Our August Children's Book of the Month: A Parent's Guide
23 January 2025 • 6 min read
Alexander Smith
A compelling story of animals on a perilous mission, The Wild Ones by Steve Cole is our Children's Book of the Month for August. In this handy parent's guide you can find out all about the book, its themes and subject matter.
What is the book about?
Imagine a world where all humans have vanished and danger hides in the shadows. That's the reality for Scamp - a Jack Russell Terrier - when the Night of the Great Growl descends, the people disappear and the terrible Things start roaming the streets. Now Scamp must leave his cosy life at the pet centre behind and lead a band of other animals, including Chandelier the cat and Punzel the rabbit, on a perilous journey into the wilds on the scent of their former carer Pam - and ultimate safety.
What made it our Children's Book of the Month?
We love a good animal story, especially when it's filled with excitement and suspense, and The Wild Ones is one of the best. Mixing a post-apocalyptic setting steeped in atmosphere and mystery with an uplifting quest narrative of found family and resilience, Steve Cole's unputdownable novel is filled with unforgettable characters and thrilling set pieces. And despite the sinister setting, there is a huge amount of warmth and humour as well; just be warned you might need tissues to hand.
What are the key themes and topics explored?
The Wild Ones is very much a story of found family, friendship and teamwork with all of the animal characters possessing traits which contribute to the success of the quest as a whole. As their journey continues and they are thrown into situations of increasing jeopardy, the friends - and particularly their leader Scamp - learn to adapt and discover qualities they never knew they possessed as well as strengthening their relationships with each other.