Here is a beautiful picture book with musical rhymes that celebrates diversity and promotes kindness, sure to strike a chord with the many fans of Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".When a lion is removed from his natural habitat, forced to leave his African land and his pride behind and crowned King of Animals in a zoo, but acts out and becomes a secluded, captive beast all humans give up hope.Only a patient and observant brown little dog stands by his side and, through his optimism and kindness, turns the beast into a friend for life. Inspired by the true story of Bonedigger, the disabled lion and the friendly Dachshund Milo who proved that friendship knows no boundaries, "The Lion and the Dog" is a brilliant, colourful tale that shines when read aloud and is a definitive must-have for all collections. Similar books by the same author: "The Cheetah and the Dog", "The Elephant and the Sheep". "Inspired by a true story, The Lion and the Dog by Patricia Furstenberg is a heartwarming story about the friendship between a Dachshund dog, Milo, and Leo the lion who lives in the heart of a zoo.The dog's best friend is the frog whom he meets one day on his morning walk.The lion is brought in one day and kept in a cage for people to say WOW, and he is crowned as the King of the Zoo.Everyone feared the lion while the Dog was free to roam around the zoo. Milo the dog meets Leo the lion across the cage bars. Milo wants to share his joy with the lion. Leo is rude but Milo is not going to give up. The lion tries to scare Milo by saying he is from Africa and has seen the world. He also roars, showing off his huge teeth. Things change when Leo falls sick and readers get to see Leo and Milo becoming friends.I like the beautiful messages of friendship, faith, optimism, and kindness conveyed through this story.The rhyme scheme makes it a lyrical read, making it appealing to the children.The illustrations are wonderful and they give clarity to the author's concept and words.What a beautiful story for parents to read out to children and help them understand the true meaning of friendship and how it has no boundaries!I would recommend the story for read aloud sessions in classrooms for students to understand that the right friends will come along if one has faith, and there is no need to feel lonely." Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite *****