Oscar’s Lion

by Adam Baron, Benji Davies (Illustrator)

A magical coming-of-age story about a boy spending his first weekend without his parents . . . and the lion who comes to babysit him. Get ready to fall in love with this instant classic.

‘Beautiful, adventurous, powerful’ Phil Earle

Oscar is a little terrified to find that a lion is going to be looking after him for the weekend. But when the lion lets him eat as many biscuits as he wants, and reads him his favourite story ten times, Oscar realises he might be on to something good.

Soon, Oscar discovers that the lion can change into different animals and the pair find themselves having all kinds of adventures! But before the lion has to go, might he have one more amazing transformation up his sleeve?

Oscar’s Lion is an astonishing and deeply personal book from one of our greatest storytellers.

Genres: Childrens

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2023

Reviews

[Desislava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Прекрасна история, която с много въображение и хумор разглежда важни теми като загубата, която аз самата усетих много близо до сърцето си, а със симпатичните илюстрации в книгата Оскар, неговият лъв и техните приключения оживяват в ръцете ти.

[De Grote Vriendelijke Podcast]

Een raadselachtig, magisch en fascinerend boek over Oscar, die op een dag een leeuw op het bed van zijn ouders vindt. Oscar wordt gepest en heeft het lang niet altijd leuk op school. Als die dag zijn ouders spoorloos zijn, beleeft hij samen met deze wel heel bijzondere leeuw - hij kan veranderen in andere dieren - het wonderbaarlijkste weekend van zijn leven. Een prachtig uitgegeven boek waar je als lezer van alles bij kunt bedenken. Heel geschikt om voor te lezen vanaf een jaar of 6-7. Uitgegeven bij De Fontein, in vertaling van Anne Bouqué. De prachtige tekeningen zijn van Benji Davies.

We bespreken het boek in aflevering 133 van De Grote Vriendelijke Podcast. Luister nu via Spotify, je podcast-app of https://degrotevriendelijkepodcast.nl...

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story for children. I had the pleasure of working with Adam on a day of school visits where he read this book aloud to pupils. I later met a child at our local Summer Reading Challenge Celebration Event who was avidly reading her signed copy of the book! What a lovely story.
It’s good to follow Oscar on his adventures. A nice little ending to the story. Would recommend. It’s also beautifully illustrated - the pictures support this chapter book in just the right way. A great one to add to the collection and be my 100th book this year to complete my reading challenge 😀

[Alexandra Luijkx- Roelse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heel mooi

[Ben De Coninck · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

[BookBairn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Mary Poppins meets the Tiger Who Came to Tea meets Home Alone and it’s absolutely brilliant! There are a few heart wrenching moments (and a scene about bullying that was quite painful to read) but there’s also lots of fun and humour.

[Marcella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wat er gebeurd als je op een ochtend wakker wordt en je ouders zijn opgegeten door een pratende leeuw. Ergens heel leuk (want een leeuw heeft geen telefoon en dus alle tijd om je favoriete boek 5 keer achter elkaar voor te lezen) en ook iets minder leuk (omdat het toch je ouders zijn hè?)

Zoals vaker bij kinderboeken van Engelse bodem komen er een tal van thema’s voor in dit boek voor 8+ (zoals verlies van een grootouder, praten en zwijgen, pesten en opgroeien) maar is vooral de fantasie die de overhand krijgt. Toch heb ik een paar keer hardop moeten grinniken om deze jongen en zijn ouder-leeuw en emotioneerde het einde. Zeer charmante schrijfstijl, een fijne toevoeging voor deze leeftijdscategorie.

(PS: de achterflap vond ik niet helemaal passend, sla die maar gewoon over.)

[Katy Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving, imaginative family story with haaaaaaaaart.

It did move me. At the start, it felt a little 'Tiger Who Came To Tea', as young Oscar takes his favourite book to his parents' room early one morning to find them gone and a full lion in their place.

Initially terrified, Oscar soon feels slightly less wary as the lion turns out to not only be an excellent reader, but also willing to take Oscar to school, help him face up to a bully, and take him on 'Narnia-type' adventures.

Subtlely included are lots of references to Oscar's busy working parents, often working or on calls, and the recent family sadness that's left Oscar clearly needing comfort and solace. Can just a shape-changing lion, some snow, a museum and a bit of imagination/magic pull Oscar through the weekend before the lion gets hungry again?

It's one of those narratives where you aren't ever sure what to believe. Is the lion real? Are Oscar's parents really eaten? Can anyone else actually see the lion? Allowing the story to flow along pays off, with an incredibly heartfelt story family story emerging, that isn't too detailed for younger readers to access but that older readers will see the history/fuller picture behind.

Loved it. A short story that will need a few bedtimes if reading aloud but that an older child can manage in an hour or two. Currently the book does not contain the illustrations, so I am unable to comment on these.

It has a classic 'feel' to it, in tone and style, and is one I'm going to be sharing with my 6-year-old who I'm sure will look as puzzled (and worried) as I did at the start!

Plenty here to discuss with readers, of various ages. It will capture the interest of those ages 6-11.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

[Farah G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oscar's Lion is a beautiful book which keeps you guessing every step of the way. It deals with some really profound topics but does so in a way that is imaginative and wildly unpredictable. As I was reading the book, I kept trying to figure out where it was going, but it still took me by surprise...

Oscar wakes up one morning, just before the weekend, to find his parents gone. Instead, there is a lion sitting on his parents' bed, which - without giving him any explanations - essentially starts taking care of him.

Oscar is understandably alarmed, but he notes that the Lion takes better care of him and pays more attention to him than either of his parents have done for a while. When he discovers that the lion is also a shape-shifter, and takes him on some very interesting adventures, Oscar gets totally caught up in the excitement of what is happening - at least for the first few days.

The book deals with some important issues - from good parenting to the loss of homeland to coming to terms with grief. And it does so in a really creative way. It can be enjoyed by any child, but it will be particularly suitable for children who are sensitive and have a vivid imagination.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Renee van Eijk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bijzonder hoe ik soms tijdens het lezen al sterren geef in m’n hoofd. Vijf sterren aan het begin, toen naar 4 gezakt want wat gekke zinnen en het duurt wel een beetje maar dan toch weer naar vijf voor het prachtige einde en hoe alles duidelijk wordt.

Wow wat een mooi kinderboek. Oscar wordt wakker en ontdekt dat z’n ouders er niet zijn. Er zit een leeuw op hun bed. En die leeuw blijft het hele weekend bij hem om op hem te passen. Samen beleven ze van alles en wordt Oscar groter.

Hij denkt veel aan oma die in haar jeugd heeft moeten vluchten naar Engeland.

Bijzonder ook hoe dit boek parallellen heeft met het vorige boek dat ik las, vooral in dat teruggaan naar waar een belangrijk familielid heeft gewoond en vandaan heeft moeten vluchten.

Echt een aanrader.

[Rebecca R · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Friday morning Oscar wakes to find that his parents have gone and a large lion is occupying their room. Though he is worried about their disturbing disappearance, he is soon distracted by the lion who obligingly reads him his favourite book over and over again with much more patience than his parents ever do. The lion scares off Oscar’s bully on the way to school and then causes a distraction so he won’t get into trouble for forgetting his homework project. On Saturday, the adventures of Oscar and the lion become even more magical and fantastic. At the end of the weekend, the mystery of the talking, shape-shifting lion is revealed.

This is an absolutely enchanting story, full of heart and humour, that combines an incredible adventure with an emotional journey. Highly recommended!

[Shikha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially the book gives you The Tiger who came to Tea feeling with Oscar alone at home and with a massive Lion.This is no ordinary Lion but has shape shifting powers.

The lion helps Oscar in many ways which his parents faltered to turn up.As you progress you wont even be sure if the lion is real or where exactly did Oscar's parents disappear or is it the grandmother who has come to his rescue.

It is suitable for younger audiences as good as 6 to perhaps a 11 year old who has vivid imagination and build up an imaginary world.

[Theediscerning · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gallimaufry of themes and ideas, that pitch us in to the deep end of the plot from page one and only really show their unifying content in the last chapters. As clever as you might ultimately deem this, it has to be said some will lose patience before seeing what the ultimate point is.

For only some of those themes, and a look at how this all hangs together (or fails to), please click on:- http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/O...

[Mehsi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about loss, grief, family, but also about imagination, dreams, and more. It was OK, but at times it was just weird (like I knew who the lion was early on, but how the lion was able to be at school with the boy (as a beetle) no clue, dreams?) and sometimes I just didn't care (like with the museum parts), I also didn't get a grip on the age of the boy (sometimes he felt more like 3-4 given how he reacted/acted).

[Rosemary Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very heartwarming book which would lead to lots of book talk in the classroom. It will great for discussions which build empathy. Therefore, it would be great for HRSE. I would use it for a LKS2 English unit where the children could write their own version of the lion’s adventures. I would also use the book to link to art and pencil drawings.

[Zac · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I wanted to love this book but something about it was a bit off. The cover and description made it seem like it would be light-hearted but there were a couple of parts that went to quite dark places. I was glad my 9 year old daughter wasn’t upset by these parts (which I thought she might have been). Overall, the story wasn’t quite what I expected.

[Rose Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be honest, I wasn't going to read this. I was cataloguing for my school library, and flicked through the pages and spotted the words "war planes " and others to do with the war, so thought I'd give it a skim. A bit of a dream fantasy adventure for a little boy and a lion friend who morphs into other animals and takes a time travel through history. Not bad for a very quick read!

[Jen Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly beautiful book about coming to terms with the loss of a granny
Oscar wakes to find his parents gone and a lion sitting on their bed.
The lion takes care of him for the weekend, taking him to school, helping against the bullies and to museums.
The lion changes shape to stay hidden from the rest of the world.

[Femke van den Biggelaar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wel een schattig verhaal, maar niet zo mijn ding. De onthulling aan het eind vond ik niet zo lekker geschreven. Doordat het nog een beetje mysterieus moest blijven of door de vertaling. Maar dat deed voor mij echt afbreuk aan het verhaal.

[Mlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boek met een origineel, grappig (& licht eng) concept.
Oscars ouders zijn ineens verdwenen en vervangen door... een leeuw? Maar wat is er dan met zijn ouders gebeurd?

Inclusief diepere lagen, waardoor je ook goed in gesprek kan over dit boek met kinderen.

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story takes the readers into themes of war, migration, and loss. Staying alone and the fantasy world in the real life characters.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hesitated over this one at the beginning but persevered and was richly rewarded. I would recommend reading this yourself before sharing with a child due to some sensitive topics.

[Lonneke Vandervorst · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nieuwsgierig, meeslepend, avontuurlijk, mooi, verlies, omgaan met emoties......

[cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that touches really difficult topics such as loneliness and grief with a touch of magical realism that turns into a heartwarming reveal. I feel like it's that type of children's book that it's both for kids and adults at the same time, it makes everything feel softer at least for a while.

[Fromsouth 8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://vendi13.blogspot.com/2025/11/r...

[Dee Groocock · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Oscar wakes one morning and goes to his mum and dad’s room, he finds his parents are gone and a lion has taken their place!

The lion takes Oscar to school, plays with him and makes dens. He also can change from a lion to a bird and to a beetle!

Oscar loves having him look after him, he’s much more fun than his parents are, they’re either working or looking at their phones. However, it’s not too long before he misses his parents.

This is a lovely story and has many messages for children, it also helps children with dealing with grief.

My thanks to Literally PR for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly van Kempen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik heb erg genoten van dit lieve verhaal. Toen ik op 80% zat, vond ik het een beetje veel van hetzelfde en wist ik niet waar het heen ging, maar het had gelukkig toch een heel mooi einde en ik ben blij dat ik het heb uitgelezen ❤️
Leuk, absurdistisch, mooi verhaal!