Library Lion

An affectionate storybook tribute to that truly wonderful place: the library.

Miss Merriweather, the head librarian, is very particular about rules in the library. No running allowed. And you must be quiet. But when a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There aren't any rules about lions in the library. And, as it turns out, this lion seems very well suited to library visiting. His big feet are quiet on the library floor. He makes a comfy backrest for the children at story hour. And he never roars in the library, at least not anymore. But when something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how. Michelle Knudsen's disarming story, illustrated by the matchless Kevin Hawkes in an expressive timeless style, will win over even the most ardent of rule keepers.

Winner of Parents Choice Award (Fall) (1998-2007) (Silver) 2006
Winner of New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association Award (Picture Book) 2007
Commended for Book Sense Book of the Year Award (Children's Illustrated) 2007
Commended for Golden Sower Award (Primary) 2009
Commended for Capitol Choices: Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens (Up to Seven) 2007
Commended for Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award 2008
Commended for Irma S. & James H. Black Award 2007
Short-listed for Georgia Children's Book Award (Picture Storybook) 2009
Short-listed for Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Grades K-3) 2009
Short-listed for Virginia Readers Choice Award (Primary) 2009

“Proves that every now and then you have to break the rules. --New York Times Book Review This winsome pairing of text and illustration is a natural for storytime and a first purchase for every collection. --School Library Journal (starred review) Knudsen's gentle tale of a revered yet welcoming community destination will ring true for many readers. Hawkes's (Weslandia) evocative, soft-hued acrylic-and-pencil illustrations have a timeless feel, depicting a cozy book-filled haven that any story fan would love to visit, rules and all. --Publishers Weekly Knudsen and Hawkes pick a perfect setting to express the idea that breaking rules can sometimes be a good thing. --Kirkus Reviews Appealing. . . . Children will easily see themselves in the wild lion, who yearns to explore and enjoy the library but worries about the constraining rules. --Booklist A beautiful book that is sure to be shared and wept over again and again. --The Bloomsbury Review A picture book treat for any library lover. --Nancy Pearl Book Reviews, KUOW Radio "The Beat" Sweetly celebrating all things bookish and guaranteed to tickle young readers' funny bones. --Child Kevin Hawkes' illustrations are a brilliant fit, rendering the lion's softness and a modern library seen from a child's eye level. --Chicago Tribune There are lessons here about making assumptions, breaking rules and taking care of friends. --San Francisco Chronicle The happy ending will leave a smile on children's faces whether they read it themselves or hear it as a read-aloud. --Kansas City Star The delights of a small-town library come to life in this charming tale. --Star-Ledger An old-fashioned, heart-warming storybook. --Louisville Courier-Journal Written and illustrated in the orderly style of mid-20th century classics such as Andy and the Lion, the story's special charm is in the characters. --Times-Picayune With masterful subtleness, [Hawkes] evokes emotions and movement around this magnificent furry lion. --Sacramento Bee If you can buy only one book this is the one. --Daily Herald, featured in "Good Reads for Kids" A very gentle book with a good word to say about breaking the rules. --Detroit Free Press Graceful details add to the retro feel of this utterly delightful book. Curl up at your favorite library with this winner of a tale! --BookPage This beautifully illustrated story will be a joy to read over and over again with your little cubs at bedtime. --Houston Family Magazine This is a book parent and child will enjoy again and again. --About Family Magazine”

Proves that every now and then you have to break the rules.
—New York Times Book Review

This winsome pairing of text and illustration is a natural for storytime and a first purchase for every collection.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Knudsen's gentle tale of a revered yet welcoming community destination will ring true for many readers. Hawkes's (Weslandia) evocative, soft-hued acrylic-and-pencil illustrations have a timeless feel, depicting a cozy book-filled haven that any story fan would love to visit, rules and all.
—Publishers Weekly

Knudsen and Hawkes pick a perfect setting to express the idea that breaking rules can sometimes be a good thing.
—Kirkus Reviews

Appealing. . . . Children will easily see themselves in the wild lion, who yearns to explore and enjoy the library but worries about the constraining rules.
—Booklist

A beautiful book that is sure to be shared and wept over again and again.
—The Bloomsbury Review

A picture book treat for any library lover.
—Nancy Pearl Book Reviews, KUOW Radio “The Beat"

Sweetly celebrating all things bookish and guaranteed to tickle young readers’ funny bones.
—Child

Kevin Hawkes’ illustrations are a brilliant fit, rendering the lion’s softness and a modern library seen from a child’s eye level.
—Chicago Tribune

There are lessons here about making assumptions, breaking rules and taking care of friends.
—San Francisco Chronicle

The happy ending will leave a smile on children’s faces whether they read it themselves or hear it as a read-aloud.
—Kansas City Star

The delights of a small-town library come to life in this charming tale.
—Star-Ledger

An old-fashioned, heart-warming storybook.
—Louisville Courier-Journal

Written and illustrated in the orderly style of mid-20th century classics such as Andy and the Lion, the story’s special charm is in the characters.
—Times-Picayune

With masterful subtleness, [Hawkes] evokes emotions and movement around this magnificent furry lion.
—Sacramento Bee

If you can buy only one book this is the one.
—Daily Herald, featured in "Good Reads for Kids"

A very gentle book with a good word to say about breaking the rules.
—Detroit Free Press

Graceful details add to the retro feel of this utterly delightful book. Curl up at your favorite library with this winner of a tale!
—BookPage

This beautifully illustrated story will be a joy to read over and over again with your little cubs at bedtime.
—Houston Family Magazine

This is a book parent and child will enjoy again and again.
—About Family Magazine

Michelle Knudsen is the New York Times best-selling author of Library Lion, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes; Argus, illustrated by Andréa Wesson; Big Mean Mike, illustrated by Scott Magoon; and Marilyn’s Monster, illustrated by Matt Phelan, as well as the Trelian middle-grade fantasy trilogy and the Evil Librarian YA horror-comedy trilogy. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is terrified of spiders.

Kevin Hawkes is the illustrator of more than forty books for children, including The Three Mouths of Little Tom Drum by Nancy Willard; Weslandia and Sidewalk Circus by Paul Fleischman; and Handel, Who Knew What He Liked and Me, All Alone, at the End of the World by M. T. Anderson. Kevin Hawkes lives in southern Maine.

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