Chloe and the Lion [Hardcover]

Mac Barnett (Author), Adam Rex (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: April 3, 2012 | Age Range: 4 - 8 years | Lexile Measure: 460L (What's this?)

Meet Chloe: Every week, she collects loose change so she can buy tickets to ride the merry-go-round. But one fateful day, she gets lost in the woods on her way home, and a large dragon leaps out from—"Wait! It's supposed to be a lion," says Mac Barnett, the author of this book. But Adam Rex, the illustrator, thinks a dragon would be so much cooler (don't you agree?).

Mac's power of the pen is at odds with Adam's brush, and Chloe's story hangs in the balance. Can she help them out of this quandary to be the heroine of her own story?

 
Mac Barnett and Adam Rex are a dynamic duo, and two of the strongest contemporary voices in picture books today. In an accessible and funny way, Chloe and the Lion talks about the creative process and the joys and trials of collaboration. 

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The fourth wall is broken to bits in this meta-musing on the creation of a picture book. The fun begins with the author introducing himself and his illustrator (cast as fimo figurines) and their protagonist, Chloe, a blue-haired, bespectacled slip of a sketch with red cowboy boots and a Texas-shaped belt buckle. Chloe sets off on a three-dimensional stage to begin her story, but almost immediately author and illustrator experience creative differences. A replacement illustrator is hired, and fired, the author tries drawing his own pictures (not a good idea), and it finally falls to Chloe to save her day. Storytelling tropes abound, skewered one after another by Chloe’s infallible wherewithal, until she secures her just reward. As entertainment the story functions well, combining twisty plotting, irreverent dialogue, visual hilarity, and sophisticated book design into an arch package. But beneath the silly surface, children will find a meaningful exposition of just what goes into a successful picture book, and how author, illustrator, and character must collaborate and compromise. Grades K-3. --Thom Barthelmess

Review

As entertainment the story functions well, combining twisty plotting, irreverent dialogue, visual hilarity, and sophisticated book design... But beneath the silly surface, children will find a meaningful exposition of just what goes into a successful picture book, and how author, illustrator, and character must collaborate and compromise.
--Booklist

* Children old enough to understand the constructs of a book will delight in the comedic deconstruction, and adults will enjoy the references to traditional tales, from King Arthur to Frankenstein.
--School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH; First Edition edition (April 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423113349
• ISBN-13: 978-1423113348
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 0.5 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing! April 10, 2012

By Staton Mom

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is an excellent book that my little one really enjoyed. We got it just in time for the Easter basket, and read it to him at bedtime that night. This story is told in such a unique fashion; I think both the parents and children will find it very entertaining. Although titled Chloe and the Lion, the book is really about Mac and Adam (the author and illustrator) and their friendship as told through Chloe's story. This is such a neat spin on storytelling, using both the written word and illustrations to full effect. I would definitely recommend picking this up!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just For Children May 8, 2012

By Nancy VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

From time to time, children's board books fall into the same rut of princess and happily ever after. Well, I have no idea what was rolling around in the minds of Mac Barnett and Adam Rex, but I can tell you that there is no way you will find a sparkly princess or get bored reading this book.

To be honest, I am not one hundred percent sure that it is a child's book, so right there it should tell you that it deserves to be picked up. Mac and Adam not only wrote and illustrated this book, but they actually star in it. When the collaboration between writer and illustrator goes amuck, it is up to lead character Chloe to get them all back on board and convince the ever changing lion, who should have been a dragon, into giving up his dinner so the story can be finished. I know that sounds a little strange, but this book is so funny and convoluted that the reader is in for as much of an entertaining evening as any young child.

The illustrations are a little different than the usual offerings, think Wizard of Oz meets clay animation meets paper dolls and you would be close.

Loved the storyline and the quips. I am not 100% sure of the age group that I would recommend this book, I recommend that you pick it up and decide if it would be right for your young one or more along the lines of something that you, the adult, will chuckle over.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What a great book and unique too. May 1, 2012

By Sami Jadran

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

My seven years old son loves this book. He understands what's going on when author and illustrator are talking to each other about what to draw between dragon and lion in the story. Chloe the main character also talks to the author when he is about to give up on the story. This book makes the author and the illustrator part of the story as one of the main characters of the book. My four years old daughter doesn't get the book as my seven years old son gets it, but she still like to listen to when her brother reads to her. I love this book. If your child is in first grade this book will be a perfect gift for him/her, because they learn about story setting, main character, author, and illustrator in their class. Highly recommended.