King Lion

by Emma Yarlett

Why does everyone run away whenever this lonely beast roars “HELLO!” at them? A story about the art of making friends—and the bravery of one kind little girl.

King Lion wants a friend. But the only way he knows to communicate is to ROAR! Waving his paw, flashing a smile, and even cracking a joke don’t help. How can he let the townsfolk know that he just wants some company? Wild with loneliness, the king climbs to the top of a tower and roars his fierce sadness day and night, until one day, a little girl hears him and thinks that perhaps she understands. With charming illustrations, Emma Yarlett’s gently humorous take on how to make friends shows a little empathy goes a long way.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Childrens, Emotion, Fiction

32 pages, Library Binding

Published July 16, 2024

About the author

Emma Yarlett graduated with honors in illustration from University College Falmouth in 2011. Her other work includes a nonfiction book by Julia Donaldson and animation for the Waterstones Children’s Book Award.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

King Lion is lonely. He wants a friend. It’s hard making friends though—especially when you’re a lion. His jaws, claws, and nonstop roaring seem to drive everyone away. All except one little girl, who hears the roars and understands.

This story softly and sweetly depicts the courage and vulnerability of friend making. Along with the joy! The art possesses a homemade, cozy feel that brings warmth and tenderness to the tale and your heart. I loved the in-your-face lion artwork and handwritten lines.

Come "ROAR!" with lion and his new friend. Recommended read.

[Kirsten - Children's Library Lady]

A lonely lion only knows how to communicate by roaring, scaring everyone away. That is until a brave little girl sees the king and devises a plan to help him.

King Lion promotes discussions on bravery, communication, and reaching out and understanding others, even when they seem different or intimidating.

Discussion Questions
Why do you think everyone runs away when King Lion roars?
How does the little girl show bravery in the story?
Can you think of a time when you had to find a different way to communicate with someone?
What does this story teach us about making friends?
How does the story show us that appearances can be deceiving?
Can you relate to King Lion's feeling of loneliness? How does friendship help alleviate this feeling?
In what ways does the story encourage us to reach out and understand others who may seem different?

[Noodlenuts Kids Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've followed me for a while, you know that my favourite books for understanding disabilities aren't about disability at all.

Which is to say, I'm rarely fond of or concerned about stories that seek specifically to "explain disability" to an abled audience, and more interested in those that engagingly reflect my (and other people's) often relatable lived experiences as a disabled human.

The latest such story to speak directly to my heart is Emma Yarlett's gorgeous "King Lion" (2024), a story about navigating friendship when you're not necessarily great at communicating and, put bluntly, sometimes don't make the best first impression on people. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

In "King Lion", we meet the titular fierce and forbidding feline, lonely and very much wanting friends, but succeeding only in scaring people away, as he communicates his sadness with off-putting roars and displays of his terrifying claws and fangs.

Having been an often frustrated, rage-filled autistic child whose manner of communicating my thoughts and feelings ranged from equally off-putting pedantry to angry outbursts, I immediately found this relatable: to want very much to make friends but be utterly unsure of how to do so successfully.

But as King Lion finds out, in his case upon meeting a very curious, brave, and empathetic little girl, there are good people out there willing to see the good in others, even past a rather unusual or growly façade. I've been lucky enough to have several in my life as well.

A wonderful book about seeing past first impressions, and finding real, meaningful friendship because of it.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lion was king of a happy land, but he was not happy himself., so he decided to look for a friend. He roared “Hello,” flashed a toothy smile, and yelled a joke. But people misunderstood his intentions, and said, “The king is awful.” There was a little girl who understood the lion, because she, too, needed a friend. When he opened his giant mouth, she asked him to be friends. They were each happy to find a friend.

I loved the mixed media artwork, which looks like collage, pastels and cut paper. King Lion is majestic and imbued with pathos, both visually and through the language. At one point, he “roared his sorrow into the dark.” I found that phrase and the silhouette of the lion as he surveyed his frightened kingdom alone at night very moving. Yarlett portrays the kingdom of diverse people and animals as a cobblestoned city with modern transportation, and the little girl’s room as the sanctuary of a tortured thinker, with lists and drawings all around. I think families will enjoy thinking about the misunderstood lion and considering who in their lives might be their own King Lion.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Lion rules over his kingdom. Everyone in his kingdom is happy but King Lion. He is lonely and wants to have a friend. But, he doesn’t seem to know how to find one. He roars, “Hello!” which scares everyone away. Everything he does to try to find a friend is scary and no one even comes near him.

One day a young girl sees King Lion pleading for a friend. She understands him because she is lonely too. So, she decides to approach him. Can a little girl and a lion be friends?

This story of an unlikely friendship will help encourage kids who need a nudge to go out and meet a new friend as well as those kids who may try a bit too hard to make friends. It can be scary to reach out and just as scary to be rejected. But, King Lion and the little girl show that friendship is worth it.

Yarlett’s lively and vibrant illustrations beg to be looked at and the unique mix of fonts and lyrical prose will keep kids engaged in the story. Read this as your child is ready to head off to school if they are feeling nervous about making new friends or have trouble with their social skills.

[Vera Godley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The theme of this story is how a character comes across as mean and hurtful to others when the intent is not to do so, and how this prevents his ability to socialize. This troublesome characteristic is overcome by another individual who is mindful enough to gently engage and befriend the other harsher individual.

In other words, how to be kind and friendly to those in need of a kind word or deed.

While I'm not particularly fond of the rough, bold artistic style that utilizes black line and rough-drawn text, it is effective. The fierceness of King Lion is effectively portrayed in the illustrations, and the bold yet gentle gesture of offered friendship is beautifully and boldly portrayed.

A good lesson in character shaping and social interactions.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

About a king lion who was lonely and tries to roar for friends (wave, talk, smile but it looks like claws, roar, dripping jaws) but his kingdom subjects are all afraid of him and shun him because they can't see past his scary exterior. Then a little girl sees him and wants to be his friend so she approaches him, and she learns what it is to need a friend while he learns what it is to be a friend. Wholesome positive ending. Moral of the story about reaching out and looking past people's exterior to care for them. Text is written in a handwritten style, a little bit cursive-y and flowy but also written out. Art is simple and animal focused.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Hey Goodreads, if I type King Lion into the search bar, I don't want Lion King.)
This is not the books fault but probably not a good idea to read this book the same week that a woman loses her hand while trying to take a photo with a shark and a widower files a law suit for the death of his wife by a hippopotamus.
Usually I'm all about "it's just a kid's book" but I couldn't help thinking lions are dangerous all the way through this.
Also, and this may have had as much to do with the drawings as the story, I kept on thinking about The Grinch.

[Katie Hutchison Irion · Rating 4 out of 5]

King Lion by Emma Yarlett is the tale of a lonely lion. He may be king of the jungle, and in this case, the city, but he has no friends and has no idea how to be a friend. “Kind Lion wants a friend. But the only way he knows how to make friends is to ROAR! Why do the townsfolk fun away? Wild with loneliness, the King roars his sadness day and night until one day, a little girl hears him and knows exactly what to do because she feels the same sadness herself.” A lovely book with a captivating illustrations and sweet message.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

While I see what others are saying about this being a story about empathy, I just feel like it's not my favorite example of a picture book about friendship.

Also, I don't like the font of the text. Reminds me of a Oliver Jeffers book (don't get me wrong, I like his books but don't love the handwritten/messy font).

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars
I read a digital advance copy courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss
King Lion rules over a kingdom where everyone is happy, but him. He knows he needs a friends but when he searches for one, everyone hides. The one day a girl sees him and thinks she understands exactly what he needs. Rich illustration with a true moral, sometimes you need someone to show you how to be a friends.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

So weird. This would have made a lot more sense if he wasn't the king. Does the author think that kids don't know anything about what a king is? I mean, I get the whole idea of making friends and learning how to be friends with those who express things differently than you, but still. Just make him not the king, and it would be a better book.

[Hailey Vittrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book as a DRC. This book made me tear up. It shows the sadness of loneliness in such a raw, real, and picturesque way. However, it also shows courage and the power of kindness. I think that this is powerful lesson that everyone needs to learn.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻reviews: The story is cute and funny. King of the animal world is tough but lonely. The story is instrumental and has a moral message. This is perfect to be read and shared to the little ones. I know they’ll definitely enjoy the book as much as I do.

[Mrs Heidrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was on a list that The Book Wrangler had for new back to school books and it's a lovely one about friendship and understanding. There could be a lot to discuss here (or not) depending on how deeply you wanted to go.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging illustrations and compelling story, however it appears the text was done in cursive with a black crayon, not the easiest to read to a crowd in storytimes or a classroom.

Themes: animals/lions, friendship, emotions
Ages: toddler - 2nd grade+ (could easily be shortened)
Pub year: 2024

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read this, I cried. 😂
I love how gentle the little girl is, and how she understands the Lion's cries for friendship.

A great story to show what it feels like to finally find your people.

[Blueberry and Muffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

🫐Blueberry's review🫐
3.5✨
A story about a lion and and a little girl, both searching for friendship and unsure how to obtain it. 💗The illustrations where fun, though not my personal taste for a picture book. 😉 Great for ages four through eight or so! ☺️ No mature content. 🫶🏼

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely message about friendship, love that the text has a hand written style and the illustrations use a lot of bold colors. Copy provided by publisher for an honest review.

[Laura Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful picture book about empathy with bold and vibrant illustrations.

[Katie Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet book about friendships.

[Lucy Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

King Lion is lonely and everyone is too scared to be his friend, or are they? This is a beautifully illustrated picture book with a strong message of friendship.

[Mary Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for the beginning of the year about how to be a good friend.

[Connie T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The lion is king. King of a kingdom where everyone is happy - except him. King Lion is lonely but all his attempts to find a friend end in failure. His sharp claws, large teeth, and loud roar scare everyone away, until one insightful young girl figures out he's lonely and understands how he feels.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have the courage to be a friend. Will be using this in the future.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story about making friends.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 145.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming story about being misunderstood with phenomenal illustrations!

[Elaine Fultz, kinda retired librarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is fine. Kids will enjoy and move on. Not sure how this isn't plagiarism of Oliver Jeffers handwritten (?) font. The illustrations look like his, too.