Corinne Fenton (text) and Tracie Grimwood (illustrator), Lionel and me, New Frontier Publishing, June 2022, 32 pp., RRP $26.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922326607
Lionel and me tells the story of a family dog, Maverick, who looks like he might be a golden retriever. Maverick loves being part of the family. He loves his warm, comfy bed; yummy food; long walks; and lots of affection. Until one day everything changes with the arrival of Lionel, a dachshund puppy. Suddenly Maverick is no longer the centre of attention and everything familiar changes to accommodate Lionel. Eventually Maverick has had enough and eats Lionel’s food, a crime for which he is literally sent to the doghouse. Understandably Maverick’s resentment of Lionel grows, and he comes to realise that eventually Lionel will mess up and that all he has do is wait. Interestingly, when Lionel does eventually mess up by destroying a much-loved toy instead of gloating Maverick is there to comfort and console him.
With the obvious parallels to welcoming a new family member, whether it is a sibling, a pet or a visiting grandparent, Lionel and me could be used to introduce the topic and encourage very young readers to reflect on how they might handle the experience.
Tracie Grimwood’s illustrations are delightful and capture all of the joy and struggle of new things. The illustrations are beautifully gentle alongside the emotionally tricky text.
Reviewed by Anne Varnes
