Evie to the Rescue

In a late-night, dreamlike journey, Evie helps an unhappy lion cub from the zoo find a pride of lions in the wild

PreSchool-K. One rainy day, Evie pays a rather soggy visit to the zoo, where she bonds with a lion cub who complains that he is cold. She advises him to head for sunny Africa, the land of the lions, and decides to go with him. After informing her parents that she will be away for a while, Evie uses some bread crumbs to lure a swan and enlists her services for a flight. Vague directions lead to some false landings, one on a beach in what Evie thinks is Italy, and one in the desert. Just as the lion is losing heart, the pair arrive in the jungle. At last they find a pride of lions and Evie arranges for her friend's care. The next morning, the child is back in her own bed. Was it only a dream? This book has its whimsical moments, but logic is not its strong suit. Savanna animals such as zebras, antelope, giraffes, and lions are shown in the thick of the jungle. Also, children are sure to be puzzled by the cub's willingness to leave his mother to find a warmer climate. The cartoon style art is colorful, but Rex Harley's Mary's Tiger (Harcourt, 1990; o.p.) and Mary Jean Hendrick's If Anything Ever Goes Wrong at the Zoo (Harcourt, 1993) offer similar themes with more satisfying story lines.?Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin County Library System, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Moers (Hugo's Baby Brother, 1992, etc.) comes up with an adventure that seems perfectly in line with what children dream up themselves. On a cold, rainy day, Evie and her mother don slickers and head to the zoo. Evie imagines that the lion cub snuggling with his mother must be chilly. She advises a trip to Africa where it's nice and warm. That night the cub appears in her room asking her to show him the way to Africa. Enterprising Evie thinks of everything: She packs up some stale bread and takes along two carseats. Using the bread as a lure, the pair flag down an enormous swan, who agrees to fly them to Africa. Carseats in place, they soar over mountains and deserts until they find an entire pride of lions in the jungle. Kissing the cub goodbye, Evie heads home, falling asleep on the way. She wakes up in her own bed. Was it all a dream? The tales is nicely paced and plotted, accompanied by lively line-and-watercolor illustrations. Gusti makes wonderful use of light and shadow--especially effective touches are Evie's yellow slicker reflected in a puddle, and the long shadow preceding the lion cub into Evie's room. (Picture book. 5-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.