The Lion Who Had Asthma (Albert Whitman Concept Paperbacks) [Paperback]

Jonathan London (Author), Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up | Series: Albert Whitman Concept Paperbacks

Sean likes to pretend he's a lion, roaring in the jungle. But this lion starts to cough, his chest hurts, and it's hard to breathe. This lion has asthma. So Sean's mother gives him his medicine to help him breath. Now Sean imagines he's a jet pilot.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Although this title seems drippingly allegorical, the story is actually honest, light, and direct. A fine collaborative effort between author and illustrator, it delivers a believable picture of a preschool boy who has a freewheeling imagination, supportive parents, asthma, and a life that works well. Playing in the bathtub, Sean is a hippo; eating broccoli, he is a giant who crunches trees between his teeth. During an attach of asthma, the lion of his fantasy stops roaring and wheezes, feels tired, and wants to cry. His mother shows up with a nebulizer, but Sean is the one who turns it on, and as he breathes deeply, he becomes a jet pilot. Wescott's clean-looking watercolor-and-ink illustrations take the story's action to places where text would have been limiting, and capture the positive feeling London's tone demands. A preliminary note is frank and encouraging. The expression of relaxation as an important tool for managing illness, and the emphasis on the value of children's natural imagination is simple, strong, and empowering. London also introduces some basic information and terminology. --Liza Bliss, formerly at Leominster Public Library, MA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

``Sean is a lion roaring in the jungle...At suppertime, he's a GIANT munching trees.'' Each double spread shows a lively little boy at the left (the trees are broccoli) and the vibrant creature he imagines himself to be at the right. When Sean begins to cough, the lion looks doleful and mystified, ``tired and a little bit frightened.'' But Sean's special treatment (medicine administered with a nebulizer, as a note for parents explains) sets him free by letting him breathe; now he's a jet pilot, who flies back to the jungle and becomes a lion again. For children who have asthma, or know someone who has it, this cheerful book should be reassuring; creative enough to be fun, it's still clear enough to be useful, while Sean's calm, sensible parents set a fine example. Westcott's colorful, lightly sketched illustrations deftly express Sean's feelings through his own body language and that of his animal friends. (Picture book. 2-7) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company (January 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807545600
• ISBN-13: 978-0807545607
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 8.6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Diseases > Nonfiction
  • #20 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Diseases > Fiction
  • #80 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Health > Fiction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sean is a roaring lion until he has an asthma attack.., July 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lion Who Had Asthma (Albert Whitman Concept Paperbacks) (Paperback)

The book is, however, based upon the circumstances of a real boy, Sean, who has asthma. In the story Sean pretends to be a Lion going about normal stalking activities in the jungle. When he suffers an asthma attack and becomes weakened he is no longer able to perform his boyish and lionlike activities with a lion's strength. The coughing and wheezing frighten Sean and the courage of the Lion vanishes as Sean lies down and is confined to his nebulizer. Sean's mother offers him a new avenue to explore with his imagination when she suggests he be a jet pilot. The whirring of the machine and the gas mask on his face provide realistic props for Sean's visualization. This simple story shows how sick children can use creative visualization and employ vivid imaginary settings as a basis for coping with their disease or disability. As Sean's bronchial tubes dilate and more oxygen is able to enter his lungs, the Lion in Sean returns and once again Sean's imagination takes him away to his jungle adventures. This book would be particularly valuable to read to junior children. They would understand and identify with Sean making believe he is a lion or a hippo in the jungle and then as a jet pilot. The text introduces the language of the special illness that Sean has. Words like asthma, breathe, cough and wheeze. The language also addresses the emotions that Sean goes through like fear, hurt, and the use of a lion obviously demonstrates the courage that Sean displays. The language is simple enough too for older children to read independently and introduces text challenges like the sound effects of the machine (nebulizer) and the lion - Rroooarrr, Zooom, Grrrrrrrroww.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!, August 27, 2004

By 

reestar "reestar" (Riverside, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lion Who Had Asthma (Albert Whitman Concept Paperbacks) (Paperback)

My son developed asthma at 7 months of age after being hospitalized with RSV. He is now only 1 years old, but does enjoy this book as much as a 1 year old can. The reason I bought it was for my 3 year old who had many questions about why his little brother had to have breathing treatments, wasn't feeling well, etc. This book was perfect. Not too medical in it's terms, adorable illustrations, lovely story line about using fantasy to make treatments better. I can't wait until my 1 year old is old enough to really enjoy and understand it. I highly recommend it for parents of asthmatics, or any one with young children who are around other children with asthma.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Using humor to treat asthma, March 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lion Who Had Asthma (Albert Whitman Concept Paperbacks) (Paperback)

Our five year old son was diagnosed with Reactive Airway Disease at two years of age. Since then he has needed treatments with a nebulizer almost every day. Putting the required mask on his face had become quite a battle and made taking his treatments that much worse. Then we discovered The Lion Who Had Asthma. Our little boy responded instantly to Sean who is the main character in this book. The idea to treat the mask from his machine as the mask to a jet fighter plane was ingenious. Now we read this book during his treatments and using the nebulizer has become less of a struggle.

Now to get the author to write a book about taking medicine............