Available from www.leonardslunch.com
Leonard’s Lunch by Debbie Quinn is a lovely children’s book written in rhyming verse. Each of the 40 pages has a bright and colourful illustration and a maximum of 12 lines of verse. Leonard the lion is hungry and wondering what to eat for his lunch. He meets up with Bear, Monkey, Crocodile, Parrot, and Mouse. Leonard’s repetitive words and questions to his friends will help to engage young learners in the story and aid their learning. They offer him some of their healthy food, but he decides he doesn’t need the health benefits offered by their meals. He opts for some unhealthy snacks instead like pizza, chips, cakes, and sweets. Leonard decides to eat junk food every day. Over time, he begins to suffer some unpleasant side effects. He feels unhealthy and has several health complaints. His friends send him to see Doctor Giraffe. She explains that his unhealthy choices are making him sick. She gives him a list of healthy food to eat so that he will start to feel better. She also suggests that he exercise, drink water, and brush his teeth twice a day. When Leonard feels better, he throws a party for his friends with healthy food on the menu. The book has illustrations of unhealthy and healthy foods and different types of exercise, which will encourage children to talk about each food and activity. There are some amusing references to bodily functions which will make children laugh. The expressions on the animals’ faces are also very endearing. Children will learn the importance of a healthy and balanced lifestyle through Quinn’s humorous and entertaining book. The book’s message is brought across in a gentle, non-lecturing way. Children aged about 4 to 5 will enjoy having the story read to them and older children up to about 8 years old will enjoy reading the book for themselves.
Susan Gibbs, A LoveReading4Kids Ambassador
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