This book was absolutely adorable!

The illustrations were stunning and the story was sweet and unique. I loved that the lion could only roar but that those roars were translated and that the main character had doubts about being brave, definitely a bedtime hit!

Overall, I like this book. It's a sweet, simple story. I would read this with my library preschool story hour group. I can hear the kids roaring already. The illustrations are bright and work well with the content. I also appreciate the diversity shown in the illustrations. That said, I think the anti rule-following message is unnecessary to advance the story, and it doesn't really add to Coralie's character. Is she a rule-breaker? Not really. From the beginning, she exists in her own little world in the woods without a concept of authority. She has no adults or other people to tell her right from wrong. She's spirited and fun, and that personality clashes with the bullying ways of the man in big hat. She's not breaking rules. The ringmaster isn't imposing rules. He's just screaming. Coralie and the animals are resisting bullying, and that might be the better message for the end of the book. I also think the story could establish a stronger connection between Coralie and the Lion, and it could benefit from playing up the surprise circus reveal.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Quarto Group for providing me with a free ARC in return for an honest review. There are a lot of really good books out there about friendship and this one suffers a bit by comparison. I begin with the illustrations which did not hold my attention or increase the storyline of the book. As for the plot, we have a girl who, I guess, lives alone and runs off and joins the circus where she makes friends. Every time the Lion roars it means something different, which is sort of strange to me. This is a solid 3*** in my opinion, better illustrations and a bit more meat to the story and plot would have helped it along.

Coralie is the Pippi Longstocking for a new generation!

She's funny and strange and incredibly brave. She can juggle five squirrels, can stand on her hands and even becomes a human cannonball! Just like the iconic Pippi, it seems that there's nothing little Coralie wouldn't do

But on top of this is a charming tale of friendship, bravery and a celebration of our differences. Featuring an array of wonderful characters with lively illustrations, Cannonball Coralie and the Lion is as much a visual treat as it is a heartwarming message.

Quirky and colourful, this picture book is sure to delight its little readers. I do hope we get to see much more of Coralie and her grand adventures!

Book Review: Connonball Coralie and the Lion by Grace Easton

I'd like to thank Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Book for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book via Net Galley.

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"Lion looked at the Man in the Big Hat and so much anger and sadness swelled up inside him that he let out a loud, lonely... ROAR!"

Here is a book that I saw and just loved the look of! The bright images and colours jumped out at me and the art work is so cute! Cannonball Coralie is a bright and bouncy book that will put a smile on a child's or adults face!

What is it about?
This is a simple children's story about a young girl called Coralie who finds herself befriending a Lion in a strict circus. Here she becomes a human cannon ball on the advice of the unkind Man in the Big Hat who is the ring master. Once he finds that she is having too much fun, he asks her to leave the circus and her friends, who then rise up and leave the circus to join Coralie in the woods, where they can all live without any binding rules and have fun together!

What I Loved ...
This story warmed my heart in so many ways! Maybe it's because the inner teacher in me is coming out, or maybe I just love reading children's books! It is a simple story that is told with the pictures and the words! I think the beauty of this book lies in WHAT IS NOT SAID. A lot of the story is left untold so that the reader has the opportunity to infer how characters are feeling, whats happening in the back ground? Why do you think this character behaved in this way? And THAT is so important when it comes to reading with little ones!! I loved the fact that this book allows the reader to ask these questions and doesn't always give the answers written on the page!

Things I want more of...
I can't really say that there is much more I'd want other than more of the story! I think the relationship between Coralie and the Lion could have been expanded. Maybe she could have made friends with other people at the circus or had more "run ins" with the Man in the Big Hat to show that being unkind and imposing rules on others is not always fun. I do think that a book on relationships would have made this book flow a little better.

4/5 Stars - a fun short book that allows children to explore characters and feelings.