Lion (picture book) facts for kids
| Author | William Pène du Bois |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Viking |
|
Publication date
|
1956 |
| Pages | unpaged |
| Awards | Caldecott Honor |
Lion is a special picture book from 1956. It was written and illustrated by an amazing artist named William Pène du Bois. The story is about an "artist" who tries to invent a brand new animal: a cloud lion! This book was so well-loved that it received a 1957 Caldecott Honor award for its beautiful pictures.
Contents
About the Book: Lion
Lion takes readers on a journey into the imagination. The main character is an artist who wants to create a completely new animal. This isn't just any animal; it's a lion made of clouds! The artist uses his creativity to imagine what this unique creature would look like and how it would behave.
The Artist's Big Idea
In the story, the artist doesn't just draw a regular lion. He thinks about different animals and combines their best parts to make his cloud lion. For example, he might give it the strength of one animal and the grace of another. This shows how much thought and imagination goes into creating something truly original. The book explores the process of invention and how ideas come to life.
A Story of Creativity
This book is a great example of how art and imagination can work together. It encourages young readers to think outside the box. The story shows that even the wildest ideas can become something real, at least on paper. It's a celebration of being unique and thinking differently.
Who Was William Pène du Bois?
William Pène du Bois (born in 1916, died in 1993) was an American author and illustrator. He was known for his unique and often whimsical stories and detailed drawings. He wrote and illustrated many books for children throughout his career.
Du Bois's Style
Du Bois had a very special way of telling stories and drawing pictures. His illustrations often had a lot of small details that made them fun to look at. He liked to create characters and worlds that were a bit unusual but always interesting. His books often had a gentle humor and a sense of wonder.
The Caldecott Honor Award
The Caldecott Honor is a very important award for children's books. It is given each year to the artist who illustrates the most distinguished American picture book for children. The award is named after Randolph Caldecott, a famous English illustrator.
Why Lion Won
Lion received a Caldecott Honor in 1957 because of William Pène du Bois's amazing illustrations. The judges recognized how creative and well-drawn the pictures were. The artwork in Lion helps to tell the story in a powerful way, making the cloud lion feel real and magical. This award shows that the book's pictures were considered some of the best of that year.
