A child and her lion have a one-of-a-kind friendship in this vibrantly illustrated story of overcoming fears—and being there for each other when it matters. No matter how fast I go, or where I end up, my brave lion sticks with me—my lion’s always there! When she and her lion are together, one little girl feels like she can do anything. Whether she’s afraid of the dark, or too shy to speak and in need of finding her voice, her big, bold companion always looks out for her. But one day, the inseparable pair decide to climb the new, dizzyingly high rocket slide at the playground together, and the girl discovers that even lions sometimes get afraid. Can she summon the strength to be
his lion when he needs her? Joyful, expressive artwork glowing with bright primary colors brings to life the story of a special bond—and a child’s discovery of unexpected courage.
On sale: May 16, 2023
Age: 3-7 years
Grade: Preschool - 2
Page count: 32 Pages
ISBN: 9781536225082
Erika Meza was born in Mexico, fell in love with animation on the border with California, and developed a taste for eclairs in Paris before moving to the UK to teach at Nottingham Trent University. She is the illustrator of
My Two Border Towns by David Bowles,
Salsa Lullaby by Jen Arena, and
Arthur Wants a Balloon by Elizabeth Gilbert Bedia. Erika Meza lives in north London.
A great primer for building self-esteem and helping young children and their adults grapple with overcoming obstacles. . . . The visually arresting, predominantly blue and yellow/orange illustrations are full of big, organic shapes that play deftly with perspective and the lion’s size. . . . An upbeat confidence booster.
—Kirkus Reviews
This charming book about courage and caring stars a little girl accompanied by an enormous lion, whose very presence gives her strength to do hard things—that is, until the lion himself becomes a scaredy-cat. . . . Fun and relatable.
—Booklist
