“Christian the Lion” is based off a true story about a lion who was raised by two males in London, then set free in Africa once he grew to adult size. The story was told from Christian’s point of view, which is more appealing to a young audience. With many pictures to go along with the text, this book provided fascinating information in a form that children can understand. It was a very heartfelt story that is out of the ordinary, since lions are typically raised in the wild. “Saying good-bye to John and Ace was hard, but they knew how happy I was to be in Africa. I think they were pleased that they could finally give me the life they’d always wanted to.” (pg.24). ( )

True story about 2 men in London who buy a lion cub at Harrods. It’s cute, it’s true, and there’s a youtube video of their reunion, so that’s a nice tie in. My only problem with it is that it happened back in the early 70’s and the photos (clothes, haircuts) are very dated. A curious and observant child might ask about them, and then you’d get sidetracked into a discussion about why people used to dress so funny, instead of talking about the lion. ( )

This factual account of the story of Christian the Lion’s rescue by Ace Bourke and John Rendall, and the remarkable connection between man and wild animal that became a worldwide U-tube phenomenon, will not fail to captivate and educate young animal lovers everywhere. Presented with original photographs in scrapbook format and starburst text written from Christian’s point of view, the heartwarming tale begins with Ace and John’s discovery of the young lion living in a cage in Harrod’s department store. Each two page spread, themed with headlines such as “Getting Too Big” and “Learning to Live in the Wild” provides a fascinating time-line of Christian’s life. Readers learn about Christian’s experiences as he enjoys life with John and Ace for a time above their furniture store and his memorable rise to fame in 1970’s London, until the lion eventually grows too big to remain in the city. Amazing and adorable photos document Christian’s adventures as he adjusts from city cat to countryside lion, and finally, king of the grasslands. With informational tidbits titled “What I’ve learned about being a lion” that include factual information about the hunting and living habits of lions living in wild Africa, and age appropriate maps that demonstrate Christian’s journey from England to Kenya and his eventual rehabilitation and introduction into the wild, this is an excellent addition to any elementary non-fiction collection. For adults looking to learn more, the authors have written another book titles Lion Called Christian.
Christine Johanson, SLMS Mahopac Elementary NY

Reviewed by Lauren Ashley for TeensReadToo.com

Christian the Lion became a hit on YouTube recently, but he was really owned by the authors in the late 60's and early 70's.

They found the small cub at Harrod's in England and took him home with them, but as Christian began to grow, they realized he couldn't continue to live with him. With a newfound friend named George, the two friends made plans for Christian to be brought to Kenya and eventually let out in the wild.

Once he did, he was gone for a year before Anthony "Ace" and John ever saw him again. George warned that he might not recognize them anymore, but surprisingly, he did! He even introduced them to his wife, as if they were old friends.

This book is perfect for young children, as it allows them to learn about lions in a fun and unique way, with pictures to make it even more exciting! At the back of the novel, they have facts about lions, as well as other African animals. It's very much a small educational novel.

However, CHRISTIAN THE LION is simply a fun book about a very well-known lion who defied the odds when it came to his relationship with these two human men. It's a short book that people of all ages can enjoy if they want to learn more about Christian, Ace, and John. It's a very easy read, with all of the basic information you need to know.

If you want to learn more, the men have an adult title, A LION CALLED CHRISTIAN, on the subject as well. ( )

A fun, true story about 2 guys who purchase a lion cub, raise it for a year, then take it to join a pride in Africa. Includes a section of photographs taken at different phases of Christian's development. It's meant for young readers, but I enjoyed the entertaining descriptions of this wild cat's antics too. Children who read this heartwarming story may also gain an increased awareness about the challenges and moral dilemmas associated with raising wild animals in captivity. ( )