The Leopard Son: A True Story

From Publishers Weekly
Based on Hugo van Lawick's film for the Discovery Channel, this book follows the life of a leopard from fuzzy cub to grown cat in an series of deftly linked vignettes. In "The Tree," a two-month-old leopard cub observes the strange, wide world of East Africa's Serengeti plain from the branches of a spreading acacia tree; in "The Danger," a lion menacingly stalks below; and in "The Lesson" the cub tumbles down the tree with a "Bump!" so the mother leopard can teach him to hunt, hide and sniff danger. The leopard's dependency extends through the dry season, but when the rains finally return?"Giraffes glide through the damp dust, heads swaying in the sudden shower. The world is washed clean"?the mother does not. The leopard strikes out on his own: "With a swish of his tail, he disappears into the tall grass." While readers are unlikely to forget that the book is inspired by a television nature special, all aspects of the book support the remarkable photography. Well-honed text unifies a collage of wildlife and landscape photographs?juxtaposed, inset, cut into shapes?and the inventive format is further enlivened by frolicsome pawprints and bouncy, hand-lettered titles. A spirited coming-of-age tale for animal enthusiasts. Ages 5-up. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5. Captivating, full-color photographs and a lively, picturesque text are a winning combination in this story of a young leopard coming of age on the Serengeti plain. Many aspects of the cub's life are portrayed: the protection provided by his mother, the playfulness that prepares him for survival, and the ways he responds to threats from predators. High-quality photographs have captured rare moments, and stunning close-ups meld with a joyful text filled with similes and descriptive vocabulary. The cubs' ears "swivel like periscopes" and wildflowers "bob like butterflies." Although the focus is on the leopard, other animals appear to illustrate the interaction of many species that dwell on the African plains. The harsh realities of life in the wild are softened, but the implication is of ever-present danger. The lack of an index restricts the use of the book for research, but it is sure to attract and motivate children to learn more about these fascinating animals. Readers who enjoyed Francine Patterson's Koko's Kitten (Scholastic, 1985) and the books by James Herriot will delight in this presentation, which has been adapted from a Discovery Channel movie.?Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJCopyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 3^-5, younger for reading aloud. As a little leopard awaits his mother's return, he observes the Serengeti plain from his perch in an acacia tree. Soon his mother takes him out to teach him to hunt. Readers will be learning as well, as the authors take many opportunities to tell about the animals and the seasons of the Serengeti. Excellent full-color photographs will make the book valuable to teachers seeking material on the region and its wildlife. The book is based on this fall's feature film of the same name. Carolyn Phelan

From Kirkus Reviews
The Leopard Son ($14.95; Oct. 4, 1996; 30 pp.; 0-07-016061-9): A year in the life of a leopard cub at home on the Serengeti Plain of East Africa. The prose is trite: ``The creature roars--a sound like distant thunder''; ``his nose twitches as if it were alive, sniffing, sniffing.'' Included are charming, full-color shots of the cuddly leopard cub, but the uncaptioned photographs are frequently clipped, cropped, and superimposed on other photos, making it difficult to find the focal points, or to get a sense of habitat or scale. Children who see the movie on which this book is based may find this appealing, but as a stand-alone it is inferior to many fine wildlife titles available. (Picture book. 8-10) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Midwest Book Review
It's hard to categorize this title, based on a Discovery film: it reads like a story but the color photos of leopards throughout and the emphasis on leopard natural history lends to its use as a nonfiction title. A young leopard cub explores his world in this story, which is also packed with photos of other African animals.

Book Description
Now families can relive the excitement of The Leopard Son, the Discovery Channel's first theatrical release, in a magnificent full-color storybook that captures both the visual splendor and stark reality of this moving documentary. The Leopard Son brilliantly chronicles a leopard cub's journey into young adulthood and his painful coming-of-age in the beautiful but brutal Serengeti. Brimming with dramatic movie stills and poigant prose, the book provides an eyewitness account of the plight of the young in the wild and examines the unique ``Wild Discovery,'' predators and prey alike are shown hunting, living, fighting, sometimes dying violently as they struggle to survive in one of the last truly wild unspoiled places on earth.

Card catalog description
Describes the leopards of Tanzania and their interaction with the other animals there.

From the Back Cover
Bringing the Leopard Son Home to Stay! Adapted from the Discovery Channel's wildlife feature film about a young leopard's coming-of-age, this true story of life on Africa's Serengeti plain transports children and their parents into a world both dangerous and delightful. There, they will share the adventures of a real leopard cub, whose growing up was painstakingly filmed by acclaimed naturalist Hugo van Lawick. From a tiny, fluffy cub, secure in the trunk of an acacia tree, the leopard grows into a capable hunter, finally able to live on his own. Bounding around the feet of a giraffe, exploring a snake eagle's nest, wrapping himself in his mother's long, slender tail, he discovers how to hunt, how to hide, and how to stay one step ahead of trouble. This rare and authentic rendering of a young leopard's early life--never before captured in such intimate detail--will enchant readers of all ages.


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Based on the Discovery Channel film by Hugo van Lawick, this story focuses on the interactions of the different animals of the Serengeti plain as the leopard cub grows from a tiny, two-month-old, fluffy cub into a capable hunter, finally able to live on his own. The reader learns not only of the relationship between mother and cub, but also of the leopard's friends and enemies. The photos accompanying the text are noteworthy for their vibrant color and realism.


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