Lenny Henry wrote a childrens book that actually keeps kids reading instead of reaching for tablets. The Book of Legends features twelve-year-old twins dealing with missing parents, portals to other worlds, and a talking zebracorn.
The setup moves fast. Bran and Fran lose their mother to a mysterious lightning strike (their dad disappeared four years earlier the same way).
They discover her storybook becomes an actual portal.
Then they’re dealing with evil princes, mud monsters, Viking armies, and Zachary the zebracorn who cracks jokes throughout.
The book sits right in that sweet spot for 8-12 year olds where the pacing holds attention without dumbing anything down.
Why Parents Keep Recommending This One
You need something that gets your kid off screens for more than five minutes. That’s the reality of modern parenting.
The Book of Legends handles that problem pretty well.
The pacing keeps moving. There’s no filler chapters where kids zone out and start asking when they can have iPad time.
The story moves from setup to resolution with actual momentum throughout.
One reviewer mentioned reading it to their nine-year-old grandson and enjoying it despite fantasy not being their usual thing.
That matters when you’re the one reading aloud every night.
The writing doesn’t talk down to kids. Lenny Henry assumes young readers can handle emotional complexity and humor that works for many age groups.
The jokes land for adults too, which saves you from that special kind of torture where you’re reading something that makes you want to poke your eyes out.
For working parents trying to squeeze in quality time between dinner and bedtime, you need books that do the heavy lifting. This one does.
If you want to check it out, you can find The Book of Legends here (comes in hardcover, paperback, and audiobook formats).
The Representation Element
Bran is deaf and uses British Sign Language throughout the book. Both twins are Black characters.
The book even includes a BSL alphabet chart so kids can learn to sign their own names.
This isn’t diversity as window dressing. The characters’ identities matter to who they are and how they move through the story.
For families wanting books where their kids see themselves represented, this delivers. Multiple parents specifically called this out as a major strength.
Kids connected more deeply with protagonists they recognized aspects of themselves in.
Grandparents looking for meaningful gifts that introduce representation to younger family members have been picking this up specifically for that reason.
The Audiobook Version Hits Different
Lenny Henry narrates the audiobook himself. He brings distinct voices and considerable energy to the performance.
One reviewer described it as “the bees knees” and mentioned their nephew stayed engaged long after listening, still talking about it days later.
This matters for families who spend time in cars or for kids who process information better through audio. The audiobook isn’t just a backup option for when reading feels like too much work.
It’s genuinely worth seeking out as its own experience.
For commutes, road trips, or just letting your kid listen while they’re doing something else, it works. You get educational content that isn’t a screen, which solves that particular parenting dilemma where you’re trying to limit devices and need to keep them occupied.
The audiobook format is available through most major platforms, grab the audiobook version here if that format works better for your family.
What The Book Actually Looks Like
Keenon Ferrell’s black and white illustrations run throughout. They enhance the story without overwhelming it.
For kids transitioning from heavily illustrated picture books to chapter books, these illustrations provide visual anchors. They’re detailed enough to reward attention but don’t distract from the actual reading.
The physical book has practical advantages. No charging required. No blue light before bedtime messing with sleep schedules.
You get clear boundaries between screen time and reading time.
Holding an actual book creates a tangible transition in your routine. When you pull out a physical book, kids know it’s winding-down time, not stimulation time.
| Format | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Hardcover | Home library building, gift giving | Durable, includes full illustrations and BSL chart |
| Paperback | Budget-conscious families, travel reading | Lighter weight, easier to pack, same content |
| Audiobook | Commutes, multi-sensory learners, bedtime | Narrated by Lenny Henry himself, distinct character voices |
What Parents Are Actually Saying
The feedback clusters around consistent themes across review platforms.
Parents appreciated the humor without it being precious or trying too hard. The emotional stakes around missing parents get handled with appropriate weight instead of being glossed over.
The adventure structure doesn’t feel recycled from every other middle-grade fantasy book.
Messages about loyalty, perseverance, and growth come through without becoming preachy. One parent noted the book “should just be fun” and this one delivers exactly that.
Another mentioned it works for adults too, which matters when you’re investing time reading alongside your kids or reading aloud every night.
The book gets reread. That’s the practical test.
Parents mention their children wanting to hear the audiobook many times or asking to read it again after finishing it once.
That’s the kind of durability that justifies the purchase instead of just getting it from the library.
The Realistic Downsides
One reviewer found it slightly rushed and better suited for younger children within the 8-12 range as opposed to older kids approaching 12. Reading level and processing speed vary significantly among person children, so the stated age range serves as a starting point.
If your kid reads several grade levels ahead, they might find it moves too quickly or doesn’t have enough complexity. If they’re a reluctant reader, they might still find it engaging because the pacing keeps them hooked.
The fantasy adventure genre won’t click for every child. If your kid actively dislikes fantasy quests and magical worlds, this won’t suddenly convert them to the genre.
But for children who already enjoy adventure, humor, and stories-within-stories, it’s a solid match.
Building A Library That Gets Used
The practical challenge most families face involves maintaining a rotating home library without spending a fortune or accumulating books that never get opened.
Quality beats quantity every time.
One well-loved, often-reread book provides better value than five mediocre ones gathering dust on a shelf. The Book of Legends appears in many “worth buying” lists specifically because it gets reread and recommended to friends.
For grandparents seeking meaningful gifts that don’t need batteries or create more plastic clutter, this kind of book hits differently than toys that amuse for a weekend then get abandoned. A quality childrens book circulates through siblings, cousins, and eventually gets passed forward to the next generation.
The book costs roughly the same as taking your family to a fast-casual restaurant. But the book gets used many times instead of being consumed in thirty minutes.
You can pick up The Book of Legends in your preferred format through this link, hardcover runs around $15-18, paperback around $8-10, audiobook pricing varies by platform.
How This Book Fits The Screen Time Problem
Screens dominate modern childhood. That’s just reality.
But physical books create natural boundaries that help manage that dominance.
The Book of Legends provides an choice that actually competes with screen-based entertainment. The pacing and adventure keep kids engaged without needing the constant stimulation that apps and videos provide.
Reading a physical book before bed helps with sleep routines better than screens do. No blue light exposure right before trying to fall asleep.
The tactile experience of holding a book and turning pages creates a calming transition.
For families trying to reduce screen time without constant battles, having genuinely engaging books available makes that transition easier. You’re not taking something away without offering something comparable in return.
Who This Book Actually Works For
First-time parents building initial home libraries need reliable recommendations. The Book of Legends review feedback consistently points to it being a solid choice for 8-12 year olds who enjoy adventure stories.
Working parents managing tight schedules need books that hold attention long enough to actually provide screen-free time. The pacing delivers on that requirement.
Families interested in Montessori or Waldorf approaches who prioritize age-appropriate material that respects children’s intelligence will find the book aligns with those values. The writing doesn’t dumb anything down or assume kids need constant hand-holding.
Grandparents looking for recurring, meaningful gifts face the challenge of finding things that actually get used instead of adding to clutter. Books that get reread and passed between siblings provide better long-term value than most toys.
Families specifically seeking representation in children’s literature have pointed to this book repeatedly for its authentic inclusion of deaf and Black protagonists.
The Bottom Line On This One
The Book of Legends by Lenny Henry delivers entertaining, fast-paced adventure with strong representation. It respects young readers’ intelligence while keeping them engaged throughout.
For families managing screen time concerns, the difficulty of choosing age-appropriate books from overwhelming options, and the challenge of maintaining a home library that actually gets used, this book solves many problems.
The combination of Lenny Henry’s writing, Keenon Ferrell’s illustrations, diverse characters, and straightforward adventure storytelling makes it a practical choice. It works for different family situations, whether you’re building your first children’s library, seeking reliable recommendations to save decision-making time, or looking for meaningful gifts that provide lasting value.
The book has been getting recommended consistently since publication, which suggests it has staying power beyond just initial marketing push. Parents who bought it mention their kids actually read it many times.
That’s the practical test that matters.
Ready to add it to your collection? Find The Book of Legends here in your preferred format, physical copies include the BSL alphabet chart, audiobook includes Lenny Henry’s full narration.
The investment runs about the same as a couple of coffee drinks but provides entertainment and education that lasts well beyond a single use. For families trying to build screen-free time into their routines without constant battles, having books that actually deliver on engagement makes that goal achievable instead of just aspirational.