Tag Archives: Leopards

Elem. – The Girl Who Lost a Leopard

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Farook, Nizrana. The Girl Who Lost a Leopard. Peachtree, 2023. 978-1-682-63581-0. 196 p. $16.99. Grades 3-5.

Selvi is a twelve year old girl who lives on the island of Serendib with her widowed mother. Until recently, she was home-schooled and enjoyed her solitary life exploring the mountains that were full of wildlife. One day, the girl observes some hunters trying to capture a leopard. This was a special leopard with a beautiful coat that she often observed on her mountain journeys. Selvi managed to prevent Jansz from killing the big cat, but he threatened her if she told others about his poaching attempt, because hunting leopards was against the law. The leopard, which she called Lokka, was her mountain companion and hid his wild nature around her, allowing her to be near him as he rested in a tree. A boy at school called Amir finds out about the girl’s secret rendezvous with Lokka and teams up with her to save the leopard. In addition to the poachers, Selvi has to deal with her overbearing rich uncle who disapproves of the girl’s free spirited ways. Things come to a head when Lokka is captured, and Selvi realizes that enemies can be closer than imagined. With help from unexpected sources, the girl is determined to rescue her beloved animal friend, despite the danger. This story is set in Serendib, which is a fictional island inspired by the author’s home country of Sri Lanka. The text has an attractive cover and a map of the island is found in the front pages.

THOUGHTS: This adventure story, with its short chapters, is a real page turner. Readers who enjoy this one may want to check out the author’s other two books: The Girl Who Stole An Elephant and The Boy Who Met a Whale. Highly recommended for elementary collections and a great choice for those who love animal or adventure stories.

Adventure

Elem. – A Leopard Diary: My Journey into the Hidden World of a Mother and Her Cubs

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Eszterhas, Suzi. A Leopard Diary: My Journey into the Hidden World of a Mother and Her Cubs. OwlkidsBooks, 2022. 978-1-771-47491-7. 40 p. $18.95. Grades 2-6.

Wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas, author of Moto and Me, returns with A Leopard Diary! Eszterhas specializes in photographing baby animals, and she jumped at the chance to photograph a female leopard and her two cubs in Botswana’s Jao Reserve, located in the Okavango Delta. In A Leopard Diary she has compiled her diary of the adventure, from the day she arrived at the Tubu Tree Camp through various return trips over the next two years. Her diary entries conversationally document the female cubs’ development, accompanied by full-color photos and lively page spreads that showcase their journey from cubs to sub-adults. The narrative culminates in the arrival of the Camp Female’s new baby, a male cub. As in all of Eszterhas’s books, the photographs are the star of the show. Many include captions that further explain the scenes so skillfully captured by her camera. The closing pages include an interview with Kambango (a guide and tracker who works in the reserve), information on Children in the Wilderness, and a useful list of Words to Know. 

THOUGHTS: The author’s love of both her profession and the wildlife she photographs shines through on every page. Readers will come away from A Leopard Diary with a new understanding of these big cats and their “hidden” lives in the bush.

599 Wildlife          Amy V. Pickett, Ridley SD

Elem. – Comparing Animal Differences (Series NF)

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Comparing Animal Differences. The Child’s World, 2020. $19.95 each. $342 for a set of 12. 24 Pages. Grades K-3.

Reed, Ellis M. Alligators and Crocodiles. 978-1-503-83590-0.
—. Llamas and Alpacas. 978-1-503-83593-1.
York, M. J. Butterflies and Moths. 978-1-503-83587-0.
—. Toads and Frogs. 978-1-503-83586-3.
Pearson, Marie. Dolphins and Porpoises. 978-1-503-83589-4.
—. Leopards and Cheetahs. 978-1-503-83592-4.
—. Wasps and Bees. 978-1-503-83594-8.
Gale, Ryan. Hares and Rabbits. 978-1-503-83591-7.
—. Turtles and Tortoises. 978-1-503-83588-7.
London, Martha. Lizards and Salamanders. 978-1-503-83595-5.
Ringstad, Arnold. Puffins and Penguins. 978-1-503-83596-2.
Gendell, Megan. Spiders and Daddy Long Legs. 978-1-503-83585-6.

Do you know what makes a toad different from a frog? Or a rabbit from a hare, or a lizard from a salamander? If you are like most readers, this is an ever confusing problem, which the writers of the Comparing Animal Differences series would like to simplify. Using short chapters of readable text with gorgeous photographs, each book highlights the animals separately, and then compares how to identify the difference. For example, lizards have scales and claws and hunt during the day, while salamanders are nocturnal and have no claws or scales. With labeled photos, a glossary and index, as well as extra links and activities to extend the learning, young readers will become knowledgeable naturalists in no time.

THOUGHTS: There are twelve books in this series. I have only reviewed two, but feel that the collection as a whole would be worth purchasing for class projects and personal interests. Plus, the idea of a compare and contrast assignment would be a useful note taking lesson.

550 Animals          Dustin Brackbill, State College Area SD