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. A rewarding read-aloud choice. --Booklist Yarlett's text and images flow seamlessly together and are full of visual humor that will make for an engaging second read. Vibrant pinks, golds, and teals are made up of layered, hand-rendered mixed media drawings and collage, adding depth to a simple story about how even the most important people can be lonely. The drawings joyfully burst off the page in a puppet-like dance--movement begging to be copied by wiggling bodies at storytime. --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books 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. Sure to prompt reflection on what it means to be a friend. --Kirkus Reviews Promises to be an immediate hit with librarians, teachers and young readers everywhere. The prose lends itself well to a group read-aloud, giving plenty of opportunities to roar and expose those fearsome claws and jaws. This picture book would also provide a more intimate bedtime reading experience. The illustrations are lively, colorful and provide many Easter eggs throughout the story that compel the reader to stop and pore over the background. King Lion is a heartwarming story for the awfully fearsome and misunderstood creatures everywhere. --Bookpage.