The Wolves Inside of Me

A Powerful Message for Young Minds

As someone who’s known Dave since our high school football days, I’m not surprised to see the same passion, discipline, and heart he brought to the field now being poured into the pages of this book. The Wolves Inside of Me delivers an important message about balance—between our personal emotions and the needs of others—in a way that’s both accessible and impactful for young readers. It’s a thoughtful tool for parents and educators alike, and a testament to Dave’s commitment to helping shape strong, empathetic future leaders. Proud of you, brother. Keep leading with purpose.

The Wolves Inside of Me is a beautiful and meaningful story that helps children understand their emotions in a simple yet powerful way. The metaphor of the wolves makes it easy for kids to visualize their inner feelings and choices, while the language and illustrations create a calming, reflective tone. It's the kind of book that opens up great conversations about mindfulness, kindness, and self awareness - both at home and in the classroom. Highly recommend for parents and teachers alike.

I found this very insightful a school teacher and parent constantly doing shadow work myself. I found it was a unique and simple way to introduce youth the concept of shadow work and integrating and the questions provided works great even for adults as well. This is a great way to explain to kids and to remind ourselves that there is no “bad” feelings as all of our emotions can be of use to us once we understand them. It also speaks to the concept of mediation and contemplation or avoiding impulsive behavior but in way simple enough for young children to understand while serving as a nice easy way to remember for grown ups. My kids love the illustrations as well: Job well done! I definitely use these concepts and reflection questions in my home, in my classrooms and in my shadow journaling and every day life

The Wolves Inside of Me gives children a gentle, memorable way to understand big feelings and everyday choices. The red and green wolves make self-regulation concrete without labeling any emotions as “bad,” which opened up meaningful conversations with my child about patience, sharing, and listening. The language is simple, compassionate, and respectful of a child’s inner world. It’s become a book we return to whenever emotions run high.

This book is an outstanding early-childhood SEL resource. By externalizing inner conflict through the wolves, children can recognize impulses, practice calming strategies, and make thoughtful decisions without shame. The reflection questions and discussion prompts extend the learning far beyond the story itself. It’s rare to find a book that is developmentally appropriate, emotionally sophisticated, and so easy to integrate into classrooms.

The Wolves Inside of Me beautifully translates a timeless story into an age-appropriate tool for emotional awareness and choice-making. The illustrations are engaging, the message is empowering, and the tone is consistently kind. Children learn that all inner voices deserve to be heard—and that they have the power to choose their actions. This book belongs in every home and early learning space.