Review by Booklist Review
A lion rules a small kingdom of contented people. Everyone there is happy except King Lion, who is lonely. So he walks out of his castle, intent upon finding a friend. "Hello," he loudly roars. But, afraid of his booming voice, his sharp teeth, and his "dripping jaws," the people run away for safety. Only one person, a little girl, hears the loneliness within his roars and understands his deep longing for a friend. She bravely presents herself and offers, "Let's be friends." And because she understands friendship, the king soon discovers how to be a good friend. Seeing the king and the girl together, the people no longer fear him, and everyone is very happy. Yarlett's satisfying story celebrates the awareness, compassion, and problem-solving ability of a child who is the equal of a king. Created using "hand-rendered mixed media," the illustrations beautifully express the characters' emotions. The most intriguing is a double-page scene of the girl analyzing the king's plight and her neighbor's terror, while creating a plan to intercede. A rewarding read-aloud choice.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Finding a friend isn't easy for this misunderstood monarch. King Lion surveys his kingdom and realizes that he's quite lonely. But his search for companionship is unfruitful: His subjects flee, terrified by his roars and fierce demeanor. It takes a brave little girl to look past his frightening surface and beat him at his own game. When the lion shows off his huge claws, she holds up a hand and smiles. When he roars, she does, too. And when he opens his jaws wide and glares menacingly, she responds: "Hello…let's be friends." Following the girl's example, the king takes steps to be a good friend to his subjects. Though it treads familiar territory, this U.K. import is a charmer. The contrast between the miserable king whom we see in the opening pages and the happy one at the end is striking. Accompanied by hand-lettered text, the bold illustrations include several full-page depictions of King Lion searching for companionship; the most impressive image showcases the standoff between the lion and the girl, with a close-up of the king's face. The girl is light-skinned, and the citizenry includes animals and racially diverse humans. Sure to prompt reflection on what it means to be a friend. (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
