The Snow Lion from Jim Helmore and Richard Jones, is a stunningly beautiful picture book which deals tenderly with moving house and making new friends.

The opening double page spread depicts Caro and her family travelling to their new home. Through the darkness of the page, illuminated only by the moon, illustrator Richard Jones immediately conveys the sense of foreboding that Caro is feeling.

Caro soon sets about exploring her new, very white house, but can’t help wishing ‘she had someone to play with.’

…and so it’s then that she discovers. among the brilliant white walls, the friendliest of lions, beautifully snow white.

This gentle, warm friend takes Caro under his wing and they play all sorts of wonderful games, staying safely in the house.

When Caro spots someone her own age playing outside… Snow Lion is the one to gently encourage her to take that first step. and then later in the book to take another step towards building her confidence and making new friends.

Helmore’s narrative is touching in its gentle nature, I adore how Snow Lion carefully, and warmly encourages Caro to feel more confident. Richard Jones’s illustrations mirror the soft gentle tone, I’m sure that hiding that lovely lion ‘just so’ was no mean feat – little readers have plenty of fun spotting him on the pages.

The Snow Lion is an engaging picture book about making new friends in a new place. Such a warm and endearing read.

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