Picture books often explore emotions in a way that young children can engage with, and if you’re looking for a book about feelings that features a lion, read The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. This heartwarming tale explores a wide range of emotions in a kid-friendly way, telling the story of how a little, quiet mouse finds his voice by going to visit a big, impressive lion. Here are some of the key emotions you’ll encounter as you read the book. 

Feeling overlooked

Feeling overlooked is outside of the typical range of feelings that kids can name - such as happy, sad or angry, so it’s a good one to explore through fiction. At the beginning of the story, Mouse is ignored and forgotten by all the larger animals, making him feel small and insignificant. He wonders if his voice matters because it never seems to be heard. Kids can often identify with this, especially if they’re naturally quiet or they have older siblings who talk over them. The book explores how Mouse deals with this sense of being overlooked, through making a decision to ask Lion - a more confident character - for help. 

Fear

Fear is one of the main emotions in this popular lion book. Both Mouse and Lion experience fear, and it’s dealt with in different ways. Mouse overcomes his own fear by being brave and visiting Lion in spite of being scared, while Lion’s fear is soothed by Mouse, who reassures him that he’s ‘a friend, not a foe’. The book shows that, no matter how large or small you are, how quiet or confident, everyone feels fear sometimes. It also shows that fear can be resolved in different ways, and that it’s OK to seek reassurance from others if you need it. 

Surprise

Mouse gets a big surprise when he realises that Lion is afraid of him. It makes him stop and reconsider his ideas about the sort of creature Lion might be. His surprise is also the turning point in the story where Mouse learns that, even though he is small, his voice is important in reassuring Lion and making the first step towards a friendship. 

Joy

The Lion Inside ends on an uplifting note, with both Lion and Mouse having found joy through their friendship. Mouse experiences happiness because he has gained confidence and is no longer feeling overlooked, while Lion has learned that, far from being scary, Mouse makes him laugh. Each finds joy in sharing their home with the other, and through spending time together.

See The Lion Inside on stage

If you love Rachel Bright and Jim Field’s book, The Lion Inside, don’t miss the stage adaptation, touring the UK and Ireland this season. Retelling the story with music, dance and stunning puppetry, it’s a wonderful production that’s designed for children aged three and up, being just 55 minutes long with no interval. Browse the tour dates and locations on our home page and book your tickets today at your local venue.