That is the dilemma facing Leviathan, a lion cub born unusually large and seemingly destined to become King of the Jungle. But after a hyena attack leaves him with a throat injury, an old turtle named Doc saves his life with a warning: Leviathan will never roar like other lions. He will always meow like a kitten.
As Leviathan grows into the largest lion in the African wilderness, his unusual voice becomes a source of ridicule. Hurt by the reaction of others, he retreats from the kingdom he was born to lead.
Then hunters enter his territory.
With his subjects in danger, Leviathan faces a choice. He can continue hiding because he sounds different, or he can step forward and do what a leader must do.
In The Lion That Meowed, children’s author and environmental advocate Richard Faith delivers a story about resilience, self-worth and the power of choosing how to respond when circumstances cannot be changed. Its central lesson is simple: “Things happen. How you react determines who you are.”
For Faith, the message comes from a lifetime of experiences that taught him the importance of standing up for what is right, even when doing so is difficult.
A Boston native and former U.S. Marine, Faith experienced profound adversity at a young age. While he was in the tenth grade, his brother, Michael Faith, was stabbed at South Boston High School in December 1974, during the turbulent period of school desegregation in Boston. The school would later be placed into receivership amid continuing violence and community upheaval.
The experience left Faith with a lasting conviction: Circumstances may be beyond a person’s control, but the choices made in response to those circumstances still matter.
That conviction now shapes the stories he creates for children with an emphasis on courage, kindness, moral clarity, and the value of embracing individuality rather than allowing others to define one’s worth.
With vibrant illustrations by Todd Hobin, The Lion That Meowed is the newest addition to Faith’s Old Doc Turtle series, which blends whimsical storytelling with lessons about resilience and environmental awareness.
“Whether I’m writing for children, creating an environmental superhero or working on environmental initiatives, my goal is the same: use storytelling to make people think, care and hopefully become part of the solution,” Faith said.
The book’s back-to-school timing also makes its central message especially relevant as children navigate new classrooms, friendships and social pressures. For parents and educators, Leviathan’s story offers an accessible way to explore questions children encounter in many forms: What makes someone different? Does being different make someone less valuable? And what happens when doing the right thing requires courage?
The Lion that Meowed
Publisher: Jongleur Books
Release Date: September 2, 2026
ISBN-13: 979-8190777338
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