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Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

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MNHQ

Children's bookclub: The Pointless Leopard by Colas Gutman

26 replies

RachelMumsnet · 03/02/2014 16:37

February Children's bookclub choice. The Pointless Leopard is a delightful, very funny tale of a grumpy city kid, Leonard who's forced to go for country walks with his parents. His view of the countryside is that it's "ugly, it's green and it's boring." That is until he meets a cow, a chicken and a sheep who end up pondering over the purpose of existence.

If you know a child who may enjoy this beautifully illustrated, charming story, apply for a free copy and come back and let us know what they think.

Children's bookclub: The Pointless Leopard by Colas Gutman

OP posts:

MNHQ

AliceMumsnet · 10/02/2014 10:28

This book giveaway is now closed. We will notify those who have been selected to receive a free copy via email. We would love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month or post a review.

poppy990 · 15/02/2014 09:58

My 7 yo read this to me in bed this morning - a nice way to start the day. A funny and charming book

lorka · 15/02/2014 14:20

A funny little book with lovely, simple illustrations. It made my daughter (7) and I laugh on several occasions. Thanks for sending us this delightful book. :)

Inlovewith2014 · 16/02/2014 13:28

We enjoyed this very strange book
My 6 year old could read this and we could guess what was coming made us giggle

hairyfaerie · 17/02/2014 12:33

My 6 yr old and 3.5 yr old twins loved this book it stretched their imagination with a unique take on fairy tales. Loved the wolf and the phrase "the bum, eat the bum". This had them roaring! Thank you for making our reading time delightful.

glenka · 17/02/2014 16:55

This book came this morning and I have to say what a strange book this is, my niece and nephew really love books but they were not very interested at all in it and I can see why.
Thank you anyway for giving us a chance to try this book.

Littlepinkpear · 18/02/2014 21:48

Just finished this with DD who us 4.5. She loved it, nice simple story, very funny and the illustrations are lovely.

Was a change from her normal book choices from the library but I also enjoyed reading it too.

LadyRaff · 20/02/2014 11:10

My daughter (5) read this book on her own and liked the story because the animals were talking. She really liked the illustrations and the fact that the little boy finds his parents after getting lost. I personally found the story funny but do not think my daughter 'got the message' that the author wanted to get across.

weathermum · 20/02/2014 11:17

the book can be read in a few minutes..the story line seems pointless but the illustrations are attractive and the book itself is small , light and eye catching which is ideal for little ones hands.

sara11272 · 20/02/2014 13:39

Review by Emily, age 5: this book is funny because a sheep and a hen and a cow and wolf talk. The wolf ate the boy but he spat him out because he had hard bones and he couldn't eat him.

Emily really enjoyed reading this story and we will be reading it again as a family.

Thank you for sending it to us.

janney3 · 20/02/2014 14:08

My 4 and 7 year olds both found this book odd. I think the hidden meaning is lost or too hidden for children. I quite enjoyed it though but did find it quite pointless. Thanks for sending us a copy though. Perhaps when the children are a little older they will revisit and enjoy it.

katiebasey · 20/02/2014 14:43

My Daughter, didnt seem interested in the book , said it looked boring... she is 9, however she sat and read it to my nephew... who is 5 , he loved it... so she had to read it to him several times. A nice quick read with cute illustrations... ideal for the younger child.

katb1973 · 20/02/2014 17:48

My 5 year old loved it and my 7 year old didn't get it....so thank you Mumsnet from half our family. An interesting concept but I'm not convinced it worked.

Highfivethatfart · 20/02/2014 20:54

It was a very easy book to read and made a change from the usual aliens and dinosaur books that get read over and over again however I feel that this may not get read over and over again as although my boys (6 & 3) said it was alright I don't think it had enough excitement for them. Too gentle and subtle however they may surprise me and choose it without any prompting. Thank you for the book.

Rajie · 21/02/2014 01:12

A book written in an easy language which is great for kids to understand. I found the story quite amusing. Lovely illustrations and a change from the usual books which we read. Attractive and easy to carry around as well.

octavia008 · 21/02/2014 18:10

My 7yr old took "The Pointless Leopard" to school as it arrived in the mail just before we set off for school.... she devoured it! She gives it 9/10 :)

Stripytop · 21/02/2014 21:19

I found this book frustrating on a few levels. I didn't like the characters really. I thought the boy came over as spoilt and petulant and I was frustrated at his parents for not making more of an effort at getting him to like the countryside. I found the book boring, and got the feeling that this was an abridged version of a longer book with all the good bits cut out. I was excited when the animals appeared, but even they were a little drippy and failed to make this a story I would want to read again. I was so disappointed as I liked the cover and the title and was looking forward to reading it.

My dd(10) read the book only because I told her about having to review it as it didn't appeal to her even after reading the blurb. She said it was 'OK' but quoted Gru from Despicable Me "this is literature? A 2 year old could of written this". Clearly it wasn't for her.

However

I couldn't induce my DS(8) to read it himself, so I insisted that he had to listen to me read it. Reading it out loud somehow made it a completely different book! Although he didn't get the overall message, he really enjoyed it, and laughed out loud in several places (the bum, the bum... especially).

So, this may not be a book for all ages, as intended, but it certainly makes a funny bedtime story for an 8 year old boy.

Lenochka12 · 22/02/2014 22:49

This book wasn't for us unfortunately, my child (9yo) said it was strange. It's rather quirky and a bit random. Maybe would suit a younger child better.

WowOoo · 23/02/2014 17:03

Thank you for the book.
My son said he didn't really understand it. He sais he liked the fact that it was short and liked the illustrations and cover.
I read it and thought it was a very sweet, thought provoking book. Funny also. He is very fussy about books. Will give it to my niece and report back what she thinks. I'm sure she'll like it.

notsosqueakyclean · 24/02/2014 19:25

Found the book rather sad- was expecting there to be more of a message with regard to the 'point' of children. Maybe I'm only seeng it from an adults' view as my 11 year old daughter quite liked it. Looked the illustrations however!

Cohenite · 26/02/2014 06:28

Thanks for my copy of this book. I'm not sure what age it is aimed at. The four year I read it to didn't get it but I will keep it for a year or so and try again.

It is an attractive little book with very good illustrations, I would be tempted by it in a bookshop.

maryburrows · 26/02/2014 12:25

funny, quirky illustrations, liked the talking animals- but the point does not come across very well and if I had had to buy it £7.99 for 35 small pages in a paperback is very expensive. I don't think interest can be maintained for that many rereads.

Dishaster · 27/02/2014 12:11

Thanks for the book! I thought it was cute and my 7 year old said it was fine. He couldn't identify with the protagonist though. He wondered why any little boy would hate living in the country!

greenhill · 27/02/2014 14:11

Thanks for our copy MNHQ, sorry to be late posting a review.

My 7 yo thought it was "absolutely pointless" the first time she read it and didn't understand how DH and I found it funny. She liked the illustrations though as she thought that she could copy them easily as they were simple and quirky. But she likes it a bit more each time she re-reads it, as I have left it in the bathroom, and DD picks it up every time she's in there.

The translation was a good one, but I wasn't sure of which age group it was aimed at. DH and I loved everything about it. DD was initially unsure what to make of the story but has re-read it and is still a bit puzzled by the boy's attitude and the animal's actions.

kimnhol · 02/03/2014 17:44

My 8 year old daughter really enjoyed this book, especially the talking fox, she understood the story and said she would re read it again.

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