A Lion in Paris
by Beatrice Alemagna
“A Lion in Paris” by Beatrice Alemagna. Translated from the French by Mariette Robbes. Published by Katha. A charming and humorous story of a lion who decides to set out of the jungle in search of work, love and a future!
A young and curious lion was feeling bored and lonely in his Savannah. So much so that he decided to leave it and set out on a train. He reached Paris without any luggage. This was his first time to a big city and he was apprehensive. Would people find him scary? How would they react looking at him? Would they chase him out of the city? These were the thoughts that crossed his mind.
The lion was in store for some surprises. The city was definitely a strange place for him. Some of the sights and things intrigued him. Which places did he visit? How did the people find him? Did they get bothered or frightened by his presence at all? Did he like the city? Was he accepted as part of the city? Did he stay there or leave? Did he find happiness and satisfaction? Read the book and enjoy some armchair travel following the adventures of the lion as he goes around Paris.
The sights and attractions of the city come alive in this beautifully illustrated book which needs to be read by turning the pages horizontally. The lion of this story has been inspired by the lion of Denfert-Rochereau Square in Paris. The statue was built by the architect Bartholdi in the late nineteenth century. The author has mentioned that she always thinks about the reason for the lion being loved so much by the Parisians.
My 7.5 year old has liked the book for the last two years. He was amused by the lion’s thoughts and was curious to know more about Paris. We had already read a couple of books set in Paris before and it is one of the places that he is keen to visit. This book was therefore a welcome addition to our collection. Thank you Vidya Mani of Funky Rainbow for recommending this lovely book!
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 5/6+.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Katha here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.