Little lion girl

Hope riffs on the metaphor of a city that "roared like a jungle" in this tale of a metropolitan outing that becomes a wild, mettle-testing adventure. During the train ride in with her mother, pale-skinned Leoni takes inspiration from "extraordinary" fellow commuters (clad in animal-print attire), declaring herself "a lion girl." Lively streets, a museum outing, and a cafeteria "where other families sat in their prides" elicit emboldening emotions ("I'm lion girl, and I am SO HAPPY"). After a butterfly chase leaves Leoni lost, however, her roar wavers--until Mom's loud call revives. Subtly leaning into the jungle theme through pattern play, Woodcock's art, digitally created with mixed-media elements, has a blurred-edged quality that suits the energy of city life. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3--6. (Feb.)

While spending the day in the city with her mother, a small child envisions herself as a big cat. Everyone here seems "a little bit extraordinary," so Leonie decides that she, too, needs a way to stand out. Tossing her "mane" (her voluminous blond curls) and shaking her "tail" (a yellow scarf), she dubs herself "a lion girl." With a new boost of confidence, Leonie zips along the streets and smiles at the lion-related artwork at the museum. Lion metaphors anchor the storyline, conveying a vulnerable but spunky child's attempts to hold her own in a bustling new environment. Though the city seems to roar, Leonie eagerly roars back. As she and her mother have a quick bite to eat, they're surrounded by other "prides." After she finishes eating, she's "ready to prowl again" and follows a butterfly through a large open square. Suddenly, unsure of where her mother is, Leonie feels alone in the jungle. But her mother's voice, calling her name, comforts her, and Leonie finds her roar once again. The images have an air-brushed quality, Leonie's softness contrasting with the angular, solid skyscrapers. Leonie and her mother are light-skinned; background characters vary in skin tone. Perfectly captures a courageous youngster's explorations of an unfamiliar setting.(Picture book. 3-5) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.