Prepare to be swept away by the heartwarming journey of "Onyx: The Wolf Who Found a New Way to be a Leader" by Vita Murrow. As an avid reader, this enchanting children's book has left an indelible mark on my heart, earning a well-deserved five stars.

The story introduces us to Onyx, the adorable runt of the wolf pack, whose journey from being bullied by his siblings to becoming a compassionate leader is both endearing and empowering. Murrow's narrative is a delightful blend of warmth, humor, and valuable life lessons that will resonate with readers of all ages. Onyx's determination to lead with kindness and resolve conflicts through understanding serves as a beautiful example for children navigating their own social landscapes.

The illustrations by Anneli Bray are a visual feast that complements the narrative perfectly. Each page is a vibrant tapestry of colors and emotions, bringing the characters to life with a charming playfulness. The art style is not only adorable but also captivating, making it an engaging experience for young readers. Anneli Bray's illustrations are, without a doubt, a highlight of this heartwarming tale.

The book's unique approach of intertwining real-life animal tales with inspiring messages adds depth and substance to the storytelling. The fact section at the back, providing additional information about wolves, encourages curiosity and a love for learning in young minds. It's a wonderful touch that elevates the book from being merely entertaining to an educational gem.

I appreciate the underlying themes of resilience, embracing differences, and the importance of empathy. These messages are subtly woven into the fabric of the story, making it not just a delightful read but also a valuable resource for instilling positive values in young readers.

"Onyx" is a heartwarming masterpiece that will undoubtedly become a cherished favorite among children and their families. Vita Murrow and Anneli Bray have crafted a magical world that captivates the imagination and imparts essential life lessons, making it a must-read for both adults and children alike.

This is a sweet title for a read aloud or a newly independent reader. Those who love animals and true stories will be drawn to this one!

I love the true Nimal hero stories. In this edition, we learn about a wolf pup named onyx. He was a great leader who cared for his pride. I enjoyed learning about the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park.

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't quite like this one as much as the other one, but it was still pretty good! It just felt like this one was REALLY trying to tell a big inspirational story about being yourself and how you can still succeed if you are different. And while this is all very good, I felt like it drowned the core story it was trying to tell. Like, with the other one I felt like I learned more about what happened, but here I'm still a bit confused. Still a good one tho, and can't wait to see the rest of this series!

I love this series and kids do as well. The story of this wolf family I found extremely interesting. I was unsure of how it could be real. When the back gave you actual pictures and how they were tracking the wives it blew my mind! Great book awesome story.

This book really missed the mark for me. The pictures were wonderful, cute, and whimsical. The story claims to be drawn directly from observations of the living wolf packs in Yellowstone however it ends up dwelling in a wolf fantasy land where all the little wolves play and live in harmony. A cute story for those children who like happy endings but not very factual about wolf pack relationships.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing and NetGalley for an opportunity to read Onyx’ story

Another lovely story based on a real life animal hero - this time Onyx - a wolf pup that was relocated from Canada to the Yellowstone NP in the US, in order to repopulate the park .

The illustrations are quite beautiful and the story is told in a manner that will appeal to kids and will also be educational..

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Another in the animal heroes series by Quarto. Onyx is a runt wolf who watches life from a different style than his siblings and parents. This serves him well when he leaves home and finds a new pack where he becomes the father figure to cubs. In particular, the smallest one, Bravo, learns to show compassion and honor those who may be different.
Readers see the progression of this new way for wolves to behave from when Onyx was young until Bravo becomes a leader of his pack. The generational influence comes through.
The story is based on the true story of wolves in the northern portion of Yellowstone Park.
The illustrations pull readers so they are part of the pack and view the settings as the pack does.

The story of Onyx is a very sweet one about overcoming adversity. It also goes into the efforts to rebuild wolf populations in the United States. Animal lovers young and old will enjoy this book.

Here's the story of Onyx. Even though most of it were imagined by the author, but the message is clear: as human beings, we need to help the wild animals to survive. Because they help the nature flourish. So here's Onyx's story to savor with joy, that helps Yellowstone National Park to get better.

True Stories of Animal Heroes: Onyx was inspired by a real wolf pup. The story follows Onyx, the runt of the litter who grew up to become a leader by assuming the role of step-father to a family of wolves who had lost their alpha.

This story was heartwarming to see the influence Onyx had made on the young wolves he adopted as his own. I think it’s a fascinating true story that children will enjoy reading about. At the end of the book there is a page about the real Onyx and how his story was documented.

Some of the illustrations felt incomplete in small areas but overall it looked nice accompanying the story. It’s a great story for young children and I would recommend this one. I’m definitely now interested in reading more animal stories from this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This series is proving to be absolutely first class in every way. The concept is so well executed and I am excited to read the next one already. The gentle and well told story about the wolf Onyx and how he dares to be different is complemented by the most beautiful illustrations. The art work for the first two books in this series is in my opinion, award winning. The fact that the book is based on observations of real wolves makes this story even more powerful and this is backed up by the clever insertion of facts and real photographs at the end. I think this series is going to be a very welcome addition to school libraries and home bookshelves everywhere.

With very grateful thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

These fun and fast reads based on true events. I value the bridge the create between fiction and nonfiction for readers.

Dare to be different, just like Onyx.
This story is somewhat based on the documented observations of wolf watchers and wildlife biologists in the US National Park Yellowstone not long after wolves were reintroduced in 1995. There was this one runty little wolf who was different, and made a difference.
The story is well done and the drawings are unforgettable. Guess the grandkids will be getting this on, too. And maybe the local library as well.
I requested and received a free temporary ebook from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. THANK YOU!

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group/Frances Lincoln Children's Books + NetGalley for the eARC of "True Stories of Animal Heroes: Onyx" by Vita Murrow, illustrated by Anneli Bray.

What a fantastic nonfiction story about wolf pack behavior, respect, and the importance of thinking differently. Based on the wolves in the Northern Mountains of Yellowstone National Park, the story of Onyx (as well as Bravo and other wolves) is one we can all learn from, especially as children experience interactions with others who behave and act differently than they are typically used to - truly we can all learn new ways of behavior that will help each of us thrive.

My eight and ten year old sons are very interested in wolves. We live near Yosemite National Park and have done some research on the wolves in that area, but haven't had the pleasure of visiting or learning much about Yellowstone. This book provides a lovely illustration of a true story of a real wolf pack that my kids thoroughly enjoyed. Their favorite part was the last page with pictures of the real wolves. The illustrations are lovely and soft and show wolves in a beautiful way that encourages the reader to protect them and support their growth.

The second in Quarto’s charming new series on animal heroes. Here, we meet Onyx, a runt of a wolf pack who goes on to become a leader. His runt son Bravo became a leader too who ruled with respect rather than force. They’re based on real wolves observed in Yellowstone. Includes factoids, gorgeous illustrations, photos, and a link to the park’s Wolf Project for support of these amazing creatures.

5 of 5 Stars

Pub Date 02 Mar 2021
 #TrueStoriesofAnimalHeroesOnyx #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Onyx is the first I have read in the ‘True Stories of Animal Heroes” series, and I enjoyed it so much! Onyx is/was a wolf living in Yellowstone, trying to make his own way. He was the runt of the litter and grew up without a father, but had to figure out a new way of living. He became a step-dad to a pack of wolves he came across and taught them a new way of being alpha.
The illustrations were just beautiful and the story was engaging. The photos and short biography at the end were very interesting and informative as well.
This is a series I will definitely keep my eye out for, and highly recommend!

This was such a sweet storybook!
Little ones will love hearing about the unlikely story between rival wolf cubs and the beautiful illustrations that accompany the story.
Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Love this true story about the wolves in Yellowstone. Already have it on preorder for a friend who loves wolves and will share that love with her young daughter.