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Wild Magic: Legend of the Black Lion
Dora the Explorer meets Evie and the Animals. Join twins Misha and Ziggy as they put their extraordinary animal abilities to the test in this new illustrated wildlife adventure series for readers 6+.
Misha and Ziggy are no ordinary twins. They have a secret that no one else knows – Misha can speak to animals and Ziggy can shape shift into them!
The siblings couldn’t be happier to be joining their wildlife presenter father on a trip to Ethiopia, and they’re determined to help him bag the best footage of the legendary Black Lion. The only problem . . . their dad doesn’t want them going anywhere near the wild animals.
When the Black Lion goes missing, Misha and Ziggy are certain their powers can help track it down, but they aren’t the only ones on the hunt for the lion. Can the twins gain the animals’ trust and help keep the whole jungle safe from harm?
Misha and Ziggy are no ordinary twins. They have a secret that no one else knows – Misha can speak to animals and Ziggy can shape shift into them!
The siblings couldn’t be happier to be joining their wildlife presenter father on a trip to Ethiopia, and they’re determined to help him bag the best footage of the legendary Black Lion. The only problem . . . their dad doesn’t want them going anywhere near the wild animals.
When the Black Lion goes missing, Misha and Ziggy are certain their powers can help track it down, but they aren’t the only ones on the hunt for the lion. Can the twins gain the animals’ trust and help keep the whole jungle safe from harm?
- GenresAnimals
176 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2025
About the author
Abiola Bello
22 books416 followersAbiola Bello is a Nigerian-British, prize-winning, bestselling children’s and YA author. Born and raised in London she is an advocate for diversity in books.
Abiola's the author of the award-winning fantasy series Emily Knight and was nominated for the CILIP’s Carnegie Award, won London’s BIG Read 2019, and was a finalist for the People’s Book Prize Best Children’s Book. Abiola contributed toThe Super Sunny Murder Club and The Very Merry Murder Club, which was selected as Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month and Blackwell's Children's Book of the Month.
Abiola's debut chapter book series Wild Magic was featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels and is shortlisted for the Spark! Book Awards.
Abiola's debut YA, Love in Winter Wonderland was an Amazon’s Editor’s Choice, featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels and the US edition is a Junior Library Guild Pick and Target Book Club YA pick. Only for the Holidays was The Bookseller One To Watch, one of Waterstones Best Paperbacks of 2023 and The Love Dare is shortlisted for Peters Children’s Book of the Year 2025.
Abiola has also co-written with footballer Marcus Rashford MBE for the Breakfast Club Adventures.
Abiola won The Black British Business Awards 2023 for Arts and Media and The London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards 2018.
She is the co- founder of Hashtag Press, and The Diverse Book Awards. She has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Female First Magazine, The Mirror, BBC1XTRA to name a few.
As well as being a writer, Abiola is a professional dancer. She performed for more than a decade in prestigious venues including The Royal Opera House, The Barbican, Sadler’s Wells, Hammersmith Apollo. Abiola has also appeared on BBC’s The Apprentice, Got To Dance and Street Dance All Stars The Movie.
Abiola's the author of the award-winning fantasy series Emily Knight and was nominated for the CILIP’s Carnegie Award, won London’s BIG Read 2019, and was a finalist for the People’s Book Prize Best Children’s Book. Abiola contributed toThe Super Sunny Murder Club and The Very Merry Murder Club, which was selected as Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month and Blackwell's Children's Book of the Month.
Abiola's debut chapter book series Wild Magic was featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels and is shortlisted for the Spark! Book Awards.
Abiola's debut YA, Love in Winter Wonderland was an Amazon’s Editor’s Choice, featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels and the US edition is a Junior Library Guild Pick and Target Book Club YA pick. Only for the Holidays was The Bookseller One To Watch, one of Waterstones Best Paperbacks of 2023 and The Love Dare is shortlisted for Peters Children’s Book of the Year 2025.
Abiola has also co-written with footballer Marcus Rashford MBE for the Breakfast Club Adventures.
Abiola won The Black British Business Awards 2023 for Arts and Media and The London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards 2018.
She is the co- founder of Hashtag Press, and The Diverse Book Awards. She has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Female First Magazine, The Mirror, BBC1XTRA to name a few.
As well as being a writer, Abiola is a professional dancer. She performed for more than a decade in prestigious venues including The Royal Opera House, The Barbican, Sadler’s Wells, Hammersmith Apollo. Abiola has also appeared on BBC’s The Apprentice, Got To Dance and Street Dance All Stars The Movie.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 1, 2025
Wild Magic : Legend of the Black Lion is a joy to read from start to finish.
The 7-9 year fiction selection is often limited and lacking in great adventures for those emerging independent readers who aspire to read a good story but this wonderful story ticks the box.
Misha and Ziggy have magical powers; Misha can talk to animals whilst Ziggy can shape shift in to different creatures.
When the opportunity arises for them to travel to Ethiopia with their film making dad, they cannot believe their luck especially their father is in search of the infamous Black Lion .
Whilst their father works, the children find ways to begin to communicate with the local animals and soon find out that the Black Lion is in danger and has been injured and so begins their adventure to save the lion from poachers.
Abiola Bello has written a fast paced, full of facts and fascinating read. The text is pitch perfect and Emma McCann's illustrations add humour and excitement.
The fact file at the end is also a great addition
This is a book that will be recommended to colleagues in primary schools especially in Lower Key stage 2 ( great class read and exciting writing opportunities ) and also to friends and family with 7-9 year olds.
Roll on Book 2 Wild Magic: Journey of the Lost Elephant
A total winner - highly recommended
The 7-9 year fiction selection is often limited and lacking in great adventures for those emerging independent readers who aspire to read a good story but this wonderful story ticks the box.
Misha and Ziggy have magical powers; Misha can talk to animals whilst Ziggy can shape shift in to different creatures.
When the opportunity arises for them to travel to Ethiopia with their film making dad, they cannot believe their luck especially their father is in search of the infamous Black Lion .
Whilst their father works, the children find ways to begin to communicate with the local animals and soon find out that the Black Lion is in danger and has been injured and so begins their adventure to save the lion from poachers.
Abiola Bello has written a fast paced, full of facts and fascinating read. The text is pitch perfect and Emma McCann's illustrations add humour and excitement.
The fact file at the end is also a great addition
This is a book that will be recommended to colleagues in primary schools especially in Lower Key stage 2 ( great class read and exciting writing opportunities ) and also to friends and family with 7-9 year olds.
Roll on Book 2 Wild Magic: Journey of the Lost Elephant
A total winner - highly recommended
February 21, 2026
I don't want to count this towards my reading challenge because it is quite short but I read this for school and it is soooooo good that I had to get it on here!
March 1, 2025
Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Children's UK and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.
Ziggy and Misha are twins with special gifts, one can talk with animals, the other can shape-shift into them. Their dad is a wild animal tv presenter who never takes them on the trips, until this time when he’s looking for the rare black lion.
This was such a fun book filled with so much adventure and so much going on within the story. I really loved that the children went on the trip, they got to explore everything, see and learn so much about animals, about nature and about poachers.
I loved how easily they became friends with the animals and in particular with the lion himself, they were so wonderful in helping him, to keep him safe and to try to heal him. I also really liked that even though it was dangerous they helped with the poachers, which that was awesome how they did that.
This is a wonderful new series, it’s going to teach children so much, from all about animals and nature, to the country the stories are set in themselves. The author also includes extra facts at the end which I loved reading any chance of getting extra information provided is always a win to me.
Lastly the illustrations were honestly so beautiful, I really enjoyed looking at them, seeing so much diversity in characters and a realistic look at the culture, the environment and the people that live there. I will say though the hands were a bit scary, they didn’t have enough fingers but other than that they were great to look at.
Ziggy and Misha are twins with special gifts, one can talk with animals, the other can shape-shift into them. Their dad is a wild animal tv presenter who never takes them on the trips, until this time when he’s looking for the rare black lion.
This was such a fun book filled with so much adventure and so much going on within the story. I really loved that the children went on the trip, they got to explore everything, see and learn so much about animals, about nature and about poachers.
I loved how easily they became friends with the animals and in particular with the lion himself, they were so wonderful in helping him, to keep him safe and to try to heal him. I also really liked that even though it was dangerous they helped with the poachers, which that was awesome how they did that.
This is a wonderful new series, it’s going to teach children so much, from all about animals and nature, to the country the stories are set in themselves. The author also includes extra facts at the end which I loved reading any chance of getting extra information provided is always a win to me.
Lastly the illustrations were honestly so beautiful, I really enjoyed looking at them, seeing so much diversity in characters and a realistic look at the culture, the environment and the people that live there. I will say though the hands were a bit scary, they didn’t have enough fingers but other than that they were great to look at.
April 21, 2026
Really gorgeous illustrations and a fun story.
*Read aloud with kiddo.
*Read aloud with kiddo.
August 20, 2025
Can see why this has been chosen Global Read Aloud. I liked it enough to give it to my 8 year old grandson for his birthday. Too primary for the 4th/5th where I volunteer although if there was a Spanish Edition I might get that for them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews