Christian, the Hugging Lion

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.

Winner of Florida Children's Book Award 2012 Commended for Lambda Literary Awards (Children/Young Adult) 2010 Commended for Lambda Literary Awards (Children/Young Adult) 2011

“"This book will be a popular choice among the many youngsters who have bonded with their own pets."School Library Journal”

"In subtly evocative prose, the authors emphasize storytelling as they hit the major plot points of the now familiar story...Playing off the understated text to humorous effect, Bates contributes balmy watercolors...that highlights Christina's playfulness...It's a tender and particularly kid-friendly version of Christian's story."--Publishers Weekly
"This book will be a popular choice among the many youngsters who have bonded with their own pets."-School Library Journal

Justin Richardson, MD, is the coauthor, with Peter Parnell, of the award-winning picture book And Tango Makes Three. Dr. Richardson is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Columbia and Cornell and the coauthor of Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask). Dr. Richardson and his advice have been featured in The New York Times and The Washington Post, on the Today show and NPR's Morning Edition, and in numerous magazines. Dr. Richardson lectures to parents and teachers on parenting and the sexual development of children.

Peter Parnell is the coauthor, with Justin Richardson, of And Tango Makes Three. He is a playwright whose plays have been produced at the Public Theater and Playwrights Horizons in New York City, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and the Seattle Repertory Company, among others. His play QED was produced on Broadway. He has written extensively for television as a producer for both The West Wing and The Guardian; he has also written episodes of Maurice Sendak's series Little Bear. He lives in New York City.

Amy June Bates is the author-illustrator of The Big Umbrella and The Welcome Home. She is also the illustrator of the New York Times bestseller The Leadership Journey by Doris Kearns Goodwin; Sweet Dreams and That's What I'd Do, both by singer-songwriter Jewel; Waiting for the Magic by Patricia MacLachlan; Joey: The Story of Joe Biden by Dr. Jill Biden; and many others. She has three children and lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with her husband and her devilishly handsome Labrador, Mr. Mochi.

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