If I Were a Lion is one of our favourite illustrated story books.
This story follows a little girl who has been put into time-out for her unruly and “wild” behaviour.
While in time-out, she thinks about what it means to be wild and, in contrast, what it means to behave.
Solomon’s illustrations are imaginative and expressive: the images’ textures and colours work wonderfully to draw in the eye. Solomon also alternates between full-page and single-item illustrations, which complement the text’s context, in which the image references.
The text, written by Sarah Weeks, is wonderfully rhythmic and bouncy. The reader easily falls into the poetics of the book. The text’s pace is easy to follow while reading aloud, making it easy to add emphasis, flow, or funny voices!
If I Were a Lion is that much more charming for the animal lover: the illustrations contain a variety of animals (some to play hide-and-seek with), and the lyrical text encourages the reader to make up their own verse.
If I were a fox,
I would dig and run.
I’d not care about cleaning,
only fun.
I’d pounce, and I’d sneak,
And take naps in the sun.
If I Were a Lion
Written by Sarah Weeks
Illustrated by Heather M. Solomon
