Hedge Lion by Robyn Wilson-Owen
Published by Andersen on March 7, 2023
ISBN: 1728492122
Pages: 24
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

A story about finding your inner roar and letting it out before it gets too big. Ida lives in a busy town. Hedge Lion also lives in the town, but he insists that he is not a lion, but a hedge. Ida makes it her mission to reawaken the lion inside Hedge Lion. Using many methods, it is finally laughter, or the release that a good belly laugh brings, that unleashes the inner lion. Once Hedge Lion starts roaring, he is not able to stop until he gets out his Big Scary Roar, frightening Ida, himself, and the creatures who live in his mane. Using patience and the power of stories, Ida coaxes the creatures back, and her friendship allows the lion to be who he is and to let out his roars in small doses before they reach Big Scary level. Wilson-Owen’s line drawings are infused with bright yellow and complement the narrative. The message of the book is clear without being scary or too didactic.  A nice read aloud to discuss big emotions and appropriate scale of reactions.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Middle School