Little Lion Girl

Hope riffs on the metaphor of a city that “roared like a jungle” in this tale of a metropolitan outing that becomes a wild, mettle-testing adventure. During the train ride in with her mother, pale-skinned Leoni takes inspiration from “extraordinary” fellow commuters (clad in animal-print attire), declaring herself “a lion girl.” Lively streets, a museum outing, and a cafeteria “where other families sat in their prides” elicit emboldening emotions (“I’m lion girl, and I am SO HAPPY”). After a butterfly chase leaves Leoni lost, however, her roar wavers—until Mom’s loud call revives. Subtly leaning into the jungle theme through pattern play, Woodcock’s art, digitally created with mixed-media elements, has a blurred-edged quality that suits the energy of city life. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3–6. (Feb.)