My daughter was four when she asked why lions have to be scary. We had just finished a book where the lion chased everyone away, and she looked genuinely bothered by it. I pulled How to Be a Lion off the shelf that night. It became one of those books we read so many times I could recite it without looking at the pages.
Ed Vere’s picture book does something rare. It takes the “be yourself” message that fills hundreds of children’s books and makes it feel fresh. Leonard the lion writes poetry and befriends a duck named Marianne. The other lions think he’s doing it wrong. Leonard has to figure out what kind of lion he wants to be.
Best for ages 3-7. The message about gentle strength resonates with kids who feel different. My son, who was more of a rough-and-tumble kid, also connected with it. The story works on multiple levels.
What Is How to Be a Lion About?
Leonard is a lion who doesn’t roar or chase other animals. He spends his time thinking, dreaming, and writing poems. His best friend is Marianne, a small duck. The other lions mock him. They say real lions don’t make friends with their food.
When Leonard and Marianne face the pack together, Leonard finds his voice. Not a roar of aggression, but words that make the other lions stop and think. The ending doesn’t promise everyone changes their minds. It simply shows that Leonard stays true to himself.
The book won the 2019 Oscar’s Book Prize and was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. It’s been translated into numerous languages and shows up on recommended reading lists for social-emotional learning.
What We Like Less:
I didn’t have a problem with that but the book’s style is a lot like Ferdinand the bull, plus it offers the anti-bullying message.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
It is a thoughtful, funny, and sweet story that can open the reader’s eyes about the necessity of difference and respect for the other and ourselves. The book will help your child not backing down to hurtful criticism. Read a full review of How to be a Lion.
About Ed Vere
Ed Vere is a British author and illustrator whose books consistently land on bestseller lists. He studied at Camberwell College of Arts and Central Saint Martins before creating picture books full-time.
His other popular books include Max the Brave (about a kitten who thinks he’s fierce), Bedtime for Monsters, and The Getaway. He’s known for bold illustrations, minimal text, and stories that give kids something to think about without preaching.
Vere’s work often explores what it means to be brave. His characters tend to be small creatures discovering their own kind of courage. How to Be a Lion fits that pattern perfectly.
Themes and Lessons
This book works well for social-emotional learning. Here’s what it teaches without being heavy-handed:
Being yourself matters more than fitting in. Leonard doesn’t become a different lion to make friends. He stays exactly who he is. The story validates kids who feel like they don’t match expectations.
Gentle doesn’t mean weak. Leonard faces the other lions without fighting. He uses his words. For boys especially, this is a powerful message. Strength isn’t just physical.
Friendship crosses boundaries. A lion and a duck. It shouldn’t work, but it does. Kids understand this immediately. Friends can be different from you.
Standing up for yourself takes courage. Leonard doesn’t hide from the confrontation. He faces it in his own way. That’s a different kind of bravery than roaring the loudest.
What Makes It Special
The illustrations are striking. Bold colors, expressive faces, pages that alternate between quiet moments and dramatic spreads. Vere uses negative space effectively. Leonard’s thoughtful expressions carry emotion without needing words.
The text has rhythm. Short sentences that read aloud beautifully. There’s a poetic quality that matches Leonard’s character. It never feels forced.
The ending isn’t saccharine. The other lions don’t suddenly become Leonard’s friends. They simply leave him alone. That’s more realistic than a tidy reconciliation. Sometimes standing up for yourself just means keeping your space, not winning everyone over.
It sparks conversation. My kids had questions after reading it. What would you have said to the lions? Why do people expect lions to act a certain way? Those discussions went places I didn’t expect.
What Could Be Better
Very young toddlers (under 3) might miss the nuance. The message works better when kids understand social dynamics. At 2, my son liked the pictures but didn’t engage with the story the way he did later.
Some parents might want a more decisive “happy ending” with the other lions. The ambiguous resolution is actually a strength, but it might feel incomplete to readers expecting full reconciliation.
Teaching and Activity Ideas
Teachers and parents use this book for social-emotional learning activities. A few that work well:
Discussion prompts:
- What makes Leonard different from other lions?
- Why is Marianne a good friend?
- What would you say if someone told you that you were “wrong” for being yourself?
- Can you think of different ways to be brave?
Writing activity: Have kids write their own short poem like Leonard. It doesn’t have to rhyme. Just a few lines about something they notice or feel.
Art project: Draw your own unlikely animal friendship. A shark and a starfish. A hawk and a mouse. Talk about what makes friendships work even when friends are different.
Role-play: Practice standing up for yourself using words, not fighting. What could you say if someone made fun of something you liked?
Similar Books About Kindness and Courage
If your child connects with How to Be a Lion, these books explore similar themes:
The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright follows a tiny mouse who discovers his inner lion. It’s another take on courage and self-confidence with gorgeous illustrations.
Max the Brave by Ed Vere is the same author’s book about a kitten who wants to chase mice. It’s funnier than How to Be a Lion but carries similar themes about identity.
The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld shows how being present for someone matters more than fixing their problems. Beautiful book about empathy.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud explains kindness in terms kids understand. More direct than Vere’s approach but effective for younger readers.
What’s Next
Looking for more picture books with meaning? Check our guides for 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds, and 5-year-olds.
Want more Ed Vere? His book Max the Brave is another favorite in our house. Check it out on Amazon.
For more picture books about feelings and friendship, see our Julia Donaldson books guide which includes several stories about unlikely friendships.
About These Recommendations
I’m George. I read to my kids for 10+ years before they started reading on their own. My wife’s a therapist who helped pick books that actually matter for development. Everything on this site got tested on our family first.
FAQs
Ages 3-7. Younger preschoolers enjoy the illustrations and simple story. Older kids (5-7) better understand the themes about being yourself and standing up to peer pressure. Adults appreciate it too.
The book teaches that being yourself is more important than fitting in. Leonard the lion shows that gentleness is its own kind of strength. You don’t have to roar to be brave.
Ed Vere wrote and illustrated How to Be a Lion. He’s a British author known for picture books including Max the Brave, Bedtime for Monsters, and The Getaway. His books often explore themes of courage and identity.
Yes. Teachers use it for SEL lessons about self-acceptance, friendship, empathy, and standing up for yourself. The story provides natural discussion points without being preachy.
The main lessons are: be true to yourself, gentleness is strength, friendships can cross boundaries, and standing up for yourself doesn’t require aggression. Leonard uses words instead of fighting.
Similar books include The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright, Max the Brave by Ed Vere, The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld, and Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. All explore kindness, courage, or self-acceptance.
Yes. It won the 2019 Oscar’s Book Prize and was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Carnegie Medal. It appears on many recommended reading lists for children.
No. How to Be a Lion is a standalone picture book. Ed Vere has written other books with similar themes, but Leonard and Marianne only appear in this one title.