The Night Lion

by Sanne Dufft (Author) Sanne Dufft (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

In the daytime, Morgan's tall hat and toy sword make him feel big and strong, but they aren't enough to drive away his fears at night. His beloved Nana provides a solution with a special toy lion that, Morgan imagines, comes to life at night to help him conquer his bad dreams.

Morgan, an endearing tousle-haired little boy, feels big and strong during the day with his tall hat and his toy sword. But at night, when he dreams that a robber is coming through the woods to take these precious possessions, all of Mom's assurances that "there is no robber" are not enough to ease his fears. Then Nana brings Morgan a stuffed toy lion, because everybody needs a lion sometimes - and because sometimes, fears in a child's mind can only be conquered with the imagination. That night, Morgan rides a life-sized Night Lion into the woods and together they drive the robber far away.

Comforting watercolour illustrations soothe any scary scenes, and the magical Night Lion will find an instant welcome in young readers' hearts. From rising star Sanne Dufft comes a richly illustrated picture book about nighttime fears, a grandmother's love, and the power of a child's imagination.

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Hardcover
$15.95

Kirkus

The final spread of Morgan confidently raising his sword echoes Sendak's Max as king of the wild things. A comforting, enabling, picture-perfect bedtime read.

ALA/Booklist

This picture book tells a story with universal appeal, particularly for children with night fears. The text reads aloud well, while the handsome watercolor artwork transforms elements of Morgan's daytime experiences within the dream sequences....A reassuring picture book.

School Library Journal

A young boy named Morgan has a hat and a sword that allow him to be wild and fierce in the daytime, but at night he wakes up screaming from a nightmare about a robber who wants to take his hat and sword. When his Nana brings him a stuffed lion that becomes real in Morgan's dream, the boy is able conquer his fears. Originally published in German, the short story will appeal to readers of any age who are dealing with nightmares. The watercolor and pencil drawings are beautiful and comforting in calming blue and gray hues with small dabs of bright color to draw the readers' eyes. VERDICT A first purchase for any parenting collection that includes books about sleep issues, with some appeal for a general collection.—Hillary Perelyubskiy, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781772780413
Lexile Measure
470
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Pajama Press
Publication date
February 27, 2018
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV013030 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | Multigenerational
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV002150 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Lions, Tigers, Leopards, etc.
JUV010000 - Juvenile Fiction | Bedtime & Dreams
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Library of Congress categories
Bedtime
Imagination
Imagination in children
Fear
Fear in children
Lion
School Library Connection
SCBWI Crystal Kite Award
2019 - 2019

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