To see this review and to learn more about Margaret Wild please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com

The Stone Lion by Margaret Wild is a story about a lifelike stone lion that sits outside the library day in and day out. A little homeless girl named Sara huddles up next to him along with her baby brother for warmth on a cold windy day.

The lion doesn't believe he understands feelings, but knows that somehow he must help Sara and her baby brother. On a horribly cold and wintry night Sara arrives and the lion cries. How can he help her? Follow along in the story to see if the stone lion can help when it seems there's no hope.

Ritva Voutila's illustrations in the book are captivating and have a tremendous realistic feel to them. I love the story and its influential moral messages of love, bravery and caring for others.

5***** ( )

Sitting outside of a great library, the eponymous stone lion in Margaret Wild's poignant tale is as frozen in heart as he is in body. He gazes upon the world and is unmoved by its suffering, and indifferent to its joys. Longing to come alive and explore the park across the street, the lion is counseled by a wise gargoyle that only the most generous of hearts is granted such a wish. When a homeless little girl named Sara collapses in front of him, after laying her infant brother before him, the lion is finally moved, and longs with all his being to be able to bring the children into the warmth of the library...

Australian author Margaret Wild seems to have a knack for telling thoughtful and thought-provoking stories. I vividly recall reading her Woolvs In the Sitee and finding it incredibly interesting and haunting, so I am glad to have found another winner from her pen. The messages highlighted here - that feeling and accepting both sorrow and joy is intrinsically linked to being alive, that the generous heart can accomplish miracles - are worked seamlessly into the narrative, which stands on its own, separate from any didactic purpose, as an engaging story. The artwork by Ritva Voutila is likewise immensely appealing, depicting a grey and sepia-toned Depression-era world, one that feels both historical and timeless. The use of subtle color, and of light and shadow here, is very skilled. It's easy to see why this was shortlisted for The Children's Book of the Year Awards, handed out by The Children's Book Council of Australia. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories that address issues of homelessness, poverty, generosity, and the central role of emotion is being alive. ( )

Genre: Fantasy (fiction)

I would use this book to:
1. read to my class so that they can learn about homelessness and the importance of caring for those who are homeless.
2. present a lesson on character development

Summary: a stone lion outside a library hears a girls named Sara weeping. The stone lion asks the gargoyle why she is weeping and the gargoyle says that Sara and her baby brother are homeless. On a snowy day, Sara and her baby brother lean on the stone lion. The stone lion comes to life and takes the kids into the library where its warm.

Media: Oil pastels ( )

This book is so amazing and has two different messages. The first way I would use this book is if I found out about a homeless student in my class to give them hope that life will get better and that there is hope out there. The second way I will use it will be to teach students kindness and selflessness is one of the most rewarding things they can do. This book also won the shortlisted book award.
Genre: Fantasy
Use to teach common core standard level 3 about events in books, and teach how to care for one another ( )