How to be a Lion

Author: Ed Vere
Illustrator: Ed Vere
Publisher: Puffin

“I wrote ‘How to be a Lion’ because I wanted to say to children, there are many ways to be you. Don’t be afraid to show it…I wanted to show how you might resist the pressure to conform – to stand up for what you want to be.” – Ed Vere

Within a pride of noisy, aggressive lions lives Leonard: a quiet, gentle thinker. Leonard befriends a like-minded duck called Marianne, and they enjoy walking, writing poetry and discussing things together. This unconventional friendship interrupts the status quo within the pride (after all, lions are FIERCE and should CHOMP ducks, not chat to them). Leonard uses his poetry to explain his feelings to the other lions, urging them to realise that the world is a better place when we accept and respect our differences (instead of eating each other), proving “there are many ways to be a lion”.

Ed Vere’s book perfectly blends a fun story with a medium for sharing some hugely important positive messages for children. A charming, entertaining and beautifully illustrated story.

The messages we found in this book:

Acknowledgement:

It can be very hard to ‘go against the grain’ and have a different point of view to your peers.
People with the loudest voices tend to dominate; when you’re a quiet sort who shies away from attention, it can be challenging to make your feelings known.

Guidance:

Use words to solve problems, instead of conflict and violence
There are alternatives to being loud, aggressive and dominant when you communicate with others.
People with softer voices have a lot to say too.
Everyone is different – this should be accepted and celebrated (“There is no one way to be a lion”)
Allowing yourself time to consider your actions is a good thing (rather than retaliating when confronted with the other lions’ threats and demands, Leonard goes to his ‘thinking hill’ to mull over the problem with his friend).

Hope & Inspiration:

Leonard is able to change the attitude of the other lions without resorting to violence. Ultimately, they accept his differences.
Leonard has the courage to accept that he is different from the other lions, and to stand up to peer pressure.