Format: Picture Book Fiction

How to be a Lion

How to be a LionHow To Be A Lion by Ed Vere
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers on June 26th 2018
ISBN: 0525578056
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Leonard the lion is not your average lion.  Instead of being fierce and chomping things like the rest of the lions, he likes to writes poems and visit his thinking hill. One day he meets a duck named Marianne and she helps him write his poem, and they become friends.  They spend all their time together watching stars and being happy.  Until one day when the rest of the lions show up and demand to know why this duck has not been chomped.  Leonard defends her, but the other lions tell Leonard that there is only one way to be a lion and that he must be fierce and chomp her.  Leonard and Marianne return to the thinking hill while Leonard ponders whether he must truly change.  They return to the other lions with a message about being yourself.  A pretty heavy-handed message picture book, Vere delivers a story about being yourself and not caving to peer pressure.  Other reviewers have read it as a take on masculinity and an example of a positive male role model.

Reviewed by Kara Reiman, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars

Toad on the Road: Mama and Me

Toad on the Road: Mama and MeToad on the Road: Mama and Me by Stephen Shaskan
Published by HarperCollins on March 6th 2018
ISBN: 0062393499
Pages: 32
Goodreads
four-stars

Toad on the Road: Mama and Me is the second book in the Toad on the Road series by Stephen Shaskan. Like the first book, this one has bright and humorous illustrations and a fun repeating rhyme scheme and alliteration that will appeal to kids during a read-aloud. In this book, Mama and her son, Toad, are riding in Mama’s tow truck and keep coming across friends on the road who need their help. Goat needs gas! Fox has a flat! Moose is in the muck! Mama and Toad help their friends get on their way and in the end there is a big surprise waiting for them when they get home.

The theme of helping others comes through even if a child can’t read the words yet because the pictures are so clear and funny, so while this book is geared towards kids 4 to 8, younger kids will like it too. The refrain of “Mama and Toad will save the day! Everyone shout: hip hip hooray!” is catchy and readers will enjoy the repeated phrases; this book would be great for a toddler storytime! If you have Toad on the Road in your library’s collection, I would consider this a must-buy.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook

four-stars