Brave as a Lion🦁

It all begins with three little words: I can’t do it. The lion beside the child has said them before too. He tells them about being a cub in the pride, too afraid to roar even though all the others could.

Then the child follows the lion out onto the savannah, one step at a time. First come small challenges: balancing on a log and saying hello to a giraffe who is much taller than expected. Then comes a bigger one: a leap across a stream that looks far too wide. Whether the child jumps, and what the lion really wanted to show them, is for the book to reveal.

This idea suits children who feel unsure about trying something new, whether it’s swimming lessons, a performance, climbing high or putting their hand up in class. It’s also for children who tend to say they can’t before they’ve tried, and who might like to hear that even the strongest lion was once unsure of himself.

A three-year-old can enjoy the lion’s roar, the savannah animals and the small steps along the way. An eight-year-old may recognise that little voice saying no and see how they might answer it.

Tell us what your child is finding difficult right now, whether it’s jumping into the swimming pool, sleeping away from home or playing the piano in front of others. It could become the leap at the end of the story. A sibling can cheer from the sidelines, and a favourite cuddly lion can become the lion in the book. A grandparent or coach who believes in your child can join in too.

After reading, take turns naming something you’ve been brave enough to do recently. Small things count too. Draw a staircase with something your child would like to try on each step, and tick them off one at a time. Find more stories about believing in yourself under Confidence.