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A Lion to Guard Us
The inspiring classic that The New Yorker called "an exciting tale [with] top-notch writing," about one girl facing harsh conditions and huge responsibility as she brings her family to the American colonies. Featuring a heroine with faith, courage, and a great deal of grit, this acclaimed historical fiction novel portrays the realities faced by three children hoping to find a new home in an unknown land. Amanda Freebold doesn't know what to do. Her father left three years ago for the new colony of Jamestown in America, thousands of miles away. But now that her mother has died, Amanda is left to take care of her younger brother and sister all alone back in England. As the new head of the family, Amanda finally decides to take her brother and sister to America to find Father. The ocean crossing is long and hard, and the children don't know whom to trust. But with her father's little brass lion's head to guard them, Amanda knows that somehow everything will work out.
117 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1981
191 people are currently reading
1558 people want to read
About the author
Clyde Robert Bulla
102 books99 followersBorn to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”
First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.
The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.
Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.
About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
September 11, 2024
It's a short book - only 115 pages - but it packs a lot of adventure! I'm still shocked by how much the author was able to squeeze into those pages; so your kids won't be bored. More like on the edge of their seats!
The story is based on the true account of the "Sea Adventure" which sailed from England to Jamestown in the New World. You might recognize another book about the same ship, "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare.
It's a great story, written well with the younger crowd in mind and would make for a wonderful family read-aloud.
Ages: 6 - 10
Reading Level: 3rd - 6th
Children's Bad Words
Name Calling - 6 Incidents: brats, a little pig, Crosspatch
Religious Profanities - 1 Incident: Thank heaven
Religious & Supernatural - 1 Incident: Some superstitious people think there are devils causing the storm and other mishaps - later this is not attributed to devils.
Violence - None
Romance Related - 1 Incident: A girl wears only her petticoat while playing.
Attitudes/Disobedience - 1 Incident: A girl wears only her petticoat while playing.
Conversation Topics - 1 Incident: The title comes from the door knocker, fashioned in a lion's head, that the father gives the children before departing, saying that it will protect them.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
The story is based on the true account of the "Sea Adventure" which sailed from England to Jamestown in the New World. You might recognize another book about the same ship, "The Tempest" by William Shakespeare.
It's a great story, written well with the younger crowd in mind and would make for a wonderful family read-aloud.
Ages: 6 - 10
Reading Level: 3rd - 6th
Children's Bad Words
Name Calling - 6 Incidents: brats, a little pig, Crosspatch
Religious Profanities - 1 Incident: Thank heaven
Religious & Supernatural - 1 Incident: Some superstitious people think there are devils causing the storm and other mishaps - later this is not attributed to devils.
Violence - None
Romance Related - 1 Incident: A girl wears only her petticoat while playing.
Attitudes/Disobedience - 1 Incident: A girl wears only her petticoat while playing.
Conversation Topics - 1 Incident: The title comes from the door knocker, fashioned in a lion's head, that the father gives the children before departing, saying that it will protect them.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
December 27, 2019
Originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.One child says three stars, the other says four. "A Lion to Guard Us" is one of many books written by Clyde Robert Bulla that graces our shelves. It is a Reader for the Sonlight Level D and BookShark Level 3 Introduction to American History part one. My oldest started reading it aloud so that my younger could enjoy the story as well. It is far below her reading level and while she wanted to know the story, she wasn't enjoying reading it (perhaps because of being forced to read aloud, because what fifth grade child enjoys that?). So, as we have fallen behind where I prefer to be in the schedule I tooo over and read it aloud.
Is a surprisingly adventurous story and a good one for starting to learn about what can happen and has happened to some. I think they all enjoyed it and it gave a glimpse of both the beauty and harshness reality of some parts of London, Bermuda island, and Jamestown. The girls (10 and 8) were exposed to Geography and History. They were able to get a gentle introduction to the harsher reality of life and a collection of thoughts to connect to ocean travel, exploration, and emigration from Europe.
We own a paperback copy of this book as recommended by many booklists and the BookShark/Sonlight core. We had an old hardcover and it is in my box to sell/trade.
This review was originally posted on Creative Madness Mama.
May 25, 2023
Historical fiction based on reality, written for lower to middle grade readers, A Lion to Guard Us is the story of three children in 1600s London. Their father has shipped ahead to the New World, where he is put to work building houses in the new settlement of Jamestown. The children and their mother are staying in the home where she is a domestic servant. But when their mother sickens and dies, Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg are left alone to figure out how to be reunited with their father. Amanda is very resourceful, but the lady they are living with refuses to give back the money left by her mother to help the children. In fact, she finally kicks them out onto the street and the world looks very dark.
Indeed the only possession the children have is an old lion-shaped door knocker that Jemmy loves to play with. Fortunately, they meet the doctor who took care of their mother and he takes them in until they can all book passage on a ship bound for America. The doctor is very eager to experience a ship journey, and knows that his skills will be welcome in the New World. But the ship journey turns out to be a very difficult one! Storms blow the ship off course and wreck them off the coast of Bermuda. (I had never heard this historical tidbit!) In the meantime, Jemmy has been playing with his lion's head door knocker, and telling the other children that it is made of gold (of course it isn't). But then other people are trying to steal it from them.
Will they ever make it to Jamestown and be reunited with their father? This story took me down several historical trails, and I ended up knowing a lot more about the early settlers of our country.
Indeed the only possession the children have is an old lion-shaped door knocker that Jemmy loves to play with. Fortunately, they meet the doctor who took care of their mother and he takes them in until they can all book passage on a ship bound for America. The doctor is very eager to experience a ship journey, and knows that his skills will be welcome in the New World. But the ship journey turns out to be a very difficult one! Storms blow the ship off course and wreck them off the coast of Bermuda. (I had never heard this historical tidbit!) In the meantime, Jemmy has been playing with his lion's head door knocker, and telling the other children that it is made of gold (of course it isn't). But then other people are trying to steal it from them.
Will they ever make it to Jamestown and be reunited with their father? This story took me down several historical trails, and I ended up knowing a lot more about the early settlers of our country.
August 19, 2020
If we're being technical, it was 2.5. It was a little young, but I leart a little about what it was like to sail to America back then.
Read
January 8, 2011"But when [Dr. Crider] came in, he hardly looked at the kitchen. For a while he hardly looked at them. He sat down with his hat and cloak on. His eyes were bright, and there was color in his cheeks.
"Amanda spoke to him twice before he answered.
"'Yes? What is it?'
"'Will you have tea?' she asked.
"'Tea? No, no,' he said. "Amanda - ?'
"'Yes, sir?'
"'Am I an old man?'
"'Yes, sir,' she answered.
"'I am?'
"'I mean - not a VERY old man, but -'
"'I know how I must look to you, but don't believe what you see. Today I'm young again. I'm young, Amanda! ... You don't understand me, do you?'
"'No, sir.'
"'I've just been to see Sir Thomas Smythe on Philpot Lane. We've talked about ships to the New World. Nine are leaving next month. Nine ships, Amanda, leaving in June. And you'll be on one of them.'
"'I will? Truly?'
"'Yes. And Jemmy and Meg, too.'
"She said, 'I know. You went to Mistress Trippett's. You got the money [owed us].'
"'No. Poor Mistress Trippett,' he said, 'shut up in her big house. Poor Mistress Trippett with her bags of money - let her keep it all. There's a great world outside, and she'll never know it. But WE'LL know it, Amanda.'
"He was on his feet, walking up and down. 'They want me in Jamestown. They NEED me there. They want doctors, and they don't care how old I am. There's nothing to keep me here, and I'm going. We're all going to the New World together!'" pp.47-48
"Amanda spoke to him twice before he answered.
"'Yes? What is it?'
"'Will you have tea?' she asked.
"'Tea? No, no,' he said. "Amanda - ?'
"'Yes, sir?'
"'Am I an old man?'
"'Yes, sir,' she answered.
"'I am?'
"'I mean - not a VERY old man, but -'
"'I know how I must look to you, but don't believe what you see. Today I'm young again. I'm young, Amanda! ... You don't understand me, do you?'
"'No, sir.'
"'I've just been to see Sir Thomas Smythe on Philpot Lane. We've talked about ships to the New World. Nine are leaving next month. Nine ships, Amanda, leaving in June. And you'll be on one of them.'
"'I will? Truly?'
"'Yes. And Jemmy and Meg, too.'
"She said, 'I know. You went to Mistress Trippett's. You got the money [owed us].'
"'No. Poor Mistress Trippett,' he said, 'shut up in her big house. Poor Mistress Trippett with her bags of money - let her keep it all. There's a great world outside, and she'll never know it. But WE'LL know it, Amanda.'
"He was on his feet, walking up and down. 'They want me in Jamestown. They NEED me there. They want doctors, and they don't care how old I am. There's nothing to keep me here, and I'm going. We're all going to the New World together!'" pp.47-48
November 22, 2014
Great story, disappointing illustrations
This short book is great for introducing young readers to life in the early 1600s for servants in England, the harshness of crossing the Atlantic, and the hardiness of those up to the task. It shows life as it was without sugar coating things -but it does so in a practical manner so that it is not heart wrenching or depressing.
My complaint with this book comes from the illustrations, not the story! Illustrator Michele Chessare looks like she used Picasso as inspiration. There are no beautiful pictures typical for children's books - instead there are strange to disturbing (for children) illustrations. That was a big disappointment & the reason for 4 stars instead of the 5 the text deserves.
This short book is great for introducing young readers to life in the early 1600s for servants in England, the harshness of crossing the Atlantic, and the hardiness of those up to the task. It shows life as it was without sugar coating things -but it does so in a practical manner so that it is not heart wrenching or depressing.
My complaint with this book comes from the illustrations, not the story! Illustrator Michele Chessare looks like she used Picasso as inspiration. There are no beautiful pictures typical for children's books - instead there are strange to disturbing (for children) illustrations. That was a big disappointment & the reason for 4 stars instead of the 5 the text deserves.
December 3, 2008
I read this today; it took about 30 minutes. I won't be reading it to the kids. For one, I thought it a little slow and rather boring. I didn't get the sense of danger or excitement that the circumstances should have evoked. Second, it's not a very happy book. I'm sure life was very much like that depicted, but it just wasn't uplifting and even at the end I didn't feel that everything was going to be okay. While this book is historical fiction I didn't learn a whole lot and I think if you're going to read historical fiction it should teach you something. Or a lot of things.
The book I read had a different cover than that shown here so I'm not sure if the illustrations are the same. But I must say that the one I read had freaky drawings - like weird and funky and made me feel yucky. That's another reason I don't want to read it to my kids - they'd have nightmares.
If they picked it up at the library I wouldn't tell them they couldn't read it, but I'd try to steer them towards something else.
The book I read had a different cover than that shown here so I'm not sure if the illustrations are the same. But I must say that the one I read had freaky drawings - like weird and funky and made me feel yucky. That's another reason I don't want to read it to my kids - they'd have nightmares.
If they picked it up at the library I wouldn't tell them they couldn't read it, but I'd try to steer them towards something else.
October 26, 2019
Lovely. I only ever remember reading one of Bulla's books as a child. I am so happy to have rediscovered him as an adult, thanks to learning more about Lois Lenski and their friendship!
This is a great story for anyone who loves stories of Colonial America, ship travel, good people, the endurance of children, and a few real historical figures thrown in the mix!
This is a great story for anyone who loves stories of Colonial America, ship travel, good people, the endurance of children, and a few real historical figures thrown in the mix!
January 1, 2025
The didn’t have to do Dr. Crider dirty like that.
October 18, 2024
A short, eventful story that would make a great read aloud for children. I appreciated a different viewpoint of that time period, but the ending was not as gratifying as I wanted it to be.
August 3, 2025
Video coming soon
February 24, 2023
WE REALLY LIKED THIS FAMILY REÄD ALOUD - ACTION PACKED AND MOVED QUICKLY. GREAT BOOK IF YOU'RE STUDYING AMERICAN HISTORY!
February 5, 2021
Clyde Robert Bulla’s historical fiction for children is often found on homeschool lists. This story, about three English children who travel to the New World to find their father, contains many elements my kids would enjoy. There is a brave older sister who looks after her siblings, there are mean adults and nice adults, there is adventure, and, finally, there is the reassurance of a happy ending. It’s a good book.
On the other hand, I know absolutely that if I read this to my children, my daughter will quiz me exhaustively (and exhaustingly) in her efforts to fill in the blanks left by the very concise storytelling. Especially towards the end, Bulla presents vignettes of action that end abruptly without immediate explanation. I wish he’d been a little bit less concise. For some children, however, the lack of extra words may be just what they need to avoid bogging down before the book ends.
On the other hand, I know absolutely that if I read this to my children, my daughter will quiz me exhaustively (and exhaustingly) in her efforts to fill in the blanks left by the very concise storytelling. Especially towards the end, Bulla presents vignettes of action that end abruptly without immediate explanation. I wish he’d been a little bit less concise. For some children, however, the lack of extra words may be just what they need to avoid bogging down before the book ends.
September 11, 2020
4.5 rated by 9 and 11 year old.
September 24, 2020
The storyline was great because of how three children managed to make their way to Virginia so they could see their father. However, my mother and I were expecting a more dramatic ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2025
My kids have been eating up everything I can get from this author. He does well at quickly moving along the plot, adding history, suspense and bravery.
January 14, 2021
To be completely honest, it was kind of sad. The mom died, and everyone at Mistress Trippetts were so mean. Amanda, Jemmy and Meg were in poverty. Mostly all of it was very sad. The setting was London, then the Bermuda, and then finally, where they were supposed to go, Jamestown. Some of the characters are Dr. Crider, Amanda, Jemmy, Meg, and Robert Waters. At the end, they get to Jamestown and find their dad on the floor!!! He was thin and weak so they went to get food and water for him. That was the end.
March 22, 2025
This is a tough story to read about children traveling alone from England to The New World. It’s amazing what those people went through, what they saw and sacrificed. A worthwhile read with a lot of historical significance.
March 27, 2022
Super cute book what a great theme
December 20, 2024
Read with Mady. This was a fun historical follow up to our trip to Jamestown.
March 17, 2025
Short and interesting. Sad, but that's realistic. A little glimpse into childhood at the time.
November 10, 2021
Excellent historical account of the journey from England to Jamestown. Great read aloud for younger elementary ages
May 22, 2024
My PTSD from reading Great Expectations came back. But I don’t regret reading it to the kids. Even if it was a tad scarring for us all. Ha!
September 30, 2021
We started this together and MA got hooked! 👍🏼👍🏼😃
November 9, 2010
Amanda, Jemmy, and Meg live with their mother, who is a servant in a wealthy English house. Having sold their property in order to send Father to the Virginia colony in America, they are waiting for him to send for them. But Mother sickens and dies, and the three children are left in the merciless hands of Mother's employer until they flee from her. Under the protection of a kind doctor, they make their own way to America. Jemmy carries the brass lions-head that Father left in his care, and this talisman becomes a symbol of their father's protection. The adventure is fraught with danger and difficulty, and the three children courageously meet challenge after challenge, united by familial love.
This well-written story dramatizes the steely grit exhibited by colonists who first came to America, many of whom tasted the fear and disappointments that attended these fictional characters. But although their reality is often grim, a bright thread of hope runs throughout the book. Although the children are often frightened, they are always provided for just in time. It is this providential care, combined with their courage in the face of danger, that makes this such a satisfying adventure.
This book is a fine read-aloud for young listeners transitioning out of picture books, and is also a good read-alone for middle readers.
This well-written story dramatizes the steely grit exhibited by colonists who first came to America, many of whom tasted the fear and disappointments that attended these fictional characters. But although their reality is often grim, a bright thread of hope runs throughout the book. Although the children are often frightened, they are always provided for just in time. It is this providential care, combined with their courage in the face of danger, that makes this such a satisfying adventure.
This book is a fine read-aloud for young listeners transitioning out of picture books, and is also a good read-alone for middle readers.
September 8, 2008
This one's a fictionalized account of the last voyage of the Sea Adventure in 1609. When en route to the Jamestown colony, it was separated from it's fleet by a storm and ran aground in Bermuda. No lives were lost, but everybody had to spend nine months on the island while they waited for help and eventually built two ships to carry them on to Virginia. The account of the storm and the shipwreck was Shakespeare's inspiration for The Tempest. This story, however, is much shorter. It tells of three children, whose father has gone off to Jamestown to build a new home for the family. Unfortunately, their mother gets ill and dies and the three children face the challenge of either settling down to a life of servitude and poverty or making an ambitious journey across the ocean. It's a simplistic tale, being written for children and all, but an enjoyable one as well. Check it out.
December 13, 2023
“When you lose someone, it’s like having to find your way again.” This theme repeats throughout the book. A Lion to Guard Us is the story of three English children living in colonial times who travel from England on the sailing ship Sea Adventure, to reunite with their father. They haven’t seen him in many years, since he was the first to travel to America and settle in Jamestown. Sea Adventure is appropriately named, as the journey takes much longer than planned. Passengers and crew endure sicknesses, losses, and terrible sea storms. Finally they shipwreck on the reefs of Bermuda. Eventually they rebuild two smaller ships to continue their journey. The original story of the Sea Adventure somehow made it back to England, where it inspired William Shakespeare. He adapted the story and from it wrote his play, The Tempest.
April 4, 2017
One of my absolute favorite books from when I was in elementary school. Years later, when my parents got divorced, the first house my mom, sister and I moved into we found a little toy lion on the ground, and at every house since then, that lion has sat outside my mom's door to her house, and that was inspired by this book. :)
May 8, 2011
I used this book for the first time this year with my 4th graders in our study of VA history and Jamestown. I will not be using it again. It is boring and does not require the students to stretch their brains much. It was torture for all.
December 19, 2015
I read this book to my elementary children. It's a good way for them to understand the realities of daily life in the 1600's and the sacrifices people made to travel to the New World. The main characters are children, and Clyde Robert Bulla is skilled at reaching a child's heart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews