Product Description

Osebo the leopard has a fine drum, a huge drum, a magnificent drum. All the animals covet Osebo’s drum, but he won’t let anyone else have it, not even Nyame, the Sky-God. So, Nyame offers a big reward to the animal that brings him the drum. All try — the monkey, the elephant, even the python — and all fail. Can a very small tortoise succeed in outwitting the boastful leopard?

Jessica Souhami’s vibrant collage illustrations, full of movement and humor, add additional appeal to this delightful story. The short, rhythmic text is perfect for reading aloud.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #558615 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3?Osebo the leopard has a drum that is the envy of all the animals, and even of Nyame, the Sky-God. When Osebo refuses to give the instrument to him, Nyame offers a reward to the creature who can bring it. The beasts try and fail until the smallest of them, the tortoise Achi-cheri, succeeds by her wiles. This pourquoi tale told with a light touch is offered with the same verve as well-loved Anansi tales, and Souhami's paper-collage art enhances its vitality. Vivid color overlays placed strategically in white space create dramatic effects, and African-inspired masks and garments lend authenticity to the book. A satisfying choice for reading aloud and a solid addition to African folklore collections.?Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Ages 3^-6. Artful simplicity is at the center of this African pourquoi story. Nyame, the sky-god, promises a reward to whoever brings him the leopard's drum. One by one, the animals of the forest try, but with no luck. It is the small tortoise, Achi-cheri, who triumphs by using her wits to trick the leopard, and in the bargain, she wins a hard, protective shell. The story exhibits a fine symmetry between the spare yet rhythmic text ("your fine drum, your huge drum, your magnificent drum" ) and the vibrantly colored cut-paper pictures. Although McAlinden sometimes leaves too much white space, his illustrations have an appealing sense of balance and composition. Even when the leopard is not at center stage, for instance, his presence is felt through a polka-dot tail tucked in a corner or a paw along the edge of the page. A pronunciation guide would have been helpful; no source note. Julie Corsaro

Review
"The illustrations are outstanding. Adapted from characters created for [Jessica's] own travelling puppet shows, they startle and enchant like shadow puppets in a live performance. The Independent

Customer Reviews

Great buy.
I bought a total of four books from this website a few weeks ago, three from Amazon and one (stupidly) from a private seller. The books from Amazon were inexpensive, mint-condition, AND they gave me free S & H as well! I am learning Punjabi and Hindi (just a few languages from India) and this book was perfect as it has dialogue, which helps you learn even better than just reading from a narrator's point of view. It's just a great deal and I am extremely happy with it! I happened also to buy this book during a bad weather week that we had, and still it came in two weeks, which for free S & H is wonderful! Good job Amazon, and thank you.

Very "drummy"!
This book is about a leopard who is very proud and his name is Osebo. I liked it when Achicheri (the tortoise) trapped Osebo in his drum. Then Achicheri took the drum with the leopard inside to the sky god, Nyame. A python, an elephant and a monkey all tried to get Osebo's drum, but they failed. But Achicheri got the drum by tricking Osebo. It was a great read.