Scruffy: A Wolf Finds His Place in the Pack

Gr. 2^-4. The author of the award-winning photo-essay To the Top of the World (1993), for an older audience, makes further use of his experiences living near and observing an Arctic wolf pack on Ellesmere Island. Here he focuses on the pack's weakest, lowest ranking member, Scruffy, so called because it was "by far the messiest." In plainspoken words, laced with obvious affection, he describes Scruffy's "goofy" ways, harsh treatment by others in the pack, and unsuccessful attempts to handle tasks that came easily to most of the others. He also describes Scruffy's special talent--nursemaid to wolf pups--and the behavioral changes the wolf experienced while handling its responsibilities. Brandenburg's photos, several of which are quite amazing, capture it all--Scruffy cowering and abject one moment, growling and fully in charge the next. It's the book's design that's disappointing. The text and neatly bordered, full-color pictures rest atop pale gray or gray-green paper imprinted with an overexposed photo (the same one seems to be used throughout), a technique that not only makes the text occasionally hard to read but also makes the pages seem busy and crowded. Still, there's much information, especially about animal hierarchy and the way nature tries to find a place for all. Stephanie Zvirin