The king of the jungle is a respected, ferocious, commanding presence. With roars that carry for miles, these glorious beasts are revered for good reason. Both patriarchal and territorial, lions are a force of nature that evoke a sense of fear and foreboding in anyone or any animal that crosses their path. Lion picture books for kids capture the essence of these beautiful yet terrifying beasts.
Libraries have rules for a reason. And Miss Merriweather, head librarian, is a real stickler about the most important of them all- being quiet. So the kids who frequent the aisles searching for books know to tiptoe, not run, and to whisper quietly amongst themselves. One day the most surprising visitor, a lion, walks through the doors. Surprisingly, the lion follows all of the guidelines and becomes a listener during story hour. But when something happens, the lion is forced to do what he does best- roar! A lengthly picture book about a lion who understands that sometimes rules sometimes must be broken.
Non-Fiction Lion Books For Kids
Stories filled with interesting lion facts will teach little ones all about these creatures. Fictional titles feature characters that are quite a bit friendlier and more lovable, do offer some valuable lessons about their traits, and behaviors. For kids who want to learn about smaller, less ferocious types, add some stories about cats to your next story hour. Authors take creative liberties in the way they represent them as characters. Often portrayed as loving companions to humans and other animals, kids may perceive lions as happy pets that will always by their side If you are looking to read these whimsical stories, it would be good to add some non-fiction lion books about lions to the mix. Ask your children to compare and contrast the lions in the fictional stories with the factual books about them. It's a great way to develop reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.
Popular Lion Picture Books Preschoolers Will Love
They are intriguing animals, which make them popular figures in books, movies, and even soft, plush lion toys perfect for snuggle time. Their regal and dominating presence is both admired and feared by animals and humans alike. The coat is a golden, luxurious fur that looks soft to the touch, much like a domesticated cat. But when this beast bears its sharp fangs and releases a terrifying roar, there is no mistaking the danger and violent predatory nature of these creatures. Animals like giraffes, zebras, and wildebeest are the main prey of these giant cats that live in the Sahara. To learn more, browse some bestselling lion books for kids in preschool and older.
The Lion and the Mouse
A gorgeous picture book by Jerry Pinkney is based on the Aesop's fable. Winner of the Caldecott Medal, the wordless book about an unlikely friendship tugs at the heartstrings. A hungry lion, who spares the life of a mouse, is rewarded when that same little mouse frees him from a poacher's trap. The magnificent illustrations tell the story in dramatic fashion, bringing renewed life to a classic story.
The Lion Inside
A most charming story about a big, timid lion and a brave, little mouse that will touch the hearts of readers young and old. The teeny, tiny rodent, sick and tired of being ignored, wishes he could roar like a lion. When he encounters an actual lion, he learns that even the most ferocious-looking creatures aren't always brave. A story about kindness, empathy and friendship, The Lion Inside teaches readers that they can't make judgements based on appearances. Told in perfect rhyme, this book is extra fun to read out loud and will quickly become one of your toddler's favorites.
The Lion and the Little Red Bird
A whimsical story with a surprise ending will delight both children and adults alike. This is the story of a silent lion who attracts the attention of a curious red bird. They develop a special friendship based on a mutual appreciation for art. There are lots of little lessons in this interesting book, the most important of which is how to find creative forms of communication.
How Do Lions Say I Love You?
This short and sweet book with soft pastel illustrations is brimming with love. Rhythmic verse features a variety of animals demonstrating all the ways they love each other. Baby zebras, bears, cows, wolves, and, of course, lions all express affection with their parents in this darling book. Pair this book with a plush lion or other featured furry friend for a thoughtful baby shower gift.
Lion Lullaby
A comforting bedtime story about little lion cubs who are ready for bed. As the sun is setting on the savanna, the cubs appear and make their daily trek toward their mother. Along the way, they pass other creatures, like zebras, monkeys, and wildebeest, playing and grazing as the sky darkens. Finally, all ten baby lions arrive safely into the loving embrace of mama bear. Toddlers can practice counting as they listen along to this lyrical lion lullaby.
A Hungry Lion or a Dwindling Assortment of Animals
Consider yourself warned. This book is not for the faint of heart (or particularly sensitive children). A friendly lion with a ferocious appetite sets out one day with an assortment of companions. As the story attempts to move forward, the author has to keep rewriting the text due to the unexplainable disappearance of the animal characters. A calico kitten, a penguin, a bunny, a mouse, a frog, and just about everyone else seems to disappear. Is there a dangerous predator nearby? With unpredictable twists and turns, this darkly funny book will keep the attention of readers until the last page is turned.
Agent Lion and the Case of the Missing Party
Petunia is all dressed up for her birthday party but all her guests have disappeared. So what's a girl to do? Why, call Agent Lion, of course! This detective extraordinaire follows a string of clues in search of the missing celebration. He may get a little distracted along the way, like by some delicious jelly donuts or by an enticing swimming pool, but he gets the job done nonetheless! A humorous tale about a super-sleuth lion who always manages to save the day.
Tengrren's Tawny Scrawny Lion
This must-read is one of the most popular Little Golden Books ever written. It's the story of a menacing lion who spends every day of the week chasing after animals. Frightened zebras, monkeys, bears, camels, elephants, and kangaroos do their best to outrun the hungry lion. When he encounters a family of ten bunnies, they look like a delicious snack. But these clever critters introduce a new menu item- carrot stew- to the lion in order to avoid their own demise. A timeless classic that has been entertaining generations of children.
The Lion's Share: A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating It, Too
An unusual and captivating story with a lesson in mathematics. A magnificent lion has invited a number of guests to a dinner party. After they enjoy a delicious feast, it is time for dessert. All of the greedy revelers help themselves to generous servings of the cake. So when the plate reaches Ant, there is just a single crumb left to split with the host. Unhappy with this turn of events, the tiny insect decides to bake a new cake for the king. This turns into a competition when the other dinner guests also decide to bake desserts. When the final baked goods are sliced and diced into fractions for sharing, kids learn quite a bit about math along with a lesson on etiquette.
Lions for Kids: Amazing Facts and True Stories About the Lion
Take an in-depth journey into the evolution of lions and all of the subspecies that currently roam the earth. This non-fiction book about lions will answer all of your children's questions. They will learn about their habitat, how lions hunt for food, how to distinguish between male and female lions, and so much more. There are also a lot of interesting true stories about lions told throughout this book.
Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion
A fractured fairytale based on Little Red Riding Hood takes place in the safari. This time Little Red sets off on a journey to deliver medicine to her aunt who has broken out in spots. Instead of a wolf, the girl encounters a very hungry lion. Thinking on her feet, Little Red comes up with a slew of tactics to divert the lion from eating her. Finally, she teaches him that if he's hungry, all he needs to do is ask for food.
National Geographic Kids: Lions
An enchanting National Geographic book for preschoolers teaches them all about lions. The mesmerizing photographs are accompanies by easy-to-understand text. Kids will learn how lions hunt for food, all about their habitat, and the ways they play together. There is also an interesting map that shows readers where lions live all around the world.
Lafcadio: The Lion Who Shot Back
This very first book by Shel Silverstein about self-discovery is a moving book for both children and adults. It's about Lafcadio, a lion who should be happy by all standards. He is invited to join a circus where he becomes famous for his outstanding marksmanship. As his status grows, Lafcadio enjoys meals in upscale restaurants and visits to fancy hotels. However, with each passing day, his identity becomes more confused and the lion is overcome with sadness. When on a hunting trip with his owner in Africa, Lafcadio finds himself with a gun pointed at other lions. This is the moment when he must decide if he is man or lion. So many layers to unpack in this timeless classic with a far reaching audience.
Lion Needs a Haircut
Lions are supposed to be courageous and brave. So when it's time for something as simple as a haircut, there shouldn't be a problem. Unfortunately, little lion isn't feeling so fierce when it comes to getting his locks trimmed. He lets out a ROAR to let everyone know he will not be going to the barber. But then his father, who also needs his mane cut, offers to go along. With his dad by his side, maybe little lion can face the sheers after all.
Brian the Dancing Lion
A wonderful book about breaking stereotypes and following your dreams. Brian is a lion who has some expectations to uphold. He is supposed to be brave and fierce. Although he may have those traits, but his passion for dancing does not align with them. When he enters a dance competition, Brian's biggest fear is how his friends will react to seeing him on stage. Will they laugh at him or will they surprise him by showing support? A book for everyone who needs the courage to just be themselves.
Tell Me a Lion Story
An interactive story about a child who asks her father to tell her a story. But not just any story. It has to be about a lion. And so her dad begins, but not without constant interruptions from his daughter who perhaps would rather be making up the story herself. Every time the dad makes something up about the lion, it's not quite right. Lots of humor in this lion story that invites readers to add their own interpretation along the way.
The Night Lion
Morgan is plagued by a fear of darkness. During the day, he is full of bravado and confidence, especially when he wears his tall hat and wields his toy sword. But at night, his active imagination plays tricks on him. Morgan has nightmares that a robber is coming to steal his prized toys. His beloved Nana comes to the rescue with a a stuffed lion for Morgan to take to bed. When his scary dreams begin to creep in, Morgan imagines he is riding his fierce lion and chases away the bad guy. A reassuring story about comfort a (toy) lion provides to a boy with a common fear.
Lions
A leveled book for kids starting to read on their own, this book is filled with the most intriguing photographs of lions in their natural habitat. Kids will learn about what they eat, how they play, and all kinds of other interesting facts. Collect all of the amazing books in the National Geographic Series.
There's a Lion in the Forest!
All of the animals in a tropical forest are convinced there is a lion lurking around. Even though they know lions don't live in South America, evidence is mounting that a big cat is among them. Toucan, Capybara, and Coati are convinced they heard a lion's growl and caught a glimpse of its tail thrashing back and forth behind the thick brush and trees. In the end, the quivering forest animals feel sweet relief that they were sorely mistaken. An endearing story about not jumping to conclusion without all the facts. Pages in the back includes valuable information about endangered species living in the rain forests.
Lion and Mouse
A modern interpretation of the classic fable about the unlikely friendship between a lion and a mouse. In this clever story, a confident little rodent enters the lion's den on his way to visit his girlfriend. After an ugly exchange, the mouse convinces the lion not to eat him with the promise that he will return the favor one day. That day arrives sooner than expected when the lion gets trapped by a hunter. The clever mouse frees the lion, and from there a friendship based on acceptance and kindness is formed.
Amazing Animals: Lions
A fascinating non-fiction book about lions for little readers. Each double page spread features a gorgeous photograph of a lion along with a couple of short sentences. Children will learn about their physical characteristics, what they eat, where they live, and how they care for their young. This book is a great introduction for toddlers and preschoolers who want to read more about these fearsome animals.
The Happy Lion
Lots of lessons are packed into this classic book about a lion who resides in a French zoo. He's a friendly cat who enjoys all the visitors who stop by to say "Bonjour, Happy Lion". One day his cage is accidentally left open, so the lion decides to pay a visit to all of the friends who have come by the zoo. But what an unpleasant surprise when the townspeople flea in terror instead of greeting him with open arms. A thought-provoking story with French expressions paired with rich illustrations make this enjoyable for both parents and children alike.
The Lion on the Bus
A fun twist on the classic "Wheels on the Bus" will have kids singing along in no time. In this colorful story, the humans on the bus are joined by a lion, a crocodile, a panther and some other wild passengers. The expressions of the motley crew are hysterical in this highly readable rendition.
Goodnight Lion
A loving lion is ready for bed, but he must tuck in all of his friends before settling down himself. Using a special flashlight attached to the book, toddlers can shine it through little windows to find all the hidden animals. Repetitive rhymes and whimsical pictures will appeal to little toddlers ready for bedtime themselves.
Sometimes Cake
A subtly profound picture book about Audrey and her best friend, Lion. They do like a good birthday party, but there is no reason why every day, like any old Tuesday, shouldn't be celebrated. So together they turn everyday things into special occasions. The color orange, coconuts, and other ordinary objects are worthy of balloons, cake and confetti. Give this book to anyone who needs a gentle reminder to stop and smell the roses from time to time.
Lion Lessons
A scrawny, meek little boy wants nothing more than to earn his Lion's Diploma. He has the best master instructor around, who is a real, live lion. There are several important skills that need to be mastered, including Roaring, Prowling, Prancing, and Looking Fierce. Unfortunately, the gentle child has a hard time passing all of these tests. It's not until the final task, Looking Out for Friends, is introduced that he feels confidant about passing. A humorous and endearing story about the power of friendship.
The Little Lion That Listened
An endearing little lion, Leo, is quite an amazing listener. While that is considered a good trait in humans, it is only a marginally valuable attribute in lions. It's true that Leo's astute listening skills have saved his family from danger. But his father is concerned that Leo will never be respected since he refuses to roar. A more patient mother knows that Leo will find his voice when he is ready, but will it be too late? Beautiful artwork completes a story that strikes a chord for lots of kids, many of whom need a extra time to reach their own milestones in life.
Clementine and the Lion
An oddly imaginative and fantastical story about Clementine, a resourceful little girl who has a disdain for her parents. When they both disappear (one held captive by dragons and the other stuck in a bottle at sea), she is strangely happy about her newfound freedom. But her sudden sense of independence is quickly upended when an uninvited guest moves into her home. It's ferocious roar and destructive behavior just about drive Clementine out of her home. With some creative problem-solving and open-minded thinking, maybe this unlikely duo can find a way to live under the same roof.