About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with possessiveness or needs a gentle lesson on the fact that friendship is a partnership, not a project of control. Wilfred is a young boy who decides that a wild moose belongs to him, creating a strict list of rules for his new pet to follow. While the moose seems to go along with some of the play, Wilfred eventually realizes that nature and other living beings have their own agendas. It is a brilliant choice for children who are assertive, rule-oriented, or learning to navigate the boundaries of others. At its heart, the story uses absurdist humor to explore themes of independence and the beauty of letting go. Parents will appreciate the sophisticated art and the way it validates a child's imagination while teaching that you cannot truly own something that is free. It is perfectly pitched for ages 4 to 8, bridging the gap between silly play and deeper philosophical respect for the natural world.
