{"id":30290,"date":"2016-05-30T20:51:52","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T00:51:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30290"},"modified":"2016-05-30T20:51:52","modified_gmt":"2016-05-31T00:51:52","slug":"review-of-a-hungry-lion-or-a-dwindling-assortment-of-animals-by-lucy-ruth-cummins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=30290","title":{"rendered":"Review of A Hungry Lion or: A Dwindling Assortment of Animals, by Lucy Ruth Cummins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hungry_lion_large\"<\/a>A Hungry Lion<\/p>\n

or<\/p>\n

A Dwindling Assortment of Animals<\/em><\/p>\n

by Lucy Ruth Cummins<\/p>\n

Atheneum Books for Young Readers, New York, 2016. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

The title alone of this book makes me laugh. I think the book is probably a bit too violent (though all off-stage) for preschoolers, but could be very fun to book talk in the elementary schools. (\u201cWho knows what \u2018Dwindling\u2019 means?\u201d)<\/p>\n

I once had a co-worker who especially enjoyed picture books where someone gets eaten, and I\u2019ve gained an appreciation for them myself. In fact, I\u2019ve got a Pinterest board with this theme<\/a>. Such books are especially good when they add an unexpected element.<\/p>\n

In this book, the beginning is sweetness and light:<\/p>\n

Once upon a time there was a hungry lion, a penguin, a turtle, a little calico kitten, a brown mouse, a bunny with floppy ears and a bunny with un-floppy ears, a frog, a bat, a pig, a slightly bigger pig, a woolly sheep, a koala, and also a hen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The assortment of animals on each page rapidly dwindles.<\/p>\n

But just when you think there has been off-stage violence\u2026 we see that the animals were preparing a surprise party and a large cake for the lion!<\/p>\n

But alas\u2026 the cake does not, actually, stop the off-stage violence.<\/p>\n

And then who should show up fashionably late to the party but a \u201creally ravenous T. Rex\u201d!<\/p>\n

The lone survivor from the original assortment of animals is a satisfying surprise.<\/p>\n

Like I said, I wouldn\u2019t necessarily use this with preschoolers or any child who will be distressed by the sweet animals who disappear. But a child who enjoys I Want My Hat Back<\/em> would be a good audience for this book, or any child who is learning to make inferences and read between the lines (and pictures). Though it\u2019s better if the inferences they make do not distress them \u2013 so this is a bit better for kids who enjoy a little cynicism!<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no real moral to this story, except perhaps that you should think twice before planning a birthday party for a hungry lion. Or maybe that bullies should beware that there\u2019s always someone bigger. Or maybe that sometimes hiding is the wisest plan. But moral or no, I place this picture book firmly in the \u201cDelightfully Silly<\/a>\u201d category. It makes me laugh.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/hungry_lion.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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