The Wolf in Underpants Freezes His Buns Off

Description

In the second tale of TheWolf in Underpants, winter has arrived and the whole forest is freezing! As animals stock up on nuts, bread, and cheese wheels, they notice the Wolf is in a frosty mood. Then smaller critters begin to disappear. Will fear grip the forest once again? Or is another lesson on the way?

Wilfrid Lupano was born in Nantes, in the west of France, and spent most of his childhood in the southwestern city of Pau, France. He spent his childhood reading through his parents' comic book collection and enjoying role-playing games. He studied literature and philosophy, receiving a degree in English, before he began to script comics. He has written numerous graphic novels for French readers, including the series Les Vieux Fourneaux (in English, The Old Geezers). With this series, Lupano and Paul Cauuet first developed the idea that would become The Wolf in Underpants. Lupano once again lives in Pau after spending several years in the city of Toulouse. Mayana Itoiz was born in the city of Bayonne, in the southwest of France, and studied at the institut superieur des arts de Toulouse (School of Fine Arts in Toulouse), where she worked in many different mediums. In addition to being an illustrator and a cartoonist, she has taught art to high school students. She lives in the Pyrenees, near France's mountainous southern border, and splits her time between art, family, and travel. Paul Cauuet was born in Toulouse and grew up in a family that encouraged his passion for drawing. He was also a fond reader of classic Franco-Belgian comics such as Tintin and Asterix. He studied at the University of Toulouse and went on to a career as a cartoonist. Cauuet and Wilfrid Lupano first collaborated on an outer-space comedy series before working together on Les Vieux Fourneaux (The Old Geezers).

In this sophomore graphic import, readers wonder why an underpants-bedecked wolf is complaining about the snow. In the bucolic woods, the forest denizens welcome winter with its blanket of clean, fresh snow. They take all the proper precautions: winterizing their homes, bundling up in toasty coats and hats, and warming themselves over a piping-hot cauldron of cheese fondue. But amid all this wintry revelry, the wolf is behaving strangely, stomping through their festivities and continually proclaiming 'They're freezing!' Desperate to keep the large carnivore happy, the other critters try making him warm socks and a cozy hat to ward off the chill. When their efforts seem fruitless, fear drives them to gather and storm his house only to find something truly unexpected behind his door. Once again, Lupano has crafted another intelligent and approachable graphic fable; whereas he examined stereotypes and perception in The Wolf in Underpants (2019), he now explores socio-economic inequality, gently urging young readers to 'try a little harder to be kind to others.' Itoiz and Cauuet's busy illustrations pack in a lovely array of interesting and bustling characters reminiscent of Richard Scarry's and mix full-page spreads against borderless panels, all employing a cool palette of blues and lavenders. Lupano's message of kindness and perception shines without being cloying, making this quiet charmer a must-read. A timely and accessible lesson delivered without any howling pedantry.--starred, Kirkus Reviews -- "Journal" (11/19/2019 12:00:00 AM)