An introverted rabbit throws a costume party for his friends but is overwhelmed by the noise

Rabbit doesn’t like parties ... but he does like his friends. So he invites them to a costume party and works hard all week to get ready.

He rushes to and fro with oodles of things to prepare. He mows the lawn and weeds and rakes and waters the garden and scrubs and bakes. Finally, everything is ready, and Rabbit’s friends arrive in their splendid costumes. The event is loud and lively with uproarious laughter and babbling conversation.

Rabbit is soon overwhelmed by the all the activity and noise, and he slips away to find some quiet. When his friends discover him, they decide to switch to gentler activities so that Rabbit can rejoin the party.

Narrated by a young girl, When Rabbit Was a Lion is a wonderful read-aloud with a warm, insightful Frog and Toad sensibility that highlights the importance of listening and communication , and encourages readers to accept themselves and others as they are.

Née en 1943, près de New York, EUGÉNIE FERNANDES puise son admiration pour les animaux et la nature dans les souvenirs de son enfance. Son inspiration, elle la doit en grande partie à son père, illustrateur de bandes dessinées, avec qui elle passait de longues heures dans son studio. En 1965, elle obtient son diplôme de l'école des Arts Visuels de New York et commence alors sa carrière en tant qu'illustratrice. Eugenie a écrit ou illustré plus de 80 livres dont Grosse journée, petite souris! et Caféolait s'en va-t-en ville. Elle vit aujourd'hui dans le sud de l'Ontario et travaille depuis sa maison dans son studio surplombant un lac et la forêt environnante.

EUGENIE FERNANDES loved exploring the outdoors and making her own little books when she was young. As an adult she has combined these interests by creating books such as Ribbon Rescue, The Tree that Grew to the Moon, Waves in the Bathtub, One More Pet, and Grandpa Dan's Toboggan Ride.

Eugenie is part of a very artistic family. Her father was a comic book illustrator, her husband, Henry Fernandes, is a picture book illustrator who collaborated with her on the book Ordinary Amos and the Amazing Fish, and her two children are also artists. Eugenie lives near Peterborough, Ontario, where she works in a studio that is surrounded by water and woods.

Eugenie Fernandes' profile page

• Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens
• Commended, OLA Best Bets Honorable Mention

"A rabbit who likes friends but not parties finds a way to enjoy both in this sweet, sensible outing ... A feel-good episode, attuned in particular to children with quieter dispositions."

Kirkus Reviews

"Warm, softly-colored images fill the pages and offer a story that speaks for those introverted kids who like to party in their own quiet way."

Sal's Fiction Addiction