Would They Love A Lion? [Hardcover]

Kady MacDonald Denton (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 1 and up

Feeling neglected because of the family's new baby, Anna transforms herself into different animals hoping to be noticed. A warm and observant story of a child who uses her imagination to express and explore her unique personality. Full-color illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Anna needs a little attention. There's a new baby in the house, and she's found it takes considerably more effort to get noticed these days. One night she dreams she is a bird, but when she wakes up, she isn't. "I could be a bird, said Anna. I could be. And she flapped her wings." She proceeds to transform herself into an amazing variety of species with the help of her trusty plaid bathrobe. She drapes it over her head and trundles to breakfast as a bear, growling. "A bear is too small, said Anna. No one notices a bear. I'll be an elephant." After eliminating a dinosaur (not cuddly enough) and a rabbit (too quiet) as possibilities, she finally decides to be a lion, because a lion can play, and hide, and roar... and more. At the end of the book, the whole family (including the new baby) cozies up for story hour. "Would they love a lion? Yes, they'd all love a lion." Kady MacDonald Denton's ebullient, color-splashed illustrations--especially the faces of Anna and her family--are reminiscent of Maurice Sendak's work. The bulky forms that her bathrobe assumes are perfectly, humorously evocative of the animals she's pretending to be--and every page is a delight. Kids will adore discerning the animal shapes in the bathrobe, the idea of pretending to be different creatures, and of course, the warm reassurance that Anna is loved after all. This wonderful, whimsical read-aloud belongs on every child's bookshelf. (Ages 3 to 5) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Denton (Granny Is a Darling; Realms of Gold) brings an abundance of charm to a familiar scenario, a child pretending to be each in a series of animals. After dreaming of being a bird, Anna decides, "I could be a bird.... I could be." So she "flaps her wings," conveyed in the illustration as the girl leaping before the mirror, arms propelling a vast, wing-shaped expanse of bathrobe. She then assumes, in turn, the guises of a bear, elephant, dinosaur and rabbit-effects also achieved by Denton's clever draping of Anna's bathrobe. Throughout, Anna's mother and an older sibling are seen tending an infant; in her final disguise, as a lion, the girl approaches them and lets out a huge roar, which captures everyone's attention. It is up to the reader to draw the connection between Anna's game and the presence of a newborn, but those who miss the point are left with a fully satisfying story nonetheless. And Denton's whimsical pictures-handsomely reproduced on heavy, textured paper-afford plenty of child-centered fun. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 24 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (April 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1856975460
• ISBN-13: 978-1856975469
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 9.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,118,151 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes they would!, March 4, 2010

By 

cmgribble "cmgribble" (us) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Would They Love A Lion? (Paperback)

Absolutely gorgeous illustrations and wonderful text.
This book is thoroughly engaging.
I would highly recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, August 20, 2009

By 

Heather Mell "book mommy" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Would They Love A Lion? (Paperback)

Our 11 month old daughter seeks this book out no matter where we put it in the bookcase. She loves making the sounds of all of the animals, and I love that the illustrations encourage her imagination and sense of play. We love this book!

5.0 out of 5 stars read daily, February 9, 2007

By 

E. Forrey (Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Would They Love A Lion? (Paperback)

My 2 year-old daughter LOVES this book, we had originally checked it out from the library but after needing to renew it I decided it was a book to join the collection, especially since every nap and bed time warrants a reading. The story is so beautifully imaginative and the illustrations exquisite. The bathrobe, which you see through the eyes of Anna, can become anything.