10 Picture Books About Lions & Tigers

Kids love to read about the ferocious antics of lions and tigers. Indulge their interests with this list of books about these big, wild cats.

Lions

• The Happy Lion by Louise Fatio, illustrated by Roger Duvoisin
  Everyone loves the lion at the zoo, until one day, he wanders out of his cage, and suddenly his admirers all flee in terror.
• Little Lions by Jim Arnosky
  Two mountain lion cubs play with their mother on a ledge, waiting for the day they are old enough to be taught how to hunt. This is a perfect nature picture book for toddlers.
• Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Adam Rex
  In this sophisticated picture book, author and illustrator appear in the story, arguing over whether Chloe should meet a lion or something much more sinister in the woods on her way home.
• Pierre by Maurice Sendak
  A difficult, selfish child named Pierre only says one phrase: "I don't care." It is not until he is swallowed by a lion that he changes his attitude and learns to stop being so apathetic.
• Lion by William Pene du Bois
  During the creation of the animals on Earth an angel works hard to perfect the lion, making lots of silly modifications before getting it just right.
• We’re Going on a Lion Hunt by David Axtell
  Two sisters travel across the African savanna to hunt for a lion in this take-off on We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

Tigers

• Tiger Can’t Sleep by S.J. Fore, illustrated by R.W. Alley
  A little boy is kept awake by the noisy, but otherwise friendly, tiger who lives in his closet.
• Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown
  In a world where all civilized animals wear clothes, Mr. Tiger decides to shed all the finery and get back to his natural naked state.
• Sam and the Tigers by Julius Lester, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
  The tigers want to eat Sam, but he is smart enough to trick them instead. (This book is a retelling of The Story of Little Black Sambo.)
• Who is the Beast? by Keith Baker
  The jungle animals flee from the frightening tiger until he explains how he is similar to each of them.