The Lady and the Lion [Hardcover]

Jacqueline K. Ogburn (Author), Laurel Long (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 2003 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Love and honor can overcome even the fiercest obstacles, as we see in this spellbinding fairy tale, with shades of "Beauty and the Beast." To save her father, a young woman must go to the castle of a menacing lion. She fears for her life, but finds kindness rather than danger there, for the lion by day is a gentle young man by night-a prince under the spell of a wicked enchantress. Soon the lady and the lion fall in love.

Unlike the more familiar tale, however, this story has only just begun. The prince is not yet safe from the enchantress, and it will take all of the lady's strength and courage, through a seven-year quest, to rescue him. Dazzlingly romantic and visually magnificent, this is a book for the ages-an exhilarating tale of virtue, heroism, and the power of love.

Illustrated by Laurel Long.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-4--A romantic retelling of the Grimm tale more commonly known as "The Singing, Soaring Lark" (also, "The Lilting, Leaping Lark"). With its themes of love transformed and questing heroine, the story has much in common with "Beauty and the Beast" and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" (which Long and Ogburn note in a foreword). The tale begins when a father promises a lark to his youngest daughter and then must make a hard bargain with its owner, a lion. To fulfill that agreement, the young woman returns to the lion's enchanted castle. She discovers that he is a lion by day and a handsome prince by night. The two fall in love, marry, and live happily until the lady desires to return home for a visit. Long's oil paintings on watercolor paper are appropriately lavish and romantic, rich with color and detail. The endpapers are covered with elaborate line drawings of vines and animals, and ornate, stylized borders frame each page. Long and Ogburn emphasize the heroine's strength of character: she honorably carries out her father's promise and greets the lion, noting: "A lion that loves birds will do no harm." The beast is ultimately transformed through the magic of human love, along with the heroine's perseverance.--Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. As they explain in a note, Long and Ogburn have adapted and condensed one of the Grimms' fairy tales, "The Singing, Springing Lark," into a story that also has elements of "Beauty and the Beast" and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon." A merchant's daughter finds her true love, who lives under an enchantment that gives him the form of a lion by day and a prince by night. After she loses him through a foolish mistake, she searches the world to find him and win his freedom from the wicked enchantress. The dramatic tale is smoothly told, but the illustrations, with even more drama and lush with romance, take center stage here. The oil paintings use flowing compositions, swirling lines, rich colors, and a profusion of subtle patterns to create a series of detailed scenes combining European and Middle Eastern elements. A beautiful picture book for the fairy-tale set. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dial (October 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803726511
• ISBN-13: 978-0803726512
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #974,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book ever!!, January 30, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Lady and the Lion (Hardcover)

The Lady and the Lion has the best illistations (in my opinion!)! When you look at the pictures, you think, Man, how does Laurel Long paint those pictures in oil paint and watercolor paper. I think that this book should have won the Caldecott Award, but instead, the book The man Who Walked Between the Towers won. I also think that, the ALA Caldecott book had good pictures, but I think that The Lady and the Lion should have won. This book is probably good for ages 7 and up. The reason 7 and up is because you have to be able to read it by yourself. Although, if you can't read it on your own, the pictures tell the story. If you like the two stories, Cinderella and The Beauty and the Beast, then this is the book for you, becuase it is a mix between those two stroies. I hope that you will find time to read this book!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN AMAZING BOOK FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS!!!, January 30, 2004

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Lady and the Lion (Hardcover)

An amazing story about a lady and a lion falling in love. Everyone should have a chance to read this book. This is a story that is like Beauty And The Beast and Cinderella combined. This book is one of the best books I have ever read, because the pictures can tell the whole story if you didn't have the words. This is a good book to read alone because it is good to see the details in the pictures up close. This book should have won the Caldecott Medal for 2004, but it didn't.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical artwork, October 16, 2005

By 

K. - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lady and the Lion (Hardcover)

If you have any appreciation for the artwork of this genre of picture books, then you must buy this book. I have many picture books, and I thought Kraft was the best illustrator, until I saw this book. While Kraft's work is amazing and mysterious, the artwork done by Laurel Long completely blows my mind. I've never been in such awe looking at pages from a picture book. It amazes me how someone can produce this art. The detail all over the page is amazing. The whole set up with this rolling hills background to show many different things in in the distance is incredible. The story itself was interesting, but did not grab me as much as some fairy tales. But much as I love fairy tales, this is my most cherished fairy tale picture book because the artwork is the best. Don't get me wrong, I did like the story, just did not looove it. But no matter, because I am so glad I came acrossed this book due to the art, although I am glad to know the story too. Anyway, after reading this book, I looked up Laurel Long and have bought the other books she's illustrated, and she does not disappoint. Buy this book, and then buy the other two books I highly recommend by her, The Mightiest Heart and The Magic Nesting Doll, and enjoy!