When Rabbit Was a Lion

Rabbit, the main character, decided to host a costume party. He is not a fan of loud noises or crowds, but he chooses to do it for his friends. On the day of the party, Rabbit gets nervous.

Finally, on Saturday, everything was ready, and the rabbit was pleased.
But then he got the jitters.
"What if I look silly in my costume? What if the party is a flop?"

Rabbit has a pretty ok time, but eventually he slips away. He felt happy because his friends were happy, but inside he started to feel overwhelmed. When his friends find him with his ears covered, fallen over a bush, they notice Rabbit is not comfortable any more. Rabbit is having a hard time. His friends accommodate his needs and start to party a little slower. They start to have fascinating conversations. They realized Rabbit's style of having a good time is different from theirs but still fun! At the end of the book, Rabbit states that next Saturday he will be happy doing absolutely nothing.

I loved this book because the main character is shyer and more introverted, but this doesn't stop him from having friends or doing things with his friends. When Rabbit Was a Lion will be great to talk about how we can be accommodating to our friends who might think differently from us. It is also reassuring for kids who have a hard time in social situations to understand that true friends will be able to accommodate their needs and that they are still worthy of having great friendships.

The art style is warm and inviting, focusing on orangey sunset tones. Kids will love to engage with the animals depicted in this garden setting. Overall, I think When Rabbit Was a Lion will be great for social-emotional learning. I will be adding this book to my collection when I am working on social skills with my kiddos.