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This is the third book in the Precious Ramotswe Mystery series for young readers, but it can be read as a stand-alone.
The setting is Botswana, and Precious is nine years old. As the author describes the character and her surroundings, he uses a pronunciation guide for names and a diagram of an arm and hand to illustrate a delta.
A new character is introduced in this book: Precious’s relative, Aunty Bee. She is a fun aunt who works at a safari camp where she is employed as a cook and storyteller. On her birthday, she sends Precious gifts such as porcupine quill hat and a bracelet made of elephant hair.
Within the main story, little stories are told (People said that an elephant had sat on him and squashed him a bit, but nobody knew whether or not that was true). When Precious visits Aunty Bee during a school holiday (she travels there in the back of a crowded truck with villagers and animals), she discovers life in the bush is different than life at home.
She is excited to watch the film that is being made there with her new friend, Khumo. They befriend the movie crew and tame actor lion (Teddy) when they help with scenes in the movie. When Teddy disappears on the second day of filming, Precious sets out to investigate.
She looks at footprints and travels by canoe with Khumo, looking for the missing animal. They find him, but the hard part is getting him away from his new pride, because the other lions are not as friendly. After Precious saves the life of a crew member (by making a sound a lion cannot resist), they agree to let Teddy roam free—just as Precious thought best.
These are excellent books to read for mother-daughter book clubs. Precious is an admirable character because she is a problem solver (she fixes a broken fan belt with her own belt), and she’s very respectful of her father. She values freedom and hard work. Back material includes discussion questions and a pre-reading activity.
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The Mystery of the Missing Lion: A Precious Ramotswe Mystery for Young Readers