Hector and Christina

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin
There will be many Roger Duvoisin entries on this blog as we're huge fans but there won't be many more Lousie Fatio entries as other than the Happy Lion books this is the only other of her books we have read - we love it equally. Similar to the Happy Lion it is full of loveable characters and a wonderful tale of love and friendship. Perfect!

The Happy Lioness

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

I think my favourite of the Happy Lion stories (bar the original of course) - a brilliant story of the Lioness holding down the Lion enclosure fort and adapting her style to please the zoo visitors. The illustrations in this one are particularly fine.

The Happy Lion's Quest

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

The Happy Lion is missing his best friend Francois (the zoo-keeper's son) who has gone away to school so he sets about going to find him.

The Happy Lion and The Bear

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

A bear arrives at the zoo and the Happy Lion doesn't hit it off well with the new arrival but they soon learn how to be friends.

The Happy Lion's Rabbits

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

The good ol' Happy Lion saves the day when he protects the rabbits from hunters - but housing all the rabbits in the french town in his zoo-enclosure soon becomes a little cramped.

The Happy Lion's Treasure

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

The Happy Lion contemplates his will and what he will leave behind and is upset to find out that he doesn't really own anything - except he has a very big treasure ... he just needs to discover what it is?

The Three Happy Lions

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

The Happy Lion and Happy Lioness have a baby cub and worry what he will be when he grows up.

The Happy Lion Roars

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

The Happy Lion is lonely in the town zoo all by himself so he sets about fining a mate. A sweet story about finding love.

The Happy Lion

Written by Louise Fatio
Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin

A wonderful story of a Lion who enjoys the locals in his French town saying 'Bonjour' to him every morning.  One day when his keeper forgets to close the door to his house the Lion takes a walk into the town and can't understand the different reactions he gets outside of his zoo-enclosure.
Such brilliant illustrations to this lovely tale.

Buy The Happy Lion from our little book store.

Preface

It is 23.53.

Tonight my 3 year old son couldn't sleep despite having spent the whole day running around in the park.

His sister (nearing 18 months) zonked out quickly after her bedtime milk.

It was still light outside so we grabbed some books and went into my bedroom to read.

I love reading to him - I love the books, the stories, the illustration, the typography, the imagination and I love what he sees in them.

I'm glad to say he loves books too.

Tonight was an old favourite 'The Happy Lion' by Louise Fatio and illustrated by her husband Roger Duvoisin. My husband remembers the Happy Lion as a child but I first discovered it when I bought it a couple of years ago. We all loved the story so I set about buying up the other Happy Lion stories - most are out of print but still available with a bit of hunting - we now have all of them bar one (The Happy Lion in Africa) and really enjoy reading them.

We finished the story and he was still wide-awake, so we got them all out and just flicked through talking about what he could remember from the tales and what he could see in the pictures.

I decided I should keep a log of our books and why we love them - so a few hours later ... here I am.