The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio and Roger Duvoisin. 1955 first UK edition.

Written by Louise Fatio. Illustrated by Roger Duvoisin. First UK edition, 1955. The Bodley Head. London.

"There was once a very happy lion.

"His home was not the hot and dangerous plains of Africa where hunters lie in wait with their guns, it was a lovely French town with brown tile roofs and gray shutters. The happy lion had a house in the town zoo, all for himself, with a large rock garden surrounded by a moat, in the middle of a park with flower beds and a bandstand.

"Early every morning, Francois, the keeper's son, stopped on his way to school to say, "Bonjour, Happy Lion."

One day, the keeper leaves the Lion's gate open. Thinking he'd like to visit the friends who greet him every day, he goes on a stroll through town. "Oh la la!!" Their reactions are very different when they see him in the street! Fortunately, Francois meets him on his way home from school, just as the fire department is getting out its water hose to herd him into a waiting wagon, and walks him back to the zoo, where the Happy Lion is most content to stay put.

Louise Fatio Duvoisin (1904 - 1993) was a Swiss-American author of children's books. She wrote the "Happy Lion" series in collaboration with her husband, Roger Duvoisin, a Swiss-born illustrator.

Roger Duvoisin (1900 - 1980) was a Swiss-born American writer and illustrator, best known for his work in children's picture books. His career ranged from scenery design and textiles to beloved children's books. Duvoisin is remembered for the Caldecott Medal-winning White Snow, Bright Snow, the Happy Lion series, and the Petunia series.

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Condition: Very Good/Poor. Dust jacket: Dampstain and scuffing along fore edges, front and back; on the front, large closed tear at lower right, small open tears at upper and lower edges, creases in upper left; on the back, chipped at upper and lower edges, small closed tears at each corner and upper edge; bumped at corners; closed tears at head and tail of the spine; on the inside, a gift inscription in pencil with a drawing of a dragon. illustrated cover boards: Dampstains at lower corners and related puckering on the back; wear along the edges; bumped at corners and head and tail of the spine. Child's name and address in ink on front fly leaf; large closed tear on title page; tape-repaired closed tear on Pg 4; else pages are clean, undamaged, and complete.