Book Review: Monty’s Magnificent Mane, by Gemma O’Neill

Why I Picked It Up:

I came across this book online.  The illustrations automatically caught my eye. It’s a captivating illustration of a lion named Monty.  Yes, Monty.  Therefore, it had to be purchased!

Why I Finished It:

Right from the start, an experienced reader of children’s fables will know this story line.  The vain lion will realize the importance of friendship over beauty.  Usually such a predictable plot line would deter me from reading further, but I couldn’t put it down.  The illustrations are mesmerizing.  I won’t even pretend to know how O’Neill created the drawings, but I kept touching each page expecting to feel texture.  While you can’t feel it, it is visible.  The story and the pictures together make this a picture book to own, not borrow.

Who I Would Give It To:

This is a beautiful addition to a primary classroom.  The story line will lend itself to great thinking and extension activities.  It would also be fun to have in art classrooms to discuss how the art can draw you in to a story.

Integration Ideas:

Theme – Morals 

This is a great way to start teaching young students about messages in stories.  For most, it won’t be the first time a message like this was communicated to them, so they’ll be able to understand.  Since theme and message is typically difficult for students, create an anchor chart.  Have students discuss the message of the story and provide examples from the story that prove that to be the message.  On the anchor chart, put a picture of this book and write the message next to it.  Continue adding to the chart throughout the year as you read more stories.

Making Connections

As you discuss the message (theme) in the story, have students share how they personally connect to this message.  Have they ever put friendship first?  Have the students discuss their stories and their feelings about friendship.  Once the students have practiced making text-to-self connections, find a few other stories that students can use to make text-to-text connections.

• The Rainbow Fish
• Big Al – this one is the same message the opposite way
• Diary of a Wombat
• Memoirs of a Goldfish
• Exclamation Mark

For older students: Popular

Technology

Make connections to classic folktales from around the world by using the free ebooks from the International Children’s Digital Library (http://en.childrenslibrary.org/). In addition to comparing themes in the text, the high resolution images will allow students to make connections and compare images from children’s books around the world.

Writers’ Notebook

Allow time for students to jot down their connections and stories to the message from Monty’s story.  They can draw pictures or write words and sentences to send the message that friendship is important.

Classroom Management

This is a great story for the beginning of a school year.  From this book, students can brainstorm what it means to be a friend.  How can they show their friendship to others and how do they know when others are treating them in a friendly way?  I think it is also important to share the idea that the students in the class are a family or a team.  They must stick together, respect each other, protect each other, and learn to understand and accept differences.