The Happy Lion
Louise Fatio
The Happy Lion
Louise Fatio
A friendly lion pays an unexpected call on the townspeople, but comes to realise he is happiest at home.
The lion at the little French zoo is a favourite of all the townspeople. Every day they stop by to feed him titbits and say, ‘Bonjour, Happy Lion.’
Naturally, when the lion finds his door open, he decides it would only be proper to visit all his friendly neighbours in return. But, wait - sacre bleu! Why is everyone fleeing in terror?
Even if the townspeople are too frightened to cope, the Happy Lion’s friend Francois saves the day and leads the Happy Lion home.
Age range 3 to 6
‘Genuine mid-century styling will appeal to art lovers as well as the nostalgia market. The lion is drawn with great sensitivity and Duvoisin’s tawny palette is pleasingly appropriate.’ - Books for Keeps
‘Duvoisin’s illustrations are exceptional.’ - The Times
Review
Mike Shuttleworth
A happy lion is comfortable in his zoo, far from his home, in ‘a lovely French town with brown-tile roofs and grey shutters’.
He is an insouciant fellow with a ‘bonjour’ here, an ‘au revoir’ there, always enjoying the music each Sunday played on the bandstand (waltzes and polkas, mostly). He is a happy lion. Well, until one day the keeper leaves the door open, and the lion goes off to visit all those friends who greet him so warmly. So why, as he walks the cobblestone streets, are people fainting when he says ‘bonjour’, and why are those normally so happy to see him now running away screaming? And why the sirens?
Louise Fatio’s text is a joy to read aloud – its humour subtle, its charm powerful – while Roger Duvoisin’s pen and charcoal images are energised with splashes of tawny yellows and geranium reds. The book’s themes of empathy and the power of friendship are as fresh as when The Happy Lion first appeared, nearly 70 years ago.
Two further titles by Fatio and Duvoisin, The Happy Lion Roars and The Three Happy Lions, continue the adventure. All are highly recommended for ages 3+.
Mike Shuttleworth works as a bookseller at Readings Hawthorn.
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