For the young adventurer learning to lead and protect their friends, this book celebrates courage, loyalty, and working together to overcome challenges.
A parent might reach for this book when their child is navigating new team dynamics, like on a sports team or in a group project, and needs a model for leadership and valuing everyone's unique skills. Based on the popular Disney Junior show, the story follows Kion, Simba’s son, as he is tasked with forming a new Lion Guard. Breaking tradition, he chooses his diverse friends, not just lions, to help him protect the Pride Lands. This action-packed chapter book is perfect for early independent readers aged 6 to 9. It powerfully illustrates themes of teamwork, friendship, and finding your own way to be a leader, making it a great choice for entertainment that also reinforces positive social values.
The book's approach to conflict is metaphorical and secular, centered on a classic good versus evil narrative. The threats from antagonists like hyenas are clear but handled without graphic detail. Resolutions are always hopeful and achieved through collaboration and cleverness, not brute force alone.
Ideal Reader
This book is perfect for a 6 to 8-year-old fan of the show who loves animal adventure stories. It's especially suited for a child learning to work in a group, whether on a playground, a sports team, or a school project. It also resonates with children who may feel they are in a sibling's shadow, as it highlights finding one's own unique purpose and leadership style.
Parent Prep
No preparation is necessary. The story is self-contained and easy to follow, even for those unfamiliar with the TV series. It can be read cold without any special context, though children who know the characters will enjoy it even more. A parent has noticed their child struggling to include friends with different interests or abilities in their play, or perhaps the child feels their own skills are not as valuable as a friend's. The child might also be expressing a new desire for responsibility and a chance to lead.
Age Experience
A 6-year-old will primarily enjoy the action, the familiar characters, and the simple, satisfying plot of good guys winning. An 8 or 9-year-old is more likely to appreciate the deeper themes: the courage to break with tradition, the strategic value of diversity in a team, and the idea that leadership isn't about being the best at everything, but about bringing out the best in everyone.
What Makes It Special
While many books teach about friendship, this one uniquely frames it within a mission-driven context of responsibility and civic duty (for the Pride Lands). Its key differentiator is the explicit focus on a leader choosing a diverse team based on their specific, varied skills, which is a more sophisticated teamwork concept than simply 'playing nicely together'. As a media tie-in, it provides a highly accessible entry point to these themes for young readers.
Read plot summary
Kion, the second-born cub of Simba and Nala, discovers he possesses the legendary Roar of the Elders and is destined to lead the new Lion Guard. Instead of assembling a team of lions as tradition dictates, he chooses his best friends: Bunga the honey badger (the bravest), Fuli the cheetah (the fastest), Beshte the hippo (the strongest), and Ono the egret (the keenest of sight). The story follows their initial formation and first missions as they learn to combine their unique talents to defend the Circle of Life from hyenas and other threats, proving the strength of a diverse team.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Kion's family was surprised he didn't choose other lions for the Guard. Why do you think he chose Bunga, Fuli, Beshte, and Ono instead? What made each of them a good choice?
2
When the Lion Guard faced the hyenas, how did they use their different skills to work together? What would have happened if only Kion tried to solve the problem alone?
3
Beshte the hippo is the strongest, and Fuli the cheetah is the fastest. What is Ono the egret's special skill, and why is being the 'keenest of sight' so important for the team?
4
At first, others doubted Kion's choices for the Lion Guard. How did Kion show them that his team was the right one for the job?
