Title: Budaniel and Simba the Toy Lion
Author: Susan Kapanke
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978-1643612690
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Pages: 34
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review
The most common attribute in many of the finest children’s books, is the love and comfort written into the vernacular used by the author in its narration. Susan Kapanke does this marvelously in her book Budaniel and Simba the Toy Lion. Apparently, she makes this look easy, as the book is based upon a true story, and embellished with actual photographs at the end of the book which prove this point.
It begins with a trip by a young boy named Nathaniel, on his way to see his grandparents and meet his third cousins, whom he had only met once or twice before. Nathaniel brought his favorite stuffed animal, Simba, a toy lion, with him on the trip. As the family get-together began to pick up pace, with the younger and older children getting to know each other, their parents cooking and such, Nathaniel was given a nickname by his cousin, “Budaniel.”
Time passed and it was bedtime for Budaniel to get tucked in, but he looked all around and his toy Simba was nowhere to be found! Quite distressed about having to go to sleep without his Simba, tossing and turning non-stop, eventually awoke missing Simba so much that Budaniel wanted to crawl into bed with his mommy and daddy, which he did. The next day he saw the grandparents’ kitten, Max, emerging out of hiding to play. Max hid the day before due to all of the commotion. Knowing how much Budaniel missed Simba, his parents brought him a new stuffed animal, and Budaniel named it Max, after the kitten.
Then to add to the happy ending, Simba was found! It has fallen under the bed and wasn’t noticed, so Budaniel had many good things happen to him during this visit. He met more of his family, he got to play with Max the kitten, Simba was both lost then found, and he was given his new nickname.
All of these little events are true, as seen through the eyes of Nathaniel. Author Susan Kapanke has woven the storyline accompanied with artistic drawings in a way to captivate the minds of toddlers being read this book – especially at bedtime. The book is dedicated to the Asian-American culture which has been assimilated into the United States, and has added so much to our society. The book ends with a few thought-provoking questions which can be used as a teaching tool to open a discussion between parents and children after reading the story.
Combining the elements of a fine children’s book with love interlaced throughout its pages, family bonds plus the excitement of losing a toy and gaining two in return, makes Budaniel and Simba the Toy Lion a fine addition to all family libraries.
