When a lion comes to the library one day, no one is sure what to do. There are no rules about lions in the library. When something terrible happens, the lion quickly comes to the rescue in the only way he knows how.

What would you do if you saw a lion saunter in to the library one day? That is precisely what happens in Mrs. Merriweather's library, but rather than being scared or upset, she insists he is welcome - so long as he follows the rules. The story has a few lines per page, with repetition and short sentences throughout. This story will help with word recognition for beginning readers. The pictures are pencil sketched and completed with pastel watercolors. The story also includes subtle humor that your child can understand and appreciate, like when Mrs. Merriweather had fallen and broken her arm and needed help, but she remembered to tell the lion "No running" when he ran to get her help.

The story spends a good deal of time stressing the importance of following the rules. Something as odd as a lion in a library is allowed, so long as he follows the rules by staying quiet. The lion successfully does this because he loves story time so much and wouldn't want to miss it. "He sniffed the card catalog. He rubbed his head against the new book collection." However, the main message in the book - which your little one may be pleasantly surprised to learn - is that there are times when breaking the rules is necessary. For instance, when Mrs. Merriwether fell and broke her arm, the lion had to run and let out a fierce roar to get someone's attention to help her.

My five year-old niece, Emily has been reading this book with me since she was four. She loves books and frequents the library with her mom, so I knew she would enjoy this story. However, I did feel quite old when she asked me what a card catalog was! She thought the lion reminder her of her dog, Charlie. He insisted Charley could be just as useful at the library as the lion was.

--Audra