In kingdom of words and pictures the animal is king

The death of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe at the hands of an American bow hunter continues to generate outrage around the world, but bringing children into the conversation may require some finesse.

That's where books come in. Many exist to feed the imagination of young readers, teach respect for the majestic beasts and urge them to pitch in and help exotic animals the world over.

Here is a sample of books for all ages with lion themes or nonfiction facts, figures and photographs.