Hello, Fall Season!
What, you say? It is still Summer? Well, that depends on where you are.
If you are in Australia, mate, it’s Winter.
If you live in Canada, you would be riding a moose and celebrating country singer Terri Clark’s birthday.
But, if you are reading books, like to read books, like to look at books, today is the first Peachtree Book Tour, and for Kid Lit Reviews, marking the first day of the 2013 Fall Book Season!
So are you ready? Repeat after me.
Hello! ….. Fall! ….. Season!
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Peachtree Book Blog Tour
by Alex Latimer
Peachtree Publishers
5 Stars
//////// NEW! Short Review (click here)
Back Cover: Lion is mean to everyone. When the other animals can’t take it his bullying anymore, they post an ad asking for help. One animal after another tries and fails to defeat Lion. Can no one stop him? Finally a rabbit arrives. No one thinks it will be brave enough or strong enough to defeat Lion. But perhaps this rabbit is smart enough?
First Sentence: Lion was mean to everyone.
About the Story: Lion was a bully. He gave Buffalo a wedgie. Ouch! Lion stuck a silly note on Zebra’s back thinking everyone would laugh. (Sorry Zebra, but it was somewhat funny). Lion even took Hyena’s lunch monkey! That is just not nice. All the animals are tired of Lion’s bullying and want to do something about it . . . but no one wanted to confront Lion and tell him. So, the animals did what any good group of cohorts do when in a corner. They put an ad out on the Internet asking for help. Did it work?
Bear showed up to take on Lion in a boxing match. Bear was strong . . . but Lion still won. Moose was next, followed by Tiger. They all rapidly caught the next plane out of there. Lion was ready to go back to his normal life of bullying the other animals when a ship came in. Yep, a big ocean liner brought Rabbit. He was there to answer the help wanted ad. Lion was amused. Lion could run from zero to sixty in 4.1 seconds; Rabbit in 8 seconds! Lion weighed 1,770 pounds. Rabbit weighed 4 teeny-tiny pounds, including his floppy ears. Yes, Lion was very amused. So who wins this contest? Does Lion stop his bullying ways? Both are at the starting line, ready to start, and . . . you know I cannot tell you.
What I Think: I think Lion is a mean bully and should find something better to do! That’s what I think. Oh, Lion vs. Rabbit is a funny book, with lots of heart and humor, kids will really like. How do you stop a Lion? You can box him, like Bear tried, you can try to arm wrestle him, and you can try to race him. But good luck, because this Lion is good, except when he is bullying the other animals. I like that the things Lion did bully the animals were light-hearted and humorous. Kids can laugh and get the message at the same time. After reading Lion vs. Rabbit many times, as kids surely will, the message will be clear: bullying is bad.
The illustrations, which run border-to-border, do a great job of showing us the text, which is good unto itself. I love that Rabbit brought out the whiney, unsure side of Lion. Bullies have two sides and many have the same bravado as Lion, but are just as meek and unsure, and sometimes full of excuses when they lose. The illustrations are simply terrific. None of the animals looks ferocious and their flat bodies give them a feeling of community. I love Lion and the ways he bullies—not that I like bullies, because I do not. The note he stuck on Zebra’s back says, “I am a horse.” Well, of course Zebra is not a horse and kids will roar at the Lion’s joke.
Like all good children’s books, Lion faces conflict, defeats a few, confronts an escalated conflict, and changes in some way by story’s end. I would love to tell what happened to Lion, but I cannot. Lion vs. Rabbit is such a charming book, it would be disappointing if I ruined the first read for you. Please, take my word, you and your child will love this book. When I was not chuckling, I was laughing aloud. The twists are wonderful (sh! if you look closely, you can find hints on how Rabbit tamed Lion, sh!), and the message regarding bullying is clear: Bullying is bad!
New! Short Review (click here)
Lion vs Rabbit
by Alex Latimer website blog facebook twitter
Peachtree Publishers website blog facebook twitter
Released August 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-56145-709-0
32 Pages
Ages 4 to 8
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© 2013 by Peachtree Publishers, used with permission.
Text & Illustrations: Copyright © 2013 by Alex Latimer
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I’m going to pretend that you didn’t say what you did about Canadians! lol Ok, so this book sounds great – good message, love the illustrations. Sorry this is so short, I have to go feed my pet moose. 😛 Thanks for linking in the Kid Lit Blog Hop.
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Max and I will be reading this one! He and his friend get super bossy with one another and generally end up shoving each other. Maybe if we read about lion they will understand! Thanks for hostessing yet again 🙂
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This sounds like a wonderful book on bullying – and I love that the bear, tiger, and moose couldn’t help, but that the rabbit seems to be the one who helps the lion change his ways. My daughter just read your review and really wants to read the book now. 🙂 Stopping by from the Kid Lit Blog Hop.
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This sounds like a wonderful book on bullying. I love that the tiger, moose, and bear couldn’t help — but that the rabbit is the one to help the lion change his ways. My daughter just read your review, and really wants to read the book now. 🙂 Thanks for posting on the Kid Lit Blog Hop.
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I am a huge fan of Alex Latimer’s books and I can’t wait to read this one!
Great review!
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Oh it looks hilarious, Gigi would love this, better put it on the TB Purchased pile. Thanks again for a great recommendation.
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Nice find! Now I need to go see how it ends! grrrr!
🙂 Reshama @StackingBooks.com
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Here from the kid lit bloghop. That book looks just my kind of thing, I though “lunch monkey” was a typo until looking at the page shot you included. Brilliant 🙂
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*hehehe* Love lion’s muscles! Looks like a cute book 🙂
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sounds like a great book…going to add it to my goodreads for Dino. I think he’ll like it and it will help teach him a good lesson.
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Love it! Want it! Must have it!
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My son encountered a bully for the first time at camp earlier this summer so I’d like to get him this book and see what he thinks.
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Great review! I hadn’t heard of this title. But after reading your review, I’ve added it to my list. Thanks.
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I like the look of this one! and the sound! I’ll be checking it out! Thanks!
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Pingback: Lion vs. Rabbit | 3 Bookworms
I’ve been DYING to read this book (I love the Lunch Monkey! 😉 )
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Lunch Monkey. That killed me when I first read it . . . and the second time . . . and the third . . . and right now! Lunch Monkey. That is too hilarious! You will love this book, Erik. I am surprised you haven’t read it yet. You will love the book. 😀
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I love the humor already and I haven’t even read the book. The note on Zebra’s back is hilarious–insulting to zebras and horses alike. I especially like the lighthearted bullying situations,which are still bullying, but children will get the meaning of bullying is not nice in any form.
Great review! Great book!
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I like how that was done too. Anyone with little kids really ought to grab a copy of this book. Nice to see you again, Diane. 🙂
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