CATHERINE AND THE LION

Jarrett's first book shows great understanding of children as she treats the arrival of a new sibling in a positive way. When Catherine awakes, an enormous, genial lion is filling her doorway, with golden light filtering through his immense mane. She accepts this imaginary friend and, with endearing independence and self-assurance, includes him in all her activities: dressing herself, preparing her own cereal, remembering to take back a library book. She takes the lion to class, where he curls up with the children when they go to the mats for naps. At day's end, the girl says good-night to a baby sister, who is otherwise offstage; with that scene, the reason for the lion's appearance that morning begins to make sense. The girl's mother reads her a story and tucks her in—a fine finish to a day in the life of a new older sister. In skilled sketches done in loose line, Jarrett's illustrations have the friendly texture of crayons in scenes that fully convey a warm and secure world, where all routine events are subtly enlivened by the benevolent lion presence. The change in the household—and the child's adaptation to that change—is expertly handled. (Picture book. 3-5)