Ellen's Lion: Twelve Stories by Crockett Johnson
Crockett Johnson
Hardcover
(Knopf Books for Young Readers, Jan. 14, 2003)
Originally published in 1959 and out of print for two decades, this collection of very short stories chronicles Ellen’s relationship– complete with two-way conversations–with her floppy stuffed lion. Ellen’s temperament is a bit like Christopher Robin’s (though her appearance is a clone of Harold, from Harold and the Purple Crayon fame), but her lion is a no-nonsense, tougher-minded Pooh, with the voice of reason and reality to counter Ellen’s high-flying imagination. The stories range from fear of the dark and being sad to playing doctor, being a fairy princess, and dealing with a new toy that almost replaces lion.Parents will find the subtly droll stories as entertaining as children, and a child who reads chapter books will find especially rewarding.
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