Maria lives with her grandfather in a small mountain village in the snowy north.

One winter morning on her way to school she spots a small grey bundle lying under a tree, half-covered in the powdery snow a wolf cub!

Maria knows that she should leave the cub, but her curiosity and compassion are aroused.

Will the cub still be there when she walks home? AUTHOR: Richard Knight was born and brought up on the east coast.

He studied history at Sheffield University before becoming a teacher.

He writes both children's and adult fiction. His short stories for adults have been published by Comma Press, Biscuit Publishing and Arc Publications, shortlisted for the Fish International Prize and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. AGES: 9-12