Library Lion

\ From The CriticsNo roaring allowed. That's the only stipulation Miss Merriweather the librarian places on her unusual new visitor at storytime: a lion. He turns out to be a model patron, "doing things without being asked. He dusted the encyclopedias. He licked the envelopes." But a thorny dilemma arises when Miss Merriweather falls and injures her arm: Should the lion break the rules and roar for help? Delicate, expressive pictures pair well with the understated humor of the text-which, for all its fun, may spark discussions about when it's okay to break the rules. For kids who love forays to the library, this is a must-read. (Ages 4 to 6)\ Child magazine's Best Children's Book Awards 2006\ \ \ \ \ Publishers WeeklyThe library's no place for a real live lion. But what if it was a book-loving beast that followed all the library rules, enforced by head librarian Miss Merriweather? Well, that's a different story the fun, fantastical tale in Knudsen's entertaining picture book. Library patrons and staff are perplexed and a bit frightened when a lion arrives in the local library, checking out the collection, napping in the children's corner and making himself at home for story hour. But Miss Merriweather doesn't see any reason to expel this mane attraction if he abides by her rules (e.g., "No running!"; "If you cannot be quiet, you will have to leave [the library]"). Soon the furry fellow befriends nearly everyone in the place, and even becomes Miss Merriweather's helpful assistant. One day, Miss Merriweather is in trouble. Lassie-like, the lion gets her some help, and then banishes himself from the place for breaking the rules (he unquietly roars in order to get the attention of one of the librarian's colleagues). Happily, this heroic literary lion doesn't stay away for long. Knudsen's gentle tale of a revered yet welcoming community destination will ring true for many readers. Hawkes's (Weslandia) evocative, soft-hued acrylic-and-pencil illustrations have a timeless feel, depicting a cozy book-filled haven that any story fan would love to visit, rules and all. Ages 4-7. (Sept.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ Children's Literature\ - Ken Marantz\ "One day, a lion came to the library." Upset, Mr. McBee runs to report to the head librarian, Miss Merriweather. But since the lion is breaking no rules, he is left alone to explore and then nap in the story corner. During story hour he listens attentively, but when told it is over and time to go, he really roars. Since he is now breaking the rules, Miss Merriweather asks him to leave but says he can return for story hour if quiet. Soon Miss Merriweather has put him to work, dusting, licking envelopes, helping children. Only Mr. McBee still feels lions do not belong in the library. When Miss Merriweather has an accident, the lion has to break rules to get her help. He leaves then but is sorely missed. Soon it is Mr. McBee who searches him out to tell him that he can return, to the delight of all. "Sometimes there was a good reason to break the rules. Even in the library." Hawkes uses his acrylics and pencils to create a lion with a really appealing personality and a wide range of emotions. The rest of the cast and the hints of library furniture, including a relic card catalog, do not distract us from the sympathetic moral fantasy. The double-page scene of the lion giving a humungous roar that knocks McBee's glasses right off his nose makes a convincing climax. The lions stalks toward the library across the front endpapers, but on the back we see two lion statues in front of the library, perhaps a tribute. Lift the jacket to enjoy the contrasting cover.\ \ \ \ \ Children's Literature\ - Peg Glisson\ When a lion walks into the library, surprising patrons and uptight staff member Mr. McBee, librarian Miss Merriweather is content to "leave him be" since he is not breaking any rules. He wanders around, settling in at story time, where he roars when story time is over for the day. Miss Merriweather comes running, admonishing him about following the library rules. Chastised, he returns early the next day and soon becomes Miss Merriweather's helpful assistant and a favorite of the young patrons—but not Mr. McBee. When Miss Merriweather falls off her chair and breaks an arm, lion roars to bring Mr. McBee to her assistance and then banishes himself for breaking the rules. His absence extends for days, leading Mr. McBee to search the city for the lion and convince him to come back, assuring him that sometimes it is all right to break a rule. Hawkes' warm acrylic and pencil illustrations bring an old fashioned look to the book. His library is a blend of old and new—computers and a card catalog. Both Miss Merriweather and Mr. McBee are somewhat stereotyped, but that works in this gentle story. Their expressive faces and the lion's regal yet friendly stance will draw in readers who hopefully, like lion, will want to explore the many treasures to be found in the library.\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalPreS-Gr 2-Miss Merriweather, head librarian and decorum-keeper, first meets Lion when he saunters past his stone counterparts and into the stacks. Scowling circulation assistant Mr. McBee seems intent on having the enormous cat ejected, but his boss declares that as long as he breaks no rules, he is welcome. The beast does misbehave though, roaring loud displeasure when storytime ends. At Miss Merriweather's reprimand, the contrite-looking lion promises to reform. In fact, he becomes something of a fixture in the building, dusting with his tail, licking envelopes, and serving as a stepstool for small patrons. Everyone appreciates him-except Mr. McBee. When Lion lets out another tremendous "RAAAHHHRRR!," the man bursts into Miss Merriweather's office to snitch-and there he finds her in distress, having fallen from a stool and broken her arm. Lion, la Lassie, has saved the day, but he is so chagrined by his own rule-breaking behavior that he doesn't return to the library. People miss him. Even Mr. McBee. A feel-good ending and a reminder that "Sometimes, there is a good reason to break the rules" bring the story to its most-satisfactory conclusion. Hawkes's deft acrylic-and-pencil pictures have appeal for generations of library lovers. They are rich with expression, movement, and detail. The lordly, lovable lion is a masterful mix-regal beast and furry friend-and the many human characters are drawn with animation and emotion. This winsome pairing of text and illustration is a natural for storytime and a first purchase for every collection.-Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Old Greenwich, CT Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.\ \ \ \ \ School Library JournalPreS-Gr 2\ In Michelle Knudsen's delightful picture book (Candlewick, 2006), Lion walks into the library one day and decides to stay for storytime. The librarian says that he may remain there and help maintain the library provided he obeys the rules and doesn't roar. When the librarian falls from a stool and is injured, the only way Lion can get help for her is to roar. Realizing that he has broken the rules, he leaves the library. Happily, he's fetched back and once again becomes a favored feature of the little library. Christine Marshall provides a beautifully modulated reading of this charming book, giving each character a distinct voice. Less successful are the sound effects that are very faint even when the volume is turned up high. Track one features page-turn signals. Be sure to have the book available so listeners can peruse Kevin Hawkes's wonderful acrylic-and-pencil illustrations that are integral to the telling. A fine choice for storytimes.-B. Allison Gray, Palmdale City Library, CA\ \ \ \ \ \ Kirkus ReviewsKnudsen and Hawkes pick a perfect setting to express the idea that breaking rules can sometimes be a good thing. When a lion wanders into a small town public library the Head Librarian, Miss Merriweather, brushes off the protestations of her realistically officious colleague Mr. McBee and allows it to stay-so long as it keeps quiet, doesn't run and makes itself useful cleaning books and licking envelopes while waiting for storytime to begin. Anxious-looking patrons of all ages quickly become accepting ones in Hawkes's soft toned watercolors, and if Miss Merriweather's hair and dress seem a bit stereotypical, occasional CRT monitors balance glimpses of rubber date stamps and a card catalog in his gracious, old style interiors. When Miss Merriweather takes a fall, the lion roars to attract help, then slinks out in shame-but McBee redeems himself by bustling out into the rain to inform the offender that Exceptions to the Rules are sometimes allowed. Consider this a less prescriptive alternative to Eric A. Kimmel's I Took My Frog to the Library (1990), illustrated by Blanche Sims-and it doesn't hurt that the maned visitor is as huge and friendly looking as the one in James Daugherty's classic Andy and the Lion. (Picture book. 6-8)\ \