The Lion Inside (review #2), written by Rachel Bright, reviewed by Klaudia Janek

Student Reviewer: Jessica Z.
Summary: The author, Rachel Bright, takes readers on an adventure to find their inner lion. Readers follow a little mouse on his journey to find a “roar” in order to be noticed and loved. The little mouse seeks the help of the powerful lion, who is loved and praised. The mouse’s encounter with the lion reveals that the lion is afraid of mice! Afterward, the two become best friends and face all of life’s challenges together, as one. They discover that no matter how large or small, everyone has the delicacy of a mouse and the power of a lion.

Straight Talk for Librarians: The Lion Inside is symbolic of the strength and delicacy of a person. The theme of the story is to teach readers that no matter how small, everyone has the heart of a lion! The story also contains a subtle rhyme, which allows the story to move smoothly and flow similarly to a nursery rhyme. This picture book is a great tool for boosting the self-confidence of children. There is also a second theme that can be interpreted from The Lion Inside. The mouse and the lion were able to become friends despite their differences. This teaches young children that physical differences do not define the success of a friendship (but children may have difficulty identifying this second theme). This picture book would be a great read-aloud for classrooms and libraries due to the rhyme scheme. In The Lion Inside, the art is friendly and contains mostly warm colors. The warm colors allow readers to feel cozy and relaxed, while also feeling excited. Also, proportion is commonly used to emphasize the difference between the mouse and the lion. This technique contributes to the development of the theme. To summarize, The Lion Inside is a spectacular read for young elementary school students!