Wilfred

By Ryan T. Higgins
Dial Books, 2013
Picture book, 40 pages, ages 3-10

Wilfred, a humongous and hairy giant, is lonely. He wants a friend more than anything else in the world. So he goes to find one in a village filled with tiny bald people. Of course, they all run away except one boy, who says, “SIT!”

A story about a big hairy giant and a little bald boy full of heart and laughs.

Wilfred does. He does everything the boy tells him to do, including his math homework and reenacting the battle of Waterloo. They have so much fun that they decide that Wilfred will come back the very next day.

When Wilfred comes back, the little bald townspeople tell him that big hairy monsters are not allowed in their town. Wilfred will have to stop being big or stop being hairy. And as Wilfred can’t stop being big, he shaves all his hair off. 

But winter is coming and now Wilfred is too cold to come out of his cave. The little bald boy goes to find Wilfred and ends up getting lost. Will Wilfred save the day … and get his hair back?

Wilfred is Ryan T. Higgins’ debut picture book, and it has it all. A loveable giant. A plucky kid. A cast of quirky characters. Humor. Wigs. Snowstorms. A little peril. And a satisfying ending.

This is a book most kids and adults will love. Especially if they’re fans of Calvin and Hobbes, Mac Barnett, and Adam Rex. I laughed, I even teared up a bit, and then I immediately read it again. Very highly recommended.

And after this, if you haven’t already, read Higgins’ other books: the We Don’t Eat our Classmates and the Mother Bruce series.

Wilfred by Ryan T. Higgins received 5 stars from this reviewer.