Reach for the Moon, Little Lion

PreS-Gr 2—In this German import, a lion is relentlessly mocked for his small stature. A crocodile, leopard, and hippopotamus laugh, stick out their tongues, and question his identity with disparaging comments such as, "You are too small to be a lion." The constant jeers shake the cub's self-confidence, making him feel "teeny-weeny." Müller's evocative digital illustrations show the forlorn lion sitting in the hippo's gigantic shadow, looking and feeling even smaller. While gazing at the night sky, the little lion recognizes the impossibility of ever being big enough to touch the moon. A wise raven offers words of encouragement ("You must reach for it") and a clever plan. The next evening, the lion stands on tiptoe and stretches his paw as far as it can reach. From the perspective of the amazed animals gathered at the base of the hill, the lion succeeds in touching the moon. Readers will cheer at the lion's triumph and his unpretentious, classy grand exit: "The little lion shook his little lion's mane, roared a great little lion's roar, and walked away smiling."