Androcles and the Lion (play) run from his Roman persecutors. While hiding in the forest he comes upon a wild lion who approaches him with a wounded paw. His wife runs off. Androcles sees that the cause of the animal's distress is a large thorn embedded in its paw, which he draws out while soothing the lion in baby language. Androcles is captured and is sent to the Colosseum to be executed with other Christians in gladiatorial combat. They are joined by a new Christian convert called Ferrovius, who struggles to reconcile his Christian principles with his violent inclinations. The Roman captain guarding them is
Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion Lion." and the "New York Times" described Pinkney's illustrations as having "a velvety softness". "Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion" has also been reviewed by the "School Library Journal", and "Booklist". Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion: A Swahili Tale is a 1989 children's picture book by Verna Aardema and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney. It is an adaption of a Swahili folktale and is about Rabbit tricking Lion over a calabash tree. "Publishers Weekly" reviewed "Rabbit Makes a Monkey of Lion" writing "Aardema offers up a sound piece of storytelling, admirably reflected in Pinkney's