The Stone Lion

by Alan Schroeder, Todd Doney (Illustrator)

Banished by his wicked and greedy brother, Drashi and his widowed mother seek shelter in a mountain hut, and because of his honesty and respect, Drashi is rewarded by the Guardian of the Mountain in a Tibetan folktale

Genres: Picture Books, Family

32 pages, Library Binding

First published March 1, 1994

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

When honest Drashi and his elderly mother are driven out by elder brother and son Jarlo, a goldsmith who was as greedy as he was dishonest, they trek into the mountains of Tibet, making a home for themselves in an abandoned hut at the bottom of a tall peak. Gathering firewood, Drashi is careful to observe his mother's instruction only to select deadwood, eventually climbing the nearby mountain, where he is surprised to discover a massive stone lion. This guardian speaks to him, and recognizing his piety and honesty, rewards him with a bucket full of gold and silver coins. But when Jarlo and his wife come to investigate this newfound wealth, the greedy son and brother finds that he has a very different experience with the stone lion, teaching him an important lesson...

Published in 1994, The Stone Lion is the third folkloric picture book I have read from author Alan Schroeder, following upon his Smoky Mountain Rose: An Appalachian Cinderella and Lily and the Wooden Bowl , and the second from illustrator Todd Doney, following upon Saint Ciaran: The Tale of a Saint of Ireland , written by Gary D. Schmidt. It is described as a Tibetan folktale on both the front jacket flap and the colophon, although no source material is given for the story. I do regret this, as I haven't read a great deal of Tibetan folklore, and would like to find more, but leaving that aside I enjoyed the book and am surprised to see that it doesn't appear to have been reviewed very frequently online. The story is engaging, with the classic tale type of two siblings with very different character traits, who win two different results when confronted with the same tasks and challenges. I appreciated the fact that Jarlo is given the chance to reform in this tale, after his trial on the mountain. The accompanying artwork, which looks like it might have been done in oil paint, is lovely. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to anyone looking for Tibetan stories for children.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful tale and a moral tale with gorgeous illustrations