Lion Lights
Book description
Richard Turere's own story: Richard grew up in Kenya as a Maasai boy, herding his family's cattle, which represented their wealth and livelihood. Richard's challenge was to protect their cattle from the lions who prowled the night just outside the barrier of acacia branches that surrounded the farm's boma, or…
Why read it?
3 authors picked Lion Lights as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Conservation success isn’t always about saving animals or an ecosystem. Sometimes it’s about learning to live with nature.
Richard Turere’s story is a wonderful tale about how he protected his family’s cows – the first duty of a Maasai warrior – with an invention of his own making. And he was only twelve years old! His lion lights became so popular, they are protecting other Maasai families’ herds, too. I love this story of ingenuity, STEM, and learning to decrease human-wildlife conflicts to coexist.
From Patricia's list on conservation that give readers hope.
In 1998 I had the privilege of working in Tanzania and meeting members of the Masai community. This is a true story that combines perseverance, indomitable spirit, and ingenuity, while allowing leaders to learn more about the unique Massai culture. In this story, the reader is introduced to a Maasai boy in Kenya who must protect his family’s cattle from lions who prowled at night. When your family’s livelihood depends on the number of cattle you keep, and your village relies on their milk and blood for sustenance, you can imagine what a huge responsibility this is for a young…
From Lisa's list on empowering kids.
12-year-old Richard is a Maasai boy in Africa who is tasked with protecting the cattle from the lions. This is the story of his incredible invention of surrounding the boma (the farm) with twinkling lights to scare away the lions that he salvaged and tinkered together. It’s an astonishing tale and a window into the life of a young boy in Africa. I personally love reading books about Africa and am restraining myself by only including one book from this magical, and mysterious continent on my list.
From Carolyn's list on open your child's eyes to cultures around the world.
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