the wolf is unpredictable, throwing plates on the floor, yelling at her mother and holding the girl’s arm so tightly she is left with bruises. Whenever the yelling begins, she hides under the covers in her room.

How will she and her mom cope as the wolf becomes increasingly fierce?

Valérie Fontaine and Nathalie Dion have created a powerful, moving story about violence in the home that ends on a note of hope.
Pre-Reading Activities/ Key Ideas & Details
Analyse the Front Cover
In addition to introducing the author, the illustrator and the publisher, it is worth taking the time to analyze the front cover with children:
• What emotions do you experience when you look at this picture?
• How would you feel if the Big Bad Wolf were in your house?
• Which fairy tale does the rose on the table refer to? Why do you think the illustrator, Nathalie, drew a wilted flower?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Fairy Tales and Wolves
Pages 2 & 3: From the very first page of the story, which fairy tale is the author referring to in her text? (The Three Little Pigs)
Notice the color of the mother’s dress, which fairy-tale character do you think this represents? (Little Red Riding Hood)
What other fairy tales include wolf characters?
Why didn’t the wolf have to blow to enter the child’s house?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Honeymoon and Foreshadowing
Pages 4 & 5: When do we use the expression “honeymoon”? Why would the author compare an expression that sounds sweet with something sour, “like lemons”?
Which details of the illustration foreshadow the danger of the wolf? (His eye and his shadow)
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
When the Violence Increases
Pages 6 & 7: At the end of the story, you can ask your students at what moment the violence increases. It is here, when the mother is late.
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Signs of Violence and Verbal Abuse
Pages 8 & 9: Find the signs of violence in the words and pictures. Explain that verbal abuse is a form of violence. (Mean words, sputtering and screaming, the threatening posture of the wolf)
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Posture
Pages 10 & 11: Notice the mother’s drooping posture. How do you think she is feeling?
Notice the child’s posture. Is it the responsibility of children to support adults?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
A Lamb
Pages 12 & 13: Why does the little girl become so mild and obliging?
What is the relationship of a lamb to a wolf?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Escalation of Violence
Pages 14 & 15: Notice the escalation of violence: the attacking of objects.
Notice the differences in the postures of the wolf, the mother and the little girl.
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Wolf Howls
Pages 16 & 17: Have you ever seen a movie that showed a wolf howling at the moon? What impression did that scene make on you?
On this page, is the little girl still holding up her mother?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Physical Abuse
Pages 18 & 19: Notice the escalation of violence: physical abuse.
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Straw, Wood, and Bricks
Pages 20 to 23: Over the next few pages, the author refers to straw, wood and bricks. Which fairy tale is she referring to? And how were these materials used?
During Reading Activities/ Critical Thinking in Literacy
Building A Wall Around Your Hearts
Pages 24 & 25: What do you think the author means when she writes, “I closed my eyes and kept them closed, even on the days when the sun came out again”?
If you build a wall around your heart to stop feeling negative emotions, what might happen to your other emotions?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Disappearing
Pages 26 & 27: The mother now wears a gray dress and red shoes. That is all that is left of Little Red Riding Hood. Why is this character disappearing?
Who is Gilbert?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Women’s Shelter
Pages 28 & 29: The little girl and the mother are taken in at a women’s shelter. These are safe and discreet places where mothers and children receive the support of professionals in times of crisis.
Although the woods outside are dark, inside the shelter is brightly lit. What do you think is meant by this contrast?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
No More Huffing and Puffing
Pages 30 & 31: Why do you think the wolf’s huffing and puffing will no longer work? How do you think this makes the child feel?
During Reading Activities/ Comprehension Strategies
Gilbert’s New Friend
Page 32: In the last vignette, Gilbert is now accompanied by a new friend. Compare this to the image on the title page.
Who is this new friend? Can you find him in the story and imagine what he represents for the future of the little girl? (Bear is found on page 28)