Lion Guards the Cake

There is nothing worse than knowing that you are not allowed to have something that is sitting right in front of you and that is what Lion and the animals in this story encounter. Lion takes it upon himself to guard the birthday cake from the other, very determined animals in the house with some amusing results.

The author cleverly uses both rhyme and onomatopoeia to enhance the story. The illustrations provide great opportunities to practice inference prediction skills.

The text would provide great opportunities for writing. Once would be to stop reading at the point where Lion eats the cake and allow the students to write their own ending. How will Lion save the day? Another writing prompt would be to imagine that something in your house has come to life overnight. What mischief would they get up to?

Lion Guards the Cake has just been announced as a finalist in the 2022 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Title: Lion Guards the Cake

Author & Illustrator: Ruth Paul

Publisher:Scholastic

ISBN: 9781775437451

RRP: $19.99

Format: paperback

Publication: March 2022

Ages: 3-7 years

Themes: Perseverance, determination, temptation

Any advisory warnings? No

Would this book work as a read aloud? Definitely

Is there a particular part of the country that it’s set in? No

Reviewer: Leanne Nathan, Associate Principal, Clendon Park School, Auckland

How are you recommending this book? Highly recommended

What’s the book’s opening sentence? Lion sits above the yard, hour by hour, keeping guard.

You can buy this book here