Review: LIBRARY LION, Module One, Intro to Children and their Literature

Knudsen, Michelle. 2006. LIBRARY LION. Ill. By Kevin Hawkes. Cambridge, MA: Caldlewick Press. ISBN 9780763622626.

This is the story of a lion who wanders into the library. His presence is larger than life and the patrons are not sure what to think about this lion. It is decided that the lion should be allowed to stay as he is not breaking any rules. The lion shows up day after day and begins to become a very helpful fixture at the library. This story gives the message that everyone is valuable and should be accepted, regardless of their appearance. People are skeptical of the lion at first but soon wonder how “they ever got along without him.” The lion looks ominous because of his size but he quickly proves his worth, he learns to follow the rules and is very helpful. He dusts encyclopedias, licks envelopes, and helps small children reach books. The lion becomes the model of a perfect library patron. The illustrations compliment the story very nicely. They are colorful and full of detail. The lion is very larger but his features are gentle. The patrons are illustrated with great facial expression and feeling. The patrons are also portrayed as individuals from different cultures. The story ends when the lion breaks a rule for a very good reason. This story teaches us that there are exceptions to the rules.