- Picture Books
- Ages 3–7
- Everyday Life
How to Be a Lion
Leonard the lion loves writing poems with his best friend Marianne the duck, until bullies insist lions should roar and gobble ducks. A gentle, empowering picture book about being true to yourself and finding words that change the world.
- Best for3–7
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Lyrical
Tone
- Warm
- Gentle
- Heartwarming
- Thought provoking
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Leonard is a lion, but he is a lion like no other. Instead of roaring and chasing, he spends his days daydreaming, making up poems and enjoying the quiet company of his best friend, Marianne, who happens to be a duck. Their friendship is peaceful and happy, until a pack of tougher lions demands to know why Leonard hasn't gobbled Marianne up. Lions are supposed to be fierce, aren't they? Faced with pressure to be someone he is not, Leonard has to decide what kind of lion he wants to be, and discovers that there are many ways to be a lion, many ways to be a friend, and that sometimes the right gentle words are more powerful than the loudest roar. Ed Vere's warm, beautifully designed picture book celebrates daydreamers, individuality and quiet courage. Winner of the Oscar's Book Prize, it reassures every child that being kind and being yourself is its own kind of brave.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Reads aloud beautifully from about 3, with enough thematic depth to reward children of 6-8 thinking about identity and friendship. Confident readers of 5+ can manage the text, but it shines as a shared read.
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- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 5–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Being yourself
- Gentle boys
- Read aloud
- Friendship
Avoid if
- Wants action adventure
Particularly good for children who are…
- Being bullied
- Making friends
- Low self esteem
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Leonard is a lion who would rather write poems than roar, and his friendship with Marianne the duck is sweet and funny. When the tough lions try to change him, children feel the pressure too, and cheer when Leonard proves gentleness can be its own kind of brave.
- Being understood finally
- Friendship and belonging
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
An award-winning picture book that gives boys, in particular, a rare model of quiet, kind strength. Ed Vere's poised design and lyrical text make it a joy to read aloud, and it opens gentle conversations about individuality and standing up to pressure.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Great writing
- Conversation starter
- Bedtime appropriate
About the author & illustrator
Ed Vere.
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