Little Lion Girl

by Olivia Hope, Fiona Woodcock (Illustrator)

Overview

This whimsical, affirming picture book tells the story of one little girl's journey through the big city-and the courage she finds in herself along the way.

The city roared like a jungle.

Leonie roared back at the city.

She shook her mane and swished her tail.

She was a lion girl.

Leonie and her mother are off to the big city! Inspired by the people, sights and sounds, Leonie can't wait to discover it all. Her mother tells her to stay close, but there's SO much to see! And surely nothing can scare a brave lion girl, can it?

A wild, spirited tale of imagination and self-confidence, Olivia Hope's text is beautifully brought to life with charming art by Fiona Woodcock.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547616688
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	02/11/2025
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.05(w) x 11.05(h) x 0.35(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Olivia Hope is an Irish writer with a special love for fiction about wild children. Before becoming an author, she was a teacher, creative arts facilitator and even an international athlete. She currently lives in the wilds of Southwest Ireland with her family.

Fiona Woodcock is an illustrator and picture book author. She studied Graphic Communication at Glasgow School of Art and for many years worked in animation. Her debut book Hiding Heidi was nominated for the 2017 Kate Greenaway award. Look was the winner of the AOI World Illustration Awards 2019, and A Dot In The Snow by Corrinne Averiss was selected as one of 'The Times Children's Books of the Year 2016' and nominated for the Kate Greenaway Award 2018. Fiona lives in London.

Editorial Reviews

10/14/2024

Hope riffs on the metaphor of a city that “roared like a jungle” in this tale of a metropolitan outing that becomes a wild, mettle-testing adventure. During the train ride in with her mother, pale-skinned Leoni takes inspiration from “extraordinary” fellow commuters (clad in animal-print attire), declaring herself “a lion girl.” Lively streets, a museum outing, and a cafeteria “where other families sat in their prides” elicit emboldening emotions (“I’m lion girl, and I am SO HAPPY”). After a butterfly chase leaves Leoni lost, however, her roar wavers—until Mom’s loud call revives. Subtly leaning into the jungle theme through pattern play, Woodcock’s art, digitally created with mixed-media elements, has a blurred-edged quality that suits the energy of city life. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3–6. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Perfectly captures a courageous youngster's explorations of an unfamiliar setting.” —Kirkus Reviews

“[A] tale of a metropolitan outing that becomes a wild, mettle-testing adventure.” —Publishers Weekly

“Cheerful emphasis on . . . independence is a welcome and fresh message, allowing the city to be a place of wonders.” —BCCB

From the Publisher

2024-11-09
While spending the day in the city with her mother, a small child envisions herself as a big cat.

Everyone here seems “a little bit extraordinary,” so Leonie decides that she, too, needs a way to stand out. Tossing her "mane" (her voluminous blond curls) and shaking her “tail” (a yellow scarf), she dubs herself “a lion girl.” With a new boost of confidence, Leonie zips along the streets and smiles at the lion-related artwork at the museum. Lion metaphors anchor the storyline, conveying a vulnerable but spunky child's attempts to hold her own in a bustling new environment. Though the city seems to roar, Leonie eagerly roars back. As she and her mother have a quick bite to eat, they’re surrounded by other “prides.” After she finishes eating, she’s “ready to prowl again” and follows a butterfly through a large open square. Suddenly, unsure of where her mother is, Leonie feels alone in the jungle. But her mother’s voice, calling her name, comforts her, and Leonie finds her roar once again. The images have an air-brushed quality, Leonie’s softness contrasting with the angular, solid skyscrapers. Leonie and her mother are light-skinned; background characters vary in skin tone.

Perfectly captures a courageous youngster's explorations of an unfamiliar setting.(Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews