The Lion Children

I read this book from cover to cover the day I got it...It is an astounding compilation of anecdotal stories and details from the McNeice family's exotic and adventurous life in the bush. The children are as honest about their insecurites and fears as they are about their strengths and discoveries, which lends the writing a humanity and richness absent from works by more "mature" authors. I marvelled at the bravery and adaptiveness of these children, and reading their beautiful stories made me question the legitimacy of the rules governing my own rigid and conventional suburban life. Throughout this book, the McNeice family demonstrates that living life guided by curiosity and passion need not be merely an impractical dream...indeed, it is their reality, and if we are strong enough and courageous enough, it can be ours too.

A must read for any naturalist. I love these kids. The authors show remarkable ability to think through the challenges they face each day. This is an astonishing book, by an even more astonishing trio of children.

This is a terrific book, and perfect for the family who has always wondered what it would be like to uproot themselves and move to an underdeveloped and primitive culture. That is exactly what the McNeice children did when their mother decided to leave England and relocate in Botwana. Their experiences are told with honesty, sensitivity and intelligence, as well as much humor. I found this book to be delightful and inspiring....a perfect read for the young and old alike. My family and I had the opportunity to meet and have dinner with the lion children's mother and stepfather, Pieter Kat, a well known researcher of lions, while on Safari in the Okavango Delta in 2002. The book had just been published and I purchased two copies, one for myself and one to donate to our school library. I highly recommend you do the same. You won't be sorry, and when you are finished reading their stories, you will have gained a greater appreciation of children's insights and adaptabilities, as well as lions.