KING LION

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.