I am on a mission. And the mission is to make you realise that whatever you need to know in this life, you are going to learn it from a picturebook. The truth is that I read an amazing storybook recently and I wanted to share the story with you. It’s about Clemence who wants a pet, but her parents are very clear, ‘Neither a cat, nor a dog!’ So Clemence, being very obedient, brings a lion. Unapologetically funny scenes follow:
Her mom decides to move out of country at the mere sight of the lion.
Clemence takes good care of the lion, but when lions have to go, they do not settle for small potties.
And, isn’t it apparent? Everyone loves that lion.
Clemence does not have to worry about buying special food for the feline. And this is what has raised criticism among some parents: that the lion provides itself with the food it needs. And it is definitely not cat food. Or oat biscuits.
Personally, I loved this story because of its humour, the irony between words and pictures and that the writer did not try to domesticate the lion or turn it into something it is not. It let it be itself and wander in Clemence’s universe being exactly what it was.
There are so many avenues one could go with this book, but if I were to focus on the lion’s character, it seems that this storybook is such a great reminder to be unapologetically yourself. Love yourself, take care of yourself, let yourself love what they love.
As Chris Brogan says: Don’t settle: Don’t finish crappy books. If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you‘re not on the right path, get off it.
A lion won’t eat cat food, why should you?
I read the story in Greek, in translation from the French Les Lions Ne Mangent Pas De Croquettes, by André Bouchard from Ekdoseis Diaplasis
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