ELLEN'S LION

It is perfectly natural that Ellen have a lion for a pet. And being the sort of child she is, that he be a talking participant in Ellen's compact world of fancy. In this series of episodes—the lion falls ill, climbs a mountain, considers his future—Ellen and her pet engage in a series of dialogues which brim with sophistry, whimsy, and excellent sense. In this story by the author-illustrator of the popular Harold books, subtle sophistication and broad nonsense maintain a constant and satisfying balance on the seesaw of Johnson Crockett's certain prose and his economical but uniquely expressive cartoons. A word of warning to all children: Do not let this book into the hands of adults or you may have to queue up to read it.