There are some books where, though you understand the central idea, there are aspects that are only tenuously interpreted and require re-readings. Intriguingly, these are precisely the books that stay with you.

Jim’s Lion is about confronting your fears. Jim is sick and scared that if he has an operation he may not find his way back to consciousness – his doctor worries that his fear will not give him the best chances of recovery. A sympathetic nurse helps Jim to visualise a way to overcome his anxieties. The graphic sequences show Jim’s lion, the animal who comes to him in his dreams and during his operation and leads him safely through many a frightening situation, as a potent and palpable presence. Alexis Deacon’s pictures fully explore the menace of Jim’s fears, and his lion is a truly magnificent and loyal beast.

Enigmatic and challenging, Jim’s Lion is ultimately a rewarding read. For ages 7 and up.

Alexa Dretzke