‘The Happy Lion’

by Louise Fatio and Roger Duvoisin

This book is special to me as my childhood memories are held within its pages. The text and illustrations open up many avenues for discussion. I hope you enjoy exploring some of these with your children.

I don’t know about you but, if I was the Happy Lion, I would not be content with my lot (either before or after the story’s adventures!). He seems a thoughtful and contemplative character – we even find him ‘meditating’ at one point in the story:

…but has he weighed up all of his options? Has he carefully considered whether a solitary zoo enclosure in the park of ‘a lovely French town’ is offering him his best life?

…or is there something he could teach me about finding contentment in the here and now?

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Reading stories to myself feels very strange indeed. I miss being able to see the children’s facial expressions and hear their spoken responses to what is being read. The interactions between us and the emerging trains of thought are the essence of Shared Reading for me.

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The bandstand in Priory Park, Great Malvern

Ledbury families, why not take advantage of the free weekend bus service to Great Malvern and explore Priory Park’s bandstand – and the ‘unique and eco-friendly’ play area? It’s a very impressive revamp for 2022.

Here’s a flashback of two of my children playing in the old play area in Priory Park many moons ago:

I was pregnant with our third child when I took these photos.

We welcomed his arrival in 2003.

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