Description:
Young Prince Leo II, a winged lion, grows up in his father's opulent palace with every luxury--ruby roses, silver rattles, trunks full of gold--but no books. Leo Golden Mane, Emperor of the Cats, had no need for books: "The emperor couldn't read or write, not even his own name, but he didn't care. When he roared, everyone jumped." So imagine young Leo's surprise when he tries out his special blue-green wings and winds up not only in the paws of King Otto of the North, but in a huge library full of something he's never seen--books! Otto was rumored to have magnificent treasures lining his walls. But Leo soon discovers just how fantastic Otto's wealth truly is, when the avuncular bear opens up a storybook and begins to read aloud. When Leo wakes up the next day, his first words are "Please read me another story." It takes Leo a while to regain his strength and fly back home, but he learns to read... a skill that not only opens up his world but ends up forging an alliance between King Otto's kingdom and his father's. Chris Conover, author and illustrator of many wonderful picture books, including Froggie Went A-Courting, creates magnificent illustrations to accompany this whimsical fairy tale about the power of reading. Young readers will want to spend hours poring over every regal detail. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter
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