FromtheNewYorkTimesbestsellingauthor/illustratorofMaxtheBravecomesaninspiringandadorablepicturebookaboutapairofunlikelyfriendswhofacedownapackofbullies.Inthistimelyandcharmingstoryabouttheimportanceofbeingtruetoyourself,mindfulness,andstandingbyyourfriends,wemeetLeonard,alion,andhisbestfriendMarianne,a...duck.LeonardandMariannehaveahappylifetogether--talking,playing,writingpoems,andmakingwishes--untilonedayapackofbulliesquestionswhetherit’srightforalionandaducktobepals.Leonardsoonlearnstherearemanywaystobealion,andmanywaystobeafriend,andthatsometimesfindingjusttherightwordscanchangetheworld...Thissweet,funny,thoughtful,andmuch-neededstorywillopenupreaders’eyestotheimportanceofbeingwhotheyareandnotbackingdowntohurtfulcriticism.It’sanempoweringtaleaboutconnectingwithothersandchoosingkindnessoverbullying,andshowschildrenhowangryandprovocativewordscanbeovercomebyempathyandinnercourage.Nominatedforthe2019KateGreenawayMedalandthe2019CarnegieMedalABankStreetCollegeofEducationBestChildren’sBookoftheYearAnAmericanBooksellersAssociationE.B.WhiteRead-AloudHonorBookAnNPRBestBooksof2018selectionANewYorkPublicLibraryBestBooksof2018selection★“Positiverolemodelsshowingboyshowtobeawholepersonarefewandfarbetweenthesedays.Thismarvelousbooktriumphsinthatessentialjob.“--Kirkus,starredreview“Childrenwillfeelempoweredafterreadingsuchadeliberatestoryofunyieldingstrengthandself-awareness.Thoughtfulandprovocativewordstoliveby.“--SchoolLibraryJournal“Agentle,Ferdinand-likesoul....Vere’sfablemakesawatertight--andcharming--caseforignoringthepressuresofconformity.“--PublishersWeekly“ThespiritofFerdinandtheBullisaaliveandwellinHowtoBeaLion.“--NPR“gentlyreminiscentofWinniethePooh“--BookTrust
