In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb

Straight from Aunty LuLav

Welcome spring with a lovely book of simile and contrast of a lion and a lamb.  This book is for an older child (5-8), able to understand the concept of simile.

Bauer creates a lovely flow to the month of March, entering with snow and wind,
mud and rain like a ferocious lion.

“March comes with a roar.
He rattles your windows and scratches at your door.”

A boy becomes the lion’s companion, in the cold and mud, awaiting the big change!

Halfway through, we see warmth coming, as birds appear at feeders, and the trees bloom in pink flowers. This causes our lion to sneeze ACHOOO – ushering in the lamb of spring.

The outside becomes green and the boy plays in the warm spring weather, but the lion curls up to go to sleep and the lamb takes over from there.

“Today the lamb’s in charge of grass and flowers,
sunshine and showers;
Of babies, small and large.”

Written in loose rhyme and meter, the read aloud is pleasant, The writing is lyrical and the simile clever.

Scriptural Underpinnings & Positive Themes

Here are some lovely conversation starters for scriptural comparison and simile:

LION OF JUDAH & LAMB OF GOD 
Jesus in all of His power is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the One who Overcame and is worthy! Revelation 5:4-5  

Jesus is also the Lamb of God, gentle and humble. – John 1:29-36, Revelation 5:8-14
Comparing the nature of the two as related to Jesus is very interesting.

Likewise, the comparison with weather, brings another interesting twist.

March weather comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.

However, in the opposite order, Jesus came the first time as the Lamb of God and will return as the Lion of Judah. Hallelujah!!

THE LION & THE LAMB –
One obvious teaching moment, is the comparison of the Millennial Reign of Jesus on the earth, when true PEACE shall finally exist here. When the wolf and the lamb, the lion and the calf shall all lie down together in peace. ISAIAH 11

The contrast of the nature of the lion and the lamb in the book, can cause us to realize that only Jesus could bring the two together in unity. In the last illustration, we see them lying down together.

SEASONS & CHANGE –
God Creates seasons. Genesis 1:14-15, Weather & circumstances change but God never changes. James 1:17

Illustrations

The illustrations are rendered in beautiful opaque watercolors and ink pen. The color pallet is soft and pleasant.

The lion is expressive in every picture. He seems ferocious in the beginning but tames down as the weather calms and eventually curls up fast asleep. Lovely.

Representation

The boy is Caucasian. The setting is rural as there are plenty of open fields and trees and animals in the forest.

A Pause

Just make sure — This book is if for an older child, able to understand the concept of simile.

Younger children think concretely and so would not understand the weather being compared to a wild animal. They may think a lion will show up at their door or the windows of their house!

The End of the Matter

4/5 waves

It’s a springtime keeper!
Let’s wave the Lulav for the Lion and the Lamb!