The Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water
K-Gr 2-Share the Lion walks about saying "Grrrrrrrrrrrrr" a lot ("because that's how lions talk," the story reminds readers often). When he tries to ask the frightened animals why they all run from him, all that comes out is "Grr-grrr," and so of course they continue to flee. When he stops to drink from a pool, his own reflection scares him until a brave butterfly explains that there really isn't anyone else in the water. Eventually, Share announces, "...at last I've learned that a reflection is not the same as the real thing!" (No Grrrrrrrr this time!) The story is too disjointed to lead to any satisfying conclusion. The focus first appears to be on the other creatures' fear of the lion, which mysteriously disappears without cause, and then on his inability to communicate, and finally on his fear of his reflection, which not only goes away, but apparently leaves him with the ability to say something other than Grrrrrrrr. Fear of a growling lion isn't that irrational, and fear of one's reflection is not high on the list of childhood traumas in need of bibliotherapy, so what youngsters are left with here is a fairly silly story with a vague moral. It's unfortunate, because Rodriguez's illustrations are expansive, jovial, and colorful.-Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, PACopyright 1999 Cahners Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.