A picture book of great tenderness begins with a lion raking his yard. When a bird from a flock flying high overhead is injured, the lion bandages the bird’s wing, but the flock moves on — autumn is clearly waning. So the lion and the bird spend a snug winter together, warm in his cozy home, sometimes venturing out for some cold-weather fun, the bird tucked into his mane. “It snows and snows. But winter doesn’t feel all that cold with a friend.” Spring brings warm weather, and the return of the other birds. It’s time for the lion and the bird to part. Time passes, lion carries on his solitary life, then it’s autumn again and he wonders about his friend. There is an absence, an ache, and, finally, sweet joy. Marianne Dubuc’s picture book is told largely through beautifully composed, muted illustrations that make use of both full-page spreads and spot illustrations surrounded by white space, with brief lines of lovely narrative punctuating the images every so often. There is a film-like quality to the visual storytelling in this rich, emotionally resonant tale. (Ages 4–8)

While doing fall gardening, Lion comes across an injured bird. Lion bandages the bird, and invites the bird to stay for the winter since this bird is unable to fly along with the others. Lion and the bird enjoy winter activities and the warmth of Lion's cozy house. Spring arrives, and now the bird is able to rejoin other birds. Lion misses the bird's company throughout summer . . . but when fall arrives, so does the bird. White space interspersed with rounded vignettes and spreads add to Lion's sense of loneliness when bird is not there, as well indicates the passage of time throughout the story.

Brain Pickings' #1 Best Picture Book of 2014, 2015 USBBY Outstanding International Books.

Author/illustrator lives in Montreal, Quebec.

France. Originally published in France as Le lion et l'oiseau by Les éditions de la Pastèque in 2013. English translation by Claudia Zoe Bedrick published in the United States by Enchanted Lion in 2014.

One autumn day, a lion finds a wounded bird in his garden. With the departure of the bird's flock, the lion decides that it's up to him to care for the bird. He does and the two become fast friends. Nevertheless, the bird departs with his flock the following autumn. What will become of Lion and what will become of their friendship?

Note: some pages in this book are intentionally blank to represent snow.

Marianne Dubuc received her degree in graphic design from the University of Quebec, Montreal. She has created many different kinds of books for readers of all ages. She is an internationally acclaimed illustrator whose work has been published by major publishers in fifteen countries.