What do you think?
Rate this book
Leopard's Drum, Punjabi/English-Language Edition: An Asante Tale from West Africa
The Punjabi/English dual language edition of The Leopard's Drum . Osebo, the leopard, has a magnificent 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 who will bring him the drum. This tale from West Africa features illustrations adapted from the author's own shadow puppets.
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
6 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Souhami
30 books4 followersJessica Souhami studied at the Central School of Art and Design which was a public school of fine and applied arts in London, England.
In 1980 she formed Mme Souhami and Co, a travelling puppet company using colourful shadow puppets with a musical accompaniment and a storyteller. Her illustrations, like her puppets, use brilliant colour and bold shapes and her characters leap and swoop across the spreads.
In October 2008 Jessica Souhami, along with other well know illustrators, contributed an artwork which was used in the film, We Are All Born Free. Amnesty International hosted a special launch event for this universal declaration of human rights.
Her many titles for Frances Lincoln Publishers are ‘Sausages!’, ‘In the Dark, Dark Wood’, ‘Baba Yaga and the Stolen Baby’, ‘The Leopard’s Drum’, ‘No Dinner!’, ‘Rama and the Demon King’, ‘The Famous Adventures of a Bird Brained Hen’, ‘The Little, Little House’, ‘Mrs McCool and the Giant Cuchulainn’ and ‘King Pom’ and ‘Foxy’.
Jessica lives in North London.
In 1980 she formed Mme Souhami and Co, a travelling puppet company using colourful shadow puppets with a musical accompaniment and a storyteller. Her illustrations, like her puppets, use brilliant colour and bold shapes and her characters leap and swoop across the spreads.
In October 2008 Jessica Souhami, along with other well know illustrators, contributed an artwork which was used in the film, We Are All Born Free. Amnesty International hosted a special launch event for this universal declaration of human rights.
Her many titles for Frances Lincoln Publishers are ‘Sausages!’, ‘In the Dark, Dark Wood’, ‘Baba Yaga and the Stolen Baby’, ‘The Leopard’s Drum’, ‘No Dinner!’, ‘Rama and the Demon King’, ‘The Famous Adventures of a Bird Brained Hen’, ‘The Little, Little House’, ‘Mrs McCool and the Giant Cuchulainn’ and ‘King Pom’ and ‘Foxy’.
Jessica lives in North London.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 26, 2019
This was a great book because it included colorful images of different animals in the forest which I strongly believe would be eye catching for children.
January 25, 2012
Osebo the Leopard has an amazing drum. All of the animals want the drum, but Osebo will not let them have it, not even the Sky God Nyame. So, the Sky God offers a reward to the animal who can bring him the drum. The monkey, the elephant and the python all try and fail, but will the little Tortoise succeed in outwitting Osebo?
The Leopard's Drum is a lovely West African Tale with vibrant and colourful illustrations which I would recommend for children in Year 1 and 2. I used this book during School Experience A with a Year 2 class. It created the opportunities for role play and hot seating, as well as the pupils writing their own book and character reviews. It was also used in Numeracy for making repeating patterns where the pupils used the patterns on the Sky God's clothes, as well as the African clothes me and my mentor brought in. The pupils also used the story to make an African Masks in their Art lesson. It is also good to look at in PSHE as the children could speak about why they should share.
The Leopard's Drum is a lovely West African Tale with vibrant and colourful illustrations which I would recommend for children in Year 1 and 2. I used this book during School Experience A with a Year 2 class. It created the opportunities for role play and hot seating, as well as the pupils writing their own book and character reviews. It was also used in Numeracy for making repeating patterns where the pupils used the patterns on the Sky God's clothes, as well as the African clothes me and my mentor brought in. The pupils also used the story to make an African Masks in their Art lesson. It is also good to look at in PSHE as the children could speak about why they should share.
November 4, 2019
This book is about a leopard named Osebo. He walks around the jungle bragging about how great his drum is. He wont let anyone play it or even touch it. This makes the sky-god Nyame angry. He encourages the animals to try to bring him the drum. The tortoise Achi-Cheri ends up being the hero. Osebo is not threatened by him because he is small, slow, and has a soft shell. Achi-Cheri ends up outsmarting Osebo in the end. In return, he is given a hard shell. This book does a good job of showing that sometimes the "under dog" can be the one who saves the day. That would be a good opportunity for a self-esteem booster for a student in your class. I would also use this story to talk to my class about traits of animals. It would be good to use for science. We could easily speculate why the animals are the way they are. We could also have a discussion about what we would change about animals if we could and why.
July 8, 2019
A well-paced retelling of an Ashanti/Asante folktale with colorful cut-paper illustrations. A porquoi tale featuring familiar figures from West African folklore, including Nyame the Sky God and various animals- Osebo the leopard, Onini the python, etc. While author Souhami is white/European, her acknowledgments at the front of the book do acknowledge the storytellers and anthropologists who helped her tell the tale in an authentic/culturally informed manner.
Storytime uses:
Understanding words/stories
Just-so/Porquoi story
Animals
Sharing/greed
Storytime uses:
Understanding words/stories
Just-so/Porquoi story
Animals
Sharing/greed
October 28, 2020
The Leopard has the best and biggest drum in all of the jungle, but he won't share ti with anyone. He boasts and brags to all the other animals. the Sky God asks the animals to bring him the drum and he will reward them with anything they want. All animals fail and underestimate the tortoise, but he is triumphant using the vanity of the Leopard against him. This folktale is to explain where tortoises get their shells from. It was a very cute and simple story with lively illustrations that make it enjoyable for all.
January 4, 2017
This is an alternative variation of the hare and the tortise tale - using African animals. The copy I read was both in English and Urdu, which has advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage of a dual language book is that children can read the story in both they first langauage if they speak Urdu and learn the English version. The disadvantage is that some children are unable to read in either langauage and so might only hear the teacher read it in English.
The advantage of a dual language book is that children can read the story in both they first langauage if they speak Urdu and learn the English version. The disadvantage is that some children are unable to read in either langauage and so might only hear the teacher read it in English.
Read
November 6, 2016Title (italicize): The Leopard’s Drum: An Asante Tale from West Africa
Author: Jessica Souhami
Illustrator (if separate from author): n/a
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s):
Greed
Predictable story
Jungle
Animals
Sky-God
Ashanti (African people)
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
“Osebo, the leopard, was fierce, proud, and boastful.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
Osebo, the leopard, has a magnificent drum that he will let no one touch or have. Nyame, the Sky-God, even asks for the drum and when Osebo does not give it to him he tells the animals that whoever returns the drum to Nyame will get a reward. All the large, scary animals of the jungle try and steal the drum from Osebo but no one is successful except the small but clever tortoise.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste):
Julie Corsaro (Booklist, June 1 & 15, 1996 (Vol. 92, No. 19 & 20))
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. Category: For the Young. 1996, Little, Brown, $14.95. Ages 3-6.
(PUBLISHER: Little Brown (Boston:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste):
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1996)
The leopard makes a huge drum; the Sky-God, Nyame, offers to reward the animal who can get it for him. The snake, the elephant, and the monkey try and fail, but the turtle--who has a soft shell--tricks the leopard into climbing inside the drum, and delivers it to the Sky-God; as a reward, the Sky-God gives her a hard shell. Souhami (Old MacDonald, p. 142, etc.) has created a wonderful read-aloud; the text is full of rhythmic phrases, symmetries, and repetitions. But if this tale of an arrogant animal and his satisfying comeuppance dances to the rhythm of the text, the illustrator's eye is as sharp as the author's ear. Kaleidoscopic cut-paper collages of jungle scenes have a white background and black trees; by contrast, the animals are sleek and colorful. Patterns that suggest a stylized kente cloth cloak Nyame and the endpapers. A vibrant work. 1996, Little Brown, $14.95. Starred Review. © 1996 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Little Brown (Boston:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words):
The reviews touch on the beautiful contrast between the whiteness, the illustrations, and text on each page, they all play off of each other and are aesthetically pleasing and captivating to the reader. Julie Corsaro’s observation of Osebo being present on each page with at least one body part proves the detail and thought put into every page of the story. Additionally, the reviewers point out the rhythmic text of this folktale and that this story really has a great flow and teaches a great lesson in the end to its audience.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
Although the ending is unexpected, this folktale is a predictable story, each strong animal tries to steal the drum from Osebo and then when they fail each animal has the same conversation with Osebo, until the tortoise uses wit instead of strength to steal the drum. The dialogue is clear and repetitive, allowing the readers to be able to predict what is going to be said next. Like most folktales, the story provides a moral to its reader, not to under estimate anyone and that everyone has their own strengths. The beautiful names of each of the animal characters along with the style of illustrations allow the readers to feel the culture of the Ashanti people.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
This picture book’s illustrations contains many different animals/characters for the students to keep track of, while reading the book a-loud to the children I would definitely have a 3-D representation (stuffed animals, figurines, drawings, or my preference would be to copy and cut out the illustrations from the text to keep the style and culture) of all the different animals. I would begin to read the story to the point where Nyame tells the animals of the forest to receive the drum for him, then I will introduce all the different characters to the students. I would then have the students predict which animal will be successful and share their reasoning with a partner and then call on a student or two to share their response with the class. I will continue to read the story and allow the students to see if their predictions were right or wrong and reflect as a class together at the end.
Author: Jessica Souhami
Illustrator (if separate from author): n/a
Genre: Non-European Folktale
Theme(s):
Greed
Predictable story
Jungle
Animals
Sky-God
Ashanti (African people)
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text):
“Osebo, the leopard, was fierce, proud, and boastful.”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words):
Osebo, the leopard, has a magnificent drum that he will let no one touch or have. Nyame, the Sky-God, even asks for the drum and when Osebo does not give it to him he tells the animals that whoever returns the drum to Nyame will get a reward. All the large, scary animals of the jungle try and steal the drum from Osebo but no one is successful except the small but clever tortoise.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1 (cut & paste):
Julie Corsaro (Booklist, June 1 & 15, 1996 (Vol. 92, No. 19 & 20))
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. Category: For the Young. 1996, Little, Brown, $14.95. Ages 3-6.
(PUBLISHER: Little Brown (Boston:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2 (cut & paste):
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, 1996)
The leopard makes a huge drum; the Sky-God, Nyame, offers to reward the animal who can get it for him. The snake, the elephant, and the monkey try and fail, but the turtle--who has a soft shell--tricks the leopard into climbing inside the drum, and delivers it to the Sky-God; as a reward, the Sky-God gives her a hard shell. Souhami (Old MacDonald, p. 142, etc.) has created a wonderful read-aloud; the text is full of rhythmic phrases, symmetries, and repetitions. But if this tale of an arrogant animal and his satisfying comeuppance dances to the rhythm of the text, the illustrator's eye is as sharp as the author's ear. Kaleidoscopic cut-paper collages of jungle scenes have a white background and black trees; by contrast, the animals are sleek and colorful. Patterns that suggest a stylized kente cloth cloak Nyame and the endpapers. A vibrant work. 1996, Little Brown, $14.95. Starred Review. © 1996 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.
(PUBLISHER: Little Brown (Boston:), PUBLISHED: c1995.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words):
The reviews touch on the beautiful contrast between the whiteness, the illustrations, and text on each page, they all play off of each other and are aesthetically pleasing and captivating to the reader. Julie Corsaro’s observation of Osebo being present on each page with at least one body part proves the detail and thought put into every page of the story. Additionally, the reviewers point out the rhythmic text of this folktale and that this story really has a great flow and teaches a great lesson in the end to its audience.
Evaluation of Literary Elements (3-4 sentences in your own words):
Although the ending is unexpected, this folktale is a predictable story, each strong animal tries to steal the drum from Osebo and then when they fail each animal has the same conversation with Osebo, until the tortoise uses wit instead of strength to steal the drum. The dialogue is clear and repetitive, allowing the readers to be able to predict what is going to be said next. Like most folktales, the story provides a moral to its reader, not to under estimate anyone and that everyone has their own strengths. The beautiful names of each of the animal characters along with the style of illustrations allow the readers to feel the culture of the Ashanti people.
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words):
This picture book’s illustrations contains many different animals/characters for the students to keep track of, while reading the book a-loud to the children I would definitely have a 3-D representation (stuffed animals, figurines, drawings, or my preference would be to copy and cut out the illustrations from the text to keep the style and culture) of all the different animals. I would begin to read the story to the point where Nyame tells the animals of the forest to receive the drum for him, then I will introduce all the different characters to the students. I would then have the students predict which animal will be successful and share their reasoning with a partner and then call on a student or two to share their response with the class. I will continue to read the story and allow the students to see if their predictions were right or wrong and reflect as a class together at the end.
September 16, 2019
An interesting and fun traditional Panjabi tale, written in both English and Panjabi.
It is the tale of how the tortoise got its hard shell, using its clever wit and trickery, and teaches that greed and selfishness will lead to your downfall.
It is the tale of how the tortoise got its hard shell, using its clever wit and trickery, and teaches that greed and selfishness will lead to your downfall.
September 6, 2018
A folk tale where a tiger has built a drum and won't share. The sky god will reward the first animals to get the drum from the tiger. preschool and up
March 19, 2019
Solid storytelling; the illustrations are pretty forgettable
March 25, 2022
🤎West African story
❤️Asante tale
🧡How tortoise got his shell
💛Stunning illustrations
💚Geometric patterns
💙Great read aloud
💜Languages
❤️Asante tale
🧡How tortoise got his shell
💛Stunning illustrations
💚Geometric patterns
💙Great read aloud
💜Languages
December 16, 2019
It is an Asante tale from West Africa. Osebo (the leopard) had a drum and wont let anyone have it. It turns out that Achi- cheri (the tortoise) tricks him into giving up the drum.
September 12, 2008
Genre: Folktale
Grades:1-3
“The Leopard’s Drum” , is the story of a leopard named Osebo who made a large drum that he played every day for all the other animals in the jungle. Eventually all of the other animals in the jungle became jealous of Osebo and his drum. Then, Nyame, the sky god offered a big reward to the animal that could steal the drum. Every animal in the jungle tries to steal the drum, but each was unsuccessful until a small water turtle tries to complete the job. Osebo is fooled by the turtle’s size and is fooled into getting into his own drum. When Osebo get’s in the drum the turtle locks him in the Drum and takes him to Nyame the sky god. To thank the turtle Nayme gave him a hard tough shell and called him tortoise.
Activities:
1.The student’s will create a diorama of a scene from the book out of paper and wikki stix.
2.The class will create a timeline of the events in the book. The time line will feature pictures for representation of events.
Grades:1-3
“The Leopard’s Drum” , is the story of a leopard named Osebo who made a large drum that he played every day for all the other animals in the jungle. Eventually all of the other animals in the jungle became jealous of Osebo and his drum. Then, Nyame, the sky god offered a big reward to the animal that could steal the drum. Every animal in the jungle tries to steal the drum, but each was unsuccessful until a small water turtle tries to complete the job. Osebo is fooled by the turtle’s size and is fooled into getting into his own drum. When Osebo get’s in the drum the turtle locks him in the Drum and takes him to Nyame the sky god. To thank the turtle Nayme gave him a hard tough shell and called him tortoise.
Activities:
1.The student’s will create a diorama of a scene from the book out of paper and wikki stix.
2.The class will create a timeline of the events in the book. The time line will feature pictures for representation of events.
August 5, 2013
Osebo the leopard has the best drum ever. But he won't share it with anyone. So the Sky-God offers a reward to whoever can bring him the drum. Many animals try, but only one can outwit the leopard. My 4 year old really loved the story. I enjoyed the story, but really appeciated the artwork. I can really see potential for several art projects from this book. I think I will use it as we study continents (for Africa) and show the beautiful patterns in the Sky-God's clothing. But it could also be used as a model to create African animals using collage or painting (or both).
October 24, 2010
The story I think deserves 4 stars in itself, but add the excellent illustrations and it's hard not to give it 5 stars. The pictures of animals remind me of construction paper cut outs that kids in school often make; they seem to jump out of the page! I love the colors used and the simple narrative that kids can easily follow. Looking forward to other books by this author.
January 28, 2012
This West Africa inspired traditional story/fairy tale is filled with events that demonstrate how a small animal, who is known to be weak, is clever enough to trick the fierce leopard into giving up his possession to the Sky-God. Through the use of pictures and characters that are important to the African culture the book unravels a story with a helpful lesson to always keep in mind.
July 7, 2009
Picture book- A leopard is always boasting about his drum that he made. The sky God tells the other animals so bring it to him and he will give them a reward. Lots of animals try but only a wise and innocent turtle can do it.
July 18, 2010
The story demonstrates how another culture uses storytelling to relay important life lessons. Demonstrates the use of godlike images to represent things like the sky or water. Can be used to discuss religion.
July 19, 2010
‘The Leopard's Drum” is an excellent example of African Folklore. This book is great for introducing African folklore and the tradition of “trickster” stories in some African folklore.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews