Christian, the Hugging Lion

Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell

Simon and Schuster, Apr 27, 2010 - Juvenile Nonfiction - 32 pages

When John and Ace found a lion cub for sale at Harrods, they knew that a department store was no place for a lion. They took him home, named him Christian, raised him and loved him--and in the process, Christian became a London celebrity. But when Christian got too big for their apartment, Ace and John knew that it was time to let him go back to Africa, where he belonged. When they went to visit him in Africa, they were in for a wonderful surprise. Christian remembered them!

This heartwarming book is based on the true story of two men who raised and loved a lion cub--which millions of fans know through the popular YouTube video.

About the author

Justin Richardson is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia and a practicing psychiatrist who lectures regularly on teens and sexuality both nationally and to the parents of New York City's finest private schools. He founded the center for gay and lesbian mental health at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital. He resides in New York City. Amy June Bates has illustrated books including the Sam the Man series; Sweet Dreams and That’s What I’d Do, both by singer-songwriter Jewel; and Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan. She is the author-illustrator of The Big Umbrella, about which Booklist raved, “A boundlessly inclusive spirit...This open-ended picture book creates a natural springboard for discussion.” She lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with her husband and three children.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Christian, the Hugging Lion
• Authors: Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell
• Illustrated by: Amy June Bates
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 2010
• ISBN: 1416986626, 9781416986621
• Length: 32 pages
• Subjects: Juvenile Fiction / Animals / General; Juvenile Fiction / Animals / Lions, Tigers, Leopards, etc; Juvenile Fiction / Family / Alternative Family; Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / Africa; Juvenile Fiction / People & Places / Europe; Juvenile Nonfiction / Animals / Lions, Tigers, Leopards, etc; Juvenile Nonfiction / Biography & Autobiography / General; Juvenile Nonfiction / Family / Alternative Family