When Lions Roar

by Robie H. Harris and Chris Raschka

There is a growing sense of emotional and sensory overload in the first half of this... read more

There is a growing sense of emotional and sensory overload in the first half of this picture book in which a child narrates a list of things that are frightening (the roar of lions at the zoo, the crack of lightening, the bark of a big dog, yelling daddies and mommies). The child's response is to "Shut my eyes tight. 'Go away,' I say. 'Scary! Go away.'" This is followed by calm, with the child describing a world in which both a literal and figurative storm have passed (the sun has come out, mommies are singing, daddies are dancing, there are small quiet things to notice). Robie Harris's narrative conveys both the chaos and the relief, with Chris Raschka's expressive, colorful line illustrations adding to the effect. (Ages 3-6)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2014

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