Book Thoughts: The Lion in the Box (de Angeli)

• a recently-widowed mother and her five children have a Christmas to remember
• the mother is resourceful in their poverty and all the children help with good attitudes
• non-religious
  (Mama mentions that Papa is “in the Great Beyond”)
• convo: Santa is mentioned

Type: short chapter book
Ages: 3+ (listeners), 6+ (readers)
Author: Marguerite de Angeli

Someone shows an unusually kind act toward this endearing family, and it’s an all-around feel-good tale. It was mentioned that one of the ladies who helps babysit told the children a “story of Bethlehem” (indicating Jesus’s birth but not mentioning His name or details). This was too bad (that it wasn’t expounded on), but my only complaint. 🙂

You’ll likely love this sweet story. It’s a popular read-aloud for the season for a reason!