Library Lion

Title: Library Lion
Author: Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated: Kevin Hawkes
Published: Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Massachussetts
Date: 2006
Summary: A lion starts visiting the local library but runs into trouble as he tries to both obey the rules and help his librarian friend.
Age Level: Primary (Kindergarten to 2)
Strengths: I liked how the images were a combination of water color and colored pencils. The text was big enough for the reader to read and I thought it was interesting how some of the text had a nice frame around it. It would be structured as the text on one page and the picture on the next, or the picture co-existing with the pictures in the white spaces provided. This whole book takes place mainly in the library, and no where else, so you can see what you can do at the library and the many activities. This story was very cute because the lion meant no harm, he acted almost human, because he had a lot of emotions and he wanted to stay for story time. In time, he knew how to follow the rules and he became a regular member of the library. It also shows a good message about how sometimes, in emergencies, it's ok to break the rules.
Concerns: Since this story takes place in the library, you have to wonder where the lion came from, and why it wanted to go into the library. Also, I do not think that a lion could produce that kind of human emotions, or understand humans.
Comments: This is a great book about following the rules, and what you do at your library. It's a funny and cute book younger students will love.