How to Hide a Lion at Christmas, pretend seasonal play for 4 and up

How to Hide a Lion at Christmas is logical. The title is illogical, but considering how well-and how adept Iris is at hiding him and many adventures they’re had, it makes sense. Iris is a four year-old girl who has been figuring out ways to hide her lion for several years. She’s hidden her lion at school, from grandma and others. This book, and the others by author Helen Stephens; succeed due to the book’s perspective, its timeless/charming art and the fact that everyone has pretended to hide something from someone when they were that age.

In my case I thought that if I concentrated really hard I’d be able to shake my molecules apart so that I could pass through solid surfaces. Alas, that did not happen, but for a brief period of my early elementary school years I tried my hardest. In hindsight I’m sure that my parent must’ve been mildly concerned that I was having seizures at worst or at best, the world’s worst dancer.

Iris is a typical girl and her lion is the typical size that a young girl would own. At its largest the lion measures up to her knee. However, in her imagination the lion is full-sized and bigger than most cars. It’s this fact and the classic vibe of the art that make How to Hide a Lion at Christmas feel like it could’ve come out this year or thirty years ago. Regardless of when the book was released kids 4-8 years old will find it to be Christmas comfort literary food.

Iris is going to see her Aunt Sarah and the lion would scare people on the train, in the village or basically anyplace he hasn’t been adequately hidden before. However, as Iris really loves the lion she wants to take him along on the trip. She tries squeezing him into the luggage, wrapping him like a present or other holiday décor, but to no avail, the lion has to stay home.

The lion doesn’t like to see her unhappy, so he sneaks onto the train and is promptly lulled to sleep by its rocking motions. As sleeping creatures do, he slept far too long and woke up at the end of the tracks. Leading the tracks back would take him closer to Iris, but also to people who might see him.

Kids will love the dual reality that happens in How to Hide a Lion at Christmas. You call in imagination, I call it dual reality. The lion is real and actually does these things, if you happen to be a child who is fully in touch with pretend play. Ages 4 and up will enjoy this book for a couple of years. The warm story added to the illustrations combine into a book that feels like your best friend, even if you’re just meeting them.