Oscar’s Lion

Description

Oscar’s Lion

Adam Baron, illustrated by Benji Davies

(HarperCollins)

Oscar is startled by the lion’s appearance. Although their slippers are in his parents bedroom, it seems there’s no sign of either his Mum or Dad, while the lion’s lip licking is rather startling. Then again, he suggests that he won’t need feeding for a couple of days. What’s more, he’s able to engineer shepherds’ pie from the freezer. Yet, who is Oscar’s Lion?

As his parents do not return, it seems that Oscar is in for a weekend with this lion. However the lion is a shape shifter, moving from stag beetle to Alsatian across the time it’s there. Then again, nothing is usual, from the den that he creates for Oscar to sleep in, to their outings. Football practice isn’t the same, and then school, where the lack of a homework poster is overlooked in the maelstrom that Oscar witnesses. What has it to do with the overlarge seagull that disturbs Juliet?

Adam Baron creates a beautifully paced story, wherein we are granted access to the confusion, fear, hurt and anxiety that Oscar feels. We see this at school, where he’s an outsider, watching the Hula Hoops gather, blaming his parents for his forgetfulness. Then again, we see him rejected from football. However the lion’s an enabling presence, one who can adapt to each experience and make it better for Oscar, until they venture to Granny’s grave. Although Oscar wants to share the goldfinch lion with Granny, somehow it dissolves…

Like The Elephant, the metaphysics and symbolism employed in this empathetic, stirring and beautiful book work to such meaningful effect. Altogether, Oscar’s Lion is an emotionally glorious, empowering story to read, share and hold in your heart.