LEGO 31112: Lion, Ostrich and Warthog

Lego sets like this are great for gifting. They come with instructions for building more than one thing and the price point means they can be paired with a book and still not be over the budget.

Here are some books that pair nicely with this particular Lego set.

The Lion Inside, by Rachel Bright and Jim Field

I adore the entire series from Rachel Bright and Jim Field and good news – there is a sixth book in the works. This poetic story highlights the importance of speaking up and making changes. Life is too short to sit back and dream, action is required. And while you might feel scared, chances are great things are just around the corner.

The Ugly Five, by Julia Donalson and Axel Scheffler

When I wrote my first review of this book I positioned it as a left-of-centre option for Mother’s Day. Set on the African savannah, readers are introduced to some of the least appealing animals, the ones no one wants to photograph. Of course, there is a lovely ending where we all understand that worth, value, and beauty are not based on external appearances.

Lions and Liars, by Kate Beasley, illustrated by Dan Santat

A quirky, interesting, and memorable middle-grade fiction novel that is tagged as being “Holes meets The Goonies“. I reviewed this some time ago and now wish I’d kept a copy rather than gifting it. Dealing with themes like friendship, identity, bullying and independence, this is a great coming-of-age story for 9-13-year-olds.