The Library Lion by Michelle Knudson, Illus. by Kevin Hawkes

I picked up this book today at our book fair.  I sat down and read it to T while M was taking his nap.  He loved it.  It was the first book choice tonight again when it was time to read before bed.  Even my husband liked it.  It is a longer picture book.  The ages that it is recommended for are 4-8, and I would read it to children who have a longer attention span. The story is about a lion who visits the library and is allowed to stay as long as he promises to follow the rules.  He becomes a regular visitor and is so pleasant that the patrons begin to see him as a part of the library.  The proper librarian begins to depend on him too.  The librarian has an accident, and the lion has to save her. In doing so, he breaks the rules and then banishes himself from the library.  Everyone is devastated that he is gone, including the librarian, who isn't quite the same without him.  I won't spoil the ending, but there are lots of things to talk about in this book: the illustrations, the grumpy library helper, the lion's guilt, the librarian's sadness, the importance of following rules, and how to know when it is OK to break them.   I highly recommend this book.