Miss Lola Lollipop had a soft spot for homeless animals, and could never turn them away. She had fourteen cats, nine dogs, three rabbits, seven canaries, four parakeets, two guinea pigs, five hamsters, and a donkey in the back yard. She also had a problem: no food to give them, and no money to buy more! As she was pondering this reality, a lion came knocking on her door, and Miss Lollipop naturally took him in. At first it seemed that this would only compound the problem, but Miss Lollipo's lion turned out to be the answer to all her worries...

Having recently enjoyed author/illustrator Judy Varga's Once-A-Year Witch, I went looking for more of her books, and discovered Miss Lollipop's Lion, which is an absolute delight! The story is heartwarming, and full of a gentle sense of humor - Miss Lollipop's strict, no-nonsense attitude when the lion balks at a bath, or roars! - that was very appealing. The artwork is just charming, alternating between two-page spreads with black-and-white ink drawings, and spreads with more colorful, three-tone artwork. I didn't care for the inclusion of the circus, and Miss Lollipop's eventual job as a lion tamer, but it was depicted in a sweet (albeit unrealistic) way, leading me to accept it as part of the story (and a sign of the times). With the caveat that they be aware of the inclusion of the circus theme, this is one I'd recommend to all young animal lovers, and anyone who appreciated vintage picture-book art. ( )