A playful lion cub named Kito spends the day with his father (Papa) and learns what it will be like when he is king of the jungle. They rest, roar, play, and hunt. Children who are familiar with Disney’s “The Lion King” will enjoy the similarities with this story. Father and son relationships are highlighted in this tale. Papa is protective, strong, and purposeful. Kito is curious, admiring, and lively. Together they understand their roles with each other, the pack, and their environment.

Large, colorful illustrations by Mike Wohnoutka are easy to see during story time. The beautiful artwork makes elements like the lion cub’s fur seem fluffy and soft enough to pet. The illustrations capture the majesty of the lion. The illustrations stretch across the page, like the African savanna.

The text is descriptive and will stretch the vocabulary of some younger readers with words like territory, acacia tree, and sprawl. Some of the words jump off the page – “Roaaaaar! Thump! Wheeeeeeeeee!” A brief page at the end of the book explains some facts about lions. The story ends with a nighttime scene, so it could be used as a bedtime story. The book features an unsuccessful hunt, but there are no violent images or frightening words.
Recommended for home, public, and school libraries.