Lion vs. Rabbit

From "The Tortoise and the Hare" to Shark vs. Train, adversarial showdowns are a sure bet for stories in which an ego-check is in order. Latimer (Penguin's Hidden Talent) seems to know this well, and he combines a cast of savanna animals, a slew of modern competitions, and plenty of visual and verbal humor in this story about a bullying lion. With a roundish body and tiny claws, Lion looks more teddy bear than king of the jungle, but that doesn't stop him from tormenting other animals, whether he's sticking a "silly note" on Zebra's back (it reads "I am a horse") or stealing Hyena's "lunch monkey." Too timid to confront Lion, the animals place an online ad for a rescuer. A bear, moose, and tiger are no match for Lion, but a small brown rabbit has what it takes, besting Lion in artistic, intellectual, and athletic feats. Latimer's digitally colored pencil cartoons are full of funny details (a TV color test appears in Lion's thought bubble during a trivia challenge), and while he lets readers in on Rabbit's secret to success, Lion simply gets a satisfying, fable-worthy comeuppance. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 2--Lion is nasty to his fellow jungle animals: he gives Buffalo "a wedgie," sticks a note saying "I'm a horse" on Zebra's back, and steals Hyena's "lunch monkey." The beleaguered creatures decide to place an online advertisement for a protector, but the respondents can't compete with Lion's boxing, fencing, and arm-wrestling prowess. When a small rabbit arrives, Lion assumes certain victory. The king of the jungle is surprised when he fails miserably at besting the bunny at marshmallow eating, hopping, and painting competitions. After losing the final "race to the top of the mountain" challenge, Lion admits defeat and promises to stop bullying the animals. Latimer's digital colored-pencil illustrations humorously capture the funny details of the contests, such as Lion's paint-splattered stick drawing of a dinosaur compared to Rabbit's rendition of the Mona Lisa (with bunny ears). Readers will laugh at the surprise revelation that a colony of wily rabbits was in on the success. This quirky twist on "The Tortoise and the Hare" is a winner.--Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada