From the #1 New York Times bestselling authors of Owen & Mzee comes an incredible true story of a real life lion king. Featuring stunning photos of Cecil the lion and his pride. Known as the King of Beasts, the lion has always been a symbol of strength and courage. But there was one real lion that earned the title of Lion King. He was known simply by name: Cecil. News of his tragic death spread across the globe like wildfire, raising questions to an unprecedented level about our relationship to our animals and our planet. Cecil's Pride is a tale of resilience and responsibility--a triumph out of tragedy. Discover Cecil's struggle as a young lion to survive, his rise to power, and his extraordinary alliance with Jericho, his former arch-rival. Cecil is gone, but his legacy lives on. The world knows the story of how Cecil died. This is the story of how he lived.Complete with stunning photographs by Brent Stapelkamp, a photographer and lion researcher with the Oxford University Wildlife Conservation Research Unit that has tracked Cecil and his pride for nine years. K-Gr 4—Cecil the lion became a household name upon his death in 2015, but the authors (Craig Hatkoff and his two daughters) look past the news clips to share with readers Cecil's life. Colorful and sharp photographs guide readers as they learn about his beginnings and adulthood. Cecil—observed and tracked by Brent Stupelkamp, a photographer and lion researcher—was long thought to be a unique lion, from his comfort with tourists (he often seemed to pose specifically for the jeeps) to his joining forces with another lion, Jericho, to lead a pride of lionesses and cubs. This pairing of two unrelated male lions to rule together over territory was extremely rare. Although legally protected within Hwange National Park, Cecil was no match for the lion hunters who lured and killed him just outside of the park's borders. Tenderhearted readers might be saddened to read how Jericho waited for his friend to return, but the text and photos appropriately avoid any graphic or gory details. Information about lion behavior, diet, and prides helps to elevate the text and place Cecil's life into context. While avoiding an in-depth conversation about U.S. trophy hunters (and totally omitting any specific mention of the actual American hunter responsible for killing Cecil), the text and accompanying back matter emphasize conservation, balanced ecosystems, and the ripple effect of human hunters. Young readers will find the pictures inviting and the text easy to understand. VERDICT Topical subject matter that will make for a good introduction to lions, game reserves, and conservation.—Denise Moore, formerly at O'Gorman Junior High School, Sioux Falls, SD Praise for Cecil's Pride “an enlightening book filled with stunning photos”- The New York Times Book Review Known as the King of Beasts, the lion has always been a symbol of strength and courage. But there was one real lion that earned the title of Lion King. He was known simply by name: Cecil. News of his tragic death spread across the globe like wildfire, raising questions to an unprecedented level about our relationship to our animals and our planet. By now, the world knows the story of how Cecil died. This is the story of how he lived. Craig Hatkoff is the co-founder of the Tribeca Film Festival and of Turtle Pond Publications.  Both Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship and Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship are New York Times bestsellers. He lives with his wife and their two daughters in Manhattan. 1The lion has always been a symbol of strength and courage. They are known as the king of beasts, but only one lion king became known by everyone. His name was Cecil. Cecil ruled a very large territory in Africa inside Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe's largest game reserve. About the size of the state Connecticut, the park is even larger than many countries. Thousands of people visit Hwange every year to see the wildlife and take photographs. Cecil was well-known because he seemed to enjoy having his picture taken by tourists. Unlike most of the animals, he would casually stroll by the safari vehicles and pose. Lions aren't the only animals that call Hwange home. Giraffes, zebras, elephants, leopards, and rhinos roam freely through the vast deserts, forests, and grasslands. There are no fences or walls like in a zoo. Hwange has a diverse ecosystem, but there's a delicate balance. When something changes, it can send a ripple throughout the whole park. No one knew it yet, but a big ripple was about to travel across the globe.