Shadow and the Ready Time

In its pointed mission to teach readers to avoid ``premature sexual behavior,'' this modern-day fable employs a commanding metaphor--wolves and pack life. Unfortunately, it loses its potency by attributing all-too-human sentiment to its wolf characters. When Shadow, an impatient wolf pup, takes to hunting before ``the Ready Time,'' she is swept dangerously down river. Rescued by a ``two-foot,'' she wakes in a fenced reserve where an older, injured wolf (``Nanna'') cares for her and imparts timeworn wisdom (``Sometimes life will be hard. But you can learn whatever you need to''). When Shadow is returned to the wild, she is overwhelmed by fear and loneliness, and yearns for pups of her own. But not until Shadow gains entrance to another pack and learns pack responsibilities and the elements of pup-rearing can she bear offspring. Although the lesson rings clear, the book occupies a vague territory between fiction and fact; it is neither inspired storytelling nor sound science. The pictures, for their part, are more decorative than informative. A postscript suggests discussion questions and teaching guidelines ``to help young people assume responsibility for meeting their needs in healthy ways.'' Ages 4-12. (Aug.)