The Lion And The Unicorn

This powerful story about a young child's wartime experiences is told with the enthralling illustrations of one of the best-loved children's authors, Shirley Hughes.

As Lenny's father goes off to fight in the World War II, he gives his son a brass badge with a lion and a unicorn on it. Lenny keeps it with him when he has to be evacuated to a big house in the country. He misses his parents, and the other children there and at school are spiteful in teasing him. But, he finds a secret walled garden to escape.

This special edition includes stories from real-life evacuees, uncovered from the Imperial War Museums.

When Lenny's father goes to fight in the Second World War, he gives his son a brass badge with two animals engraved on it: a lion for bravery and a unicorn for courage.

Then, Lenny himself must go away, as he is evacuated from his home and family to escape the bombing. Staying in a strange new place, Lenny gathers all his lion bravery, all his unicorn courage, and discovers that magic can happen, even in the most desperate of times.

Packed with incredible illustrations, this heart-warming story is accessible for readers of all ages.

No one can match Shirley Hughes in the simple mastery of both words and pictures - Times Educational Supplement