We're Going on a Lion Hunt

Most people will be very familiar with the better known 'We're Going on a Bear Hunt' and this version of a traditional tale (recently reissued by Macmillan Children's Books) shares similarities with it but unfortunately falls down when it comes to the quality of the story. This remaking revolves around two sisters on the hunt for a lion . They leave their African village and travel across the Serengeti, encountering obstacles in their way. In timeless tradition, these obstacles can't be climbed over or dug under. Instead they must go through them. One of the disappointing things I found with this story was the lack of description in these circumstances. The girls are merely faced with a lake, with grass and a swamp....there is no description of these. This meant that I found myself disinterested in their problems. The illustrations are certainly of a traditional African style and are enjoyable to look at. They help tell the story where the words are missing. Overall, this seems like a rushed innovation of the traditional tale. A little bit more work on the language used would have a direct impact on the quality of the story. I would still certainly use this text in school as a insight into stories from other cultures as well as a comparison between similar texts. Picture book / Ages 4+ / Reviewed by Kyle Matravers, teacher.

Suggested Reading Age 3+