Customer Reviews

Tawny Scrawny Lion (Little Golden Book)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I can't believe some of the ludicrous reviews on here. One lady fusses because she's a vegetarian and the rabbits are depicted as putting fish in their stew; another person fusses because the lion is depicted as eating kangaroos, when lions are not native to Australia. So, let's see: Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, The Lion King, Charlotte's Web, Snow White, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, and every other children's story ever invented, likewise should be fussed about, because all contain implausible claims and non-PC events. So dumb. The point of the story is how the little rabbit's sincerity and hospitality provokes a change in the predatory lion. It's not a David Attenborough documentary, okay?

Anyway, here's the story: When "The Tawny Scrawny Lion" opens, a lion is devouring the local animal population. Frightened, the local animals convince a young rabbit to approach the lion in hopes that the lion will eat the rabbit, and thus leave them alone for another day. However, as the lion prepares to pounce, the naive, cheery rabbit invites the lion to come home with him to eat dinner with him and all his siblings. Eager to eat them all, the lion agrees.

But as the day wears on, with the rabbit gathering herbs and fish for the carrot stew, they become friends. And once the lion gets to know the rabbit's family, he softens, and the story ends with the lion and rabbits all great friends. After that, the lion only wants to hang out with the rabbits and eat carrot stew. The rabbit family's sincere hospitality has won the lion over.

This is a wonderful little tale with striking illustrations. I read this book all the time as a kid, and I read it to my kids now all the time, and it just never gets old. In fact, I still find it touching everytime.

I hope this review helped someone.

I am sorry for those readers who seem to have missed the exuberant charm of this little book. Perhaps it is simply that it struck a cord for me five decades ago, and the nostalgia overtakes me from time to time. The truth is, I have never forgotten the wide-eyed lion and the clever little rabbits after all these years. And while the lion never becomes a true "vegetarian," I suspect that he would have had a sequel ever been written. For 1952, I think those rabbits did a darn good job of teaching the lion about sustainable food sources. Amazingly, my copy from childhood has survived. Unfotunately, the color in Tenggren's illustrations are more vivid in my 1950's copy than the ones I recently purchased from Amazon. (I have to fess-up, I purchased half-a-dozen to give as gifts to my "almost" vegetarian friends). Well, it may be a silly little book to some, but I believe that its message was way ahead of its time and it is bursting with charm. (I just wish that there had been a sequel!)

This is one of the picture books I remember reading and loving as a child. The story is sweet and satisfying in its simplicity. The hungry lion stops chasing the other animals and starts eating carrot (& fish) stew when he is invited to the rabbits' house for dinner. I also love the bright illustrations.

Because of its length I hadn't expected to be able to share this story with my son until he was a bit older. One day my 6-month old noticed the book and reached for it. To my surprise he sat through the whole story! He kisses the pages and babbles happily as we read it. My only complaint is that I wish it were available as a board book: my copy is not going to last very long under his affectionate assaults!

I had this book and the tape that went with it when I was a little kid. It's a great book for little kids- wonderful illustrations and a funny story that's fun for grown ups and children alike.

This books is a favorite in our family! We've even found a carrot stew recipe that goes with the story. YUM!

I remember this book from when I was kid. My hubby didn't get why I liked it but the kids love it. Even the two year old will "read" it to herself.

I read this to our son, sadly, after he "out grew" these books, they were passed on. Happily, after searching all over I found these treasures on Amazon and now have a new collection for our beautiful grand daughter to enjoy.

It was one of my favorites, now my kids love it. I'm glad that Little Golden Books are still around, however dated the story may be. The artwork is fun and playful, the story silly, but it's very sweet. i'm glad it's still around.

I bought this children's story to give to my staff since we work with people with addictions to drugs and alcohol. It's a great story about how the "old" ways of doing things (hanging around bad influences and eating animals) can be bad for you and this can lead to an unhappy life; but some times, when you make changes in the people you hang out with, or even your diet, this can lead to complete changes in a person's feelings about themselves and others.

Bought this for my new grandbaby. I know she'll love it as much as my girls did. Book came in good condition.