The title and the eye-catching cover focus on the natural urges of a child in the trajectory of maturation. Every little boy enjoys a phase of showing off his might, very skilfully handled by the author in this story. The roar of a lion captures a symbolic reference to power and authority in the mind of a young boy. Since a loud command echoes supremacy and hushes peers, it is most desirable just like the roar of a lion. The author successfully utilizes the concept and more in this book.
Here, the main character tries his level best to imitate a lion, but his voice fails its impact. The resulting outcome is weak and unworthy. He visits the zoo to hear the real lion roar, only to discern later the negative bearing of a roar. It jolts, frightens, trembles, and troubles the other animals, evoking fear and hatred in them. It distresses the boy. The little hero rejects roaring, entirely shifting the child’s desperate inclination for authority with a pleasant wave and whistle of the elephant and birds.
The simple current of the tale rolls on highs and lows, stalling on expressions emphasizing, ‘All for a Roar’, drifting into a tide of speedy actions affected by the roar and finally, the soothing efforts towards a cordial transformation. From the first word to the end, the author, Nandini Nayar, excels in maintaining a velvety flow of words lending a readable quality to the text. Young readers would read aloud the story effortlessly.
Animal characters and the hero blend into the storyline adequately and effortlessly in a realistic scenario. No complicated lessons are drawn, nor does the tale deviate from amusement, fostering an affable impression.
A smooth flow of the pictures as well, is prominent to meet the demands of a picture book. The pictures complement the text efficiently. On each page the illustrator, Anita Thakur, adds features describing the scene: like crowds and passage to the zoo defined by activities of groups of people visiting the zoo, chatting and resting in one frame. Appropriate placement of the backdrop and characters merging well to carry the story forward. Every page forces the readers to dwell upon it longer, reading the illustrations presented in many details enhancing the story element.
In short, it is a child-centric, pleasurable read.