by Brooke Hartman (Author) Anna Süßbauer (Illustrator)
Readers beware--there's a ferocious lion in this book! The book warns that it has seen the lion already. First its bristly tail, then clashing claws, twitchy ears, fearsome fangs... and it's lying in wait to turn any unsuspecting passerby into a child cheeseburger or rugrat ravioli.
But does a brushy tail always belong to a lion? When you touch the curvy claws, will they be attached to a paw? You never really know what might be lurking around the corner in this surprising story that challenges readers to face their darkest fears, and maybe even laugh about them.
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PreS-Gr 2--Adorable and humorous, this fourth wall-breaking story along the lines of Jory John and Bob Shea's I Will Chomp You starts with an unseen narrator warning readers away from the book. The narrator thoughtfully provides a guide ("How to Spot A Lion" with snout, tail, fangs, ears, and claws all labeled). On the next spread, a "brushy, bristly tail" is visible, but a page turn reveals that the tail belongs to a giraffe. The pattern repeats until the narrator gives up, at which point, of course, a lion does emerge--a cute little lion cub. Illustrations are large, clear, and uncluttered, with bright backgrounds, clever camouflage, and funny animal expressions, from a smiling sloth to a grumpy walrus. The text is chock-full of lively alliteration, making it a pleasure to read aloud. VERDICT A sure winner for story times as well as one-on-one settings; children will enjoy being in on the joke on rereadings.--Jenny Arch
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Brooke Hartman is an award-winning author of multiple picture books, including Lotte's Magical Paper Puppets and Pega Sisters Go to Camp (both Page Street Kids). When her daughter battled issues with anxiety, Brooke wrote this up-roar-iously funny book to show that circumstances are often not as dire as they seem. She lives in Alaska with her husband, two kids, and a chocolate lab who barks at every car that passes their house--because it just might be driven by a lion.
Anna Süßbauer got the nickname "Angsthase" ("scared bunny" in German) from her daughter for being easily frightened, so she would like to give the narrator of this story a supportive hug. Anna is the illustrator of several children's books, including Rock-a-Bye Tree Sloth (Little Bee Books). She lives in Cologne, Germany.