A lonesome lion’s search for companionship results in an impromptu animal party in this frolicsome read-aloud counting adventure. Each of several spreads features the lion sitting at a deserted piece of playground equipment, “One Lonely Lion. What can Lion do?”, when he’s on a see-saw by himself. Chunky flaps fold down to reveal the successive appearances of Tiger (“Along comes Tiger. Now there are two”), Elephant, Zebra, and Hippo. The deceptively simple format and repetitive phrasing will have toddlers chanting along, making predictions, and reinforcing number recognition. Vivid illustrations, cheerful characters, and an upbeat tempo enliven a jovial tale. (Lift-the-flap. 1-4)
