LoveReading4Kids Says
August 2025 Book of the Month
Lionel is a rhinoceros, a very large rhinoceros. He’s so big in fact that he doesn’t fit on one page, he needs two.
His size, combined with his equally large levels of enthusiasm, is an issue when playing with his mice and bird friends. When he climbs on their bus, he squashes it flat, his voice drowns out the orchestra, and he gets so excited making holes in bagels in their baking session, that he pokes a hole in the page of the book. He does – and you can peep through it to follow his ladybird friend.
Everyone will cheer when Lionel finds something that perfectly suits his size, and which allows him to give his smaller friends a special experience too.
It’s a lovely book for anyone who’s ever felt clumsy or out of place and, typically for this author illustrator, it’s a treat to look at too.
Lo Cole has lots of fun playing with the format of the picture book, using sounds to prompt page turns, and colour and positioning to convey Lionel’s size and personality. Huge fun!
Andrea Reece
Find This Book In
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Lionel Synopsis
The only thing bigger than Lionel the rhinoceros is his enthusiasm to join in!
Lionel loves to join in with whatever his friends are doing - playing cars, making music or baking! But his enthusiasm means he usually leaps before he looks, leading to disaster. Finally Lionel seeks out some quiet space. As he relaxes Lionel has a great idea, and this time it's his friends who ask to join in… all aboard the world's greatest rhinocer-raft!
Clumsy Lionel tears a hole in the page (a real hole punched in the paper) and is distraught that he’s ‘ruined his own book’.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781915395269 |
| Publication date: |
3rd July 2025 |
| Author: |
Lo Cole |
| Illustrator: |
Lo Cole |
| Publisher: |
Rocket Bird Books an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
32 pages |
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About Lo Cole
Lo Cole is British illustrator, author and printmaker. His witty and bold artwork has featured on posters and album covers, and in magazines and newspapers worldwide.
The artwork from his first, We Want a Dog, was selected by The Society of Illustrators for their 2021 New York exhibition.
He has also contributed to The Guardian, The Economist and TIME magazine.
He lives in Gloucestershire, UK.
More About Lo Cole
