“‘I am NOT afraid of the forest.’ Bellwether was very afraid of the forest.”

I wish I had a child at home to read this aloud to, Bellwether Riggwelter being a most awesome name for our clever sheep protagonist. Bellwether is quite comfortable with his introverted self until he “realized he was running perilously low on blackberries“. Can Bellwether overcome his fear of the forest? Will the wolf suit fool the wolves? Who will dance all night under the full moon?

This engaging graphic novel offers young readers a clever storyline about self and the possibility of overcoming your fears. Adult readers will appreciate the smart vocabulary and the lush folklore-style illustrations, which convey Bellwether’s contented home life, then his fears and then the happy but unexpected resolution that he achieves.