Erica (Van Varick) Wolf (1978-) Biography

Born 1978, in Mendham, NJ; daughter of James (a doctor of internal medicine) and Kathleen (a dog groomer) Wolf; Education: Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A. (illustration), 2000.

Career

Author and illustrator of children's books.

Member

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

Writings

(And illustrator) I Love You Just the Same, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2003.

Brave Little Raccoon, Henry Holt (New York, NY), 2005.

Sidelights

Illustrator and author Erica Wolf's first published picture book, I Love You Just the Same, documents a year in the life of a young bear cub. Focusing in on the unconditional love between the cub and his mother as Little Bear begins to master the rudiments of fishing, digging roots, and other brown-bear activities, the story is supplemented by the author's colorful acrylic paintings of the bear family and their woodland surroundings. Praising Wolf's illustrations as "lovely [and] naturalistic," Andrea Tarr added in her review for School Library Journal that the paintings "perfectly enhance the narrative in this springboard to nature discussions." A Publishers Weekly critic conveyed mixed feelings for Wolf's book, however, noting that "Little Bear is never seen wondering or asking if his mother's affection is in jeopardy, … and the repetition of the title turns grating." Despite such qualms, the reviewer added that in her illustrations Wolf effectively "captures the steady simplicity" of her forest-dwelling subjects.

Wolf told Something about the Author: "My love and respect for animals inspires my art and my stories. I hope to convey this passion for animals to the children and/or adults who read my books and look at my artwork. Artists such as Arthur Rackham and more recently Jerry Pinkney and Gregory Manchess have influenced my work."