A Lion Named Shirley Williamson

by Bernard Waber

The lions at the zoo are jealous of the new lioness because of her fancy name and because of the special treatment she receives from the zookeeper.

Genres: Picture Books

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Bernard Waber was the youngest in a creative family. At age 8, he ushered in a movie theater after school, so he often saw only the last ten minutes of a movie. He made a game of inventing beginnings and middles. When he returned from a tour of duty in World War II, he entered the Philadelphia College of Art. With a diploma and a new wife, he traveled to New York City, where he began working for the Condé Nast magazines as an illustrator. Reading books to his three children inspired him to apply his pen and ink and watercolor style to his own picture books. His first book, Lorenzo, was built in 1961. Today, his characters are some of the most beloved in the library. He and his wife, Ethel, live on Long Island.

Reviews

[Derrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kaethe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd. It has rather more text than most picture books, and what starts whimsically takes a serious turn. And then goes whimsical again. Finally it was just frustrating: so many bits were thrown in that never went anywhere. Plus it has the old-style animal cages that were pretty rare by 1993 I would have thought. Actually, now that I ponder, it reads as if it might have been languishing in the back of a drawer somewhere for thirty years when someone decided to publish it.

Curious. It has good moments, but it will never supplant Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile in my affections.

Library copy

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure how much the Governor enjoyed this one, but I found it very funny.

[John Cheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up somewhat arbitrarily; I did not expect much from it. But it was a beautiful story with layers. For children, it's a story about a lion with a silly name. For the reader, it is a touching story about love.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was weird.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book fell rather flat. No one really liked it, me or the kids.

[Rachel Rouleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. I laughed a lot. Long but worth it.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

1997 Very long for a children's book.

1998 Friends are so important!