Review by Booklist Review
Two children are home, apparently alone, when a lion comes to visit. Reminiscent of the Cat in the Hat, the lion has a hat, an umbrella, and a jaunty air. He sings, dances, and invites himself to lunch. Signaled by a shift in background color from peaceful white to a dangerously bright red, the fanciful story takes a frightening turn when the lion finishes his meal, then looks to the children as dessert. The children cower under a table until they summon the strength to say, No! The colors change again and the children become physically much larger on the pages. The sister and brother forcefully fill the middle of a two-page spread as they defy the lion and send him away. The illustrations, composed in ink and paint, and rendered digitally, have a vintage feel and keep the overall tone from being too frightening. Children and adults may respond differently to this tale. The humorous aspects will entertain young readers, while adults could use the book as a model to talk to children about setting personal boundaries.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-In this fun and roaring good picture book, Dunbar shares a story about a lion who gives the appearance of a dapper, polite fellow but reveals his true nature when he tries to turn his human hosts into dessert. The narrative proceeds with some rhyme but little rhythm as readers are asked to determine what behavior they would accept from the lion. (Is a lion still a lion if he wears a hat, carries an umbrella, and makes "civilized introductions"?) He appears to be winning over his hosts, but his behavior becomes wilder. Dunbar packs a message of empowerment disguised as whimsy. With her trademark loose lines and ink wash with pops of color, this lion is shooed like a house cat and the nameless sister and brother protagonists shout, "No, you may NOT come in-we DO mind if you do!" VERDICT This lively cautionary tale makes a engaging storytime selection. Recommended for larger collections.-Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
An irritated-looking lion on a white background glares out at us while the narrator introduces him: This is a lion. Fierce, isnt he? But on subsequent spreads the lion becomes less and less lion-like--donning a hat, striking a goofy pose, dancing and singing down the street, inviting himself into the home of two children and politely asking after their auntie Sue. At each step, the narrator poses rhetorical questions: Is a lion still a lion if he saysOh, yes, lunch would be lovely, thank you. Toward the end of lunch, the white background of the pages turns an alarming red, and the lion begins to leer at the children as though they might be dessert. It becomes clear that even all dressed up and using the best manners, a lion is still a lion. The children take control of their fear and their unwelcome guest just in time, sending the lion away with a firm No! And the narrator confirms, Please remember: A LION IS ALWAYS A LION. Clean, bouncy lines and bright pops of color in the ink-and-paint illustrations and entertaining language (Is a lion still a lion ifhe skips down the street singing Hoobie-doobie-doo?) keep the story light even when the lion threatens to take a bite out of the children. julie roach (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two children must decide how far to trust a dapper lion who insinuates himself into their home.The initial double-page spread shows an unadorned, stylized male lion glaring out at readers, vivid against the stark white pages. In emphatic black print: "This is a lion. Fierce, isn't he? Too fierce for you? / Well…." There follow pages of humorous, gently rhyming "what if" questions regarding whether the lion is still a lion if he, for example, wears a hat and carries an umbrella. The ink-and-wash artwork is vivacious, including a wonderful, frameworthy spread of the lion, clad in his blue jacket, joyfully dancing with the two children, both light-skinned, about their house. After the lion--staying for lunch--devours both his greens and the china plate itself, he turns his attention to the children for "pudding" (the English equivalent of "dessert"). A high-alert, reddish background replaces white for the next few pages. Art and text use just the right amount of thrills, chills, and comedy to underscore the importance of saying "No" to threatening behavior--even if it was preceded by seemingly innocent fun. The layout of the book is well-suited to the ebullient art and lighthearted text. From start to finish, the spirits of Dr. Seuss and Maurice Sendak hover happily.Proudly shelve this near The Cat in the Hat and What Do You Say, Dear?(Picture book. 3-6)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
