Sophie has reservations about being invited to attend Howlergarten. What if she doesn't transform into a werewolf like her parents? Her mom and dad try to reassure her that it doesn't matter if she does or doesn't; they will love her for who she is, no matter what.

Sophie gathers her things, her werewolf toy and favorite headband with ears, and repeats a mantra in her head of werewolf thoughts... "I'm a howler, I'll have fur and I'll have fangs and a bushy tail". These things help her feel ready for school, that is until the school bell rings. She whimpers and doesn't want to let go of her parents. Mom and Dad assure her they will see her soon and it will be alright.

Unlike kindergarten, howlergarten is attended at night instead of day and the students practice things like scent tracking, listening to whispers on the wind and how to move like a wolf. Sophie doesn't seem to possess any of the basic skills and she worries she won't become a werewolf at all. What will happen if she remains normal when the full moon appears? Will she still be accepted as part of the pack or will she be cast aside as an ordinary human?

During recess, she sneaks away to be by herself, just knowing the other kids won't accept her in the pack if she doesn't turn into a werewolf. She hears sniffling and sees Teddy, one of the other students, crying to himself. Did Teddy feel the same way? Sophie comforts him and soon the other kids come join them, they help Sophie with her training and she realizes that howlergarten isn't so bad after all, and that maybe everyone would still like her even if she remained human.

I will leave you here. You'll need to read the story to find out what occurs with the students of the howlergarten when the full moon arrives.

The illustrations are vibrantly colored and eye catching, and the drawn characters are adorably cute and capture the moods and feelings of the storyline.

This is a wonderful book and the message of accepting werewolves, or people, as they are shines through brightly.

The story is a good one to share with those little ones in your life who are getting ready to have first-day-of-school jitters. ~~ Dee Astell