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Leopardpox!
“Leopardpox!” shouts Mama when her little girl becomes a frisky leopard cub. Now what? Mama and Sadie’s three brothers take Sadie to the doctor, who says, “I’m not a doctor for leopards.” Then they try the vet, who says, “If this is a leopard cub, it’s a healthy leopard, but if this is a little girl, then she is very ill.” The zoo would be happy to keep her, but no one likes the idea of leaving her behind. No, decides Mama, they’ll take care of her at home, where rest and kindness work wonders. Explosively funny, slightly retro-looking illustrations accompany the laugh-aloud text, which takes a sly dig at the medical establishment while affirming the power of comfort from Mama. And—who knew?—leopardpox may just be contagious!
First published in Israel in 2012 by Kinneret-Zmora Bitan Dvir Publishing House.
First published in Israel in 2012 by Kinneret-Zmora Bitan Dvir Publishing House.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
September 17, 2017
This is a sweet tale about the love a mother has for her children. The narrative depicts young Sadie suffering from a case of Leopardpox and being turned away from different doctors. The story ends on a humorous note and I am sure that this book will serve as a good book to read at bedtime.
The mixed media illustrations are colorful and entertaining. One of my favorite images is that of the family walking Sadie the leopard to the doctor's office as she is jumping, trying to catch a bird, while her brother is looking at another bird as if to say, "Watch out for my sister!"
Overall, the story is very silly, but certainly encourages curling up together and cherishing our time with our little ones. I did not read this book snuggled up with our girls, but it's one that we would have enjoyed reading together when they were younger.
I discovered this book at our local library soon after I was diagnosed with a case of shingles, which were painful and itchy and reminded me of my bout with chickenpox oh so many years ago. I chuckled and thought that it would be a funny tale to cheer me up from my own poxy issues.
The mixed media illustrations are colorful and entertaining. One of my favorite images is that of the family walking Sadie the leopard to the doctor's office as she is jumping, trying to catch a bird, while her brother is looking at another bird as if to say, "Watch out for my sister!"
Overall, the story is very silly, but certainly encourages curling up together and cherishing our time with our little ones. I did not read this book snuggled up with our girls, but it's one that we would have enjoyed reading together when they were younger.
I discovered this book at our local library soon after I was diagnosed with a case of shingles, which were painful and itchy and reminded me of my bout with chickenpox oh so many years ago. I chuckled and thought that it would be a funny tale to cheer me up from my own poxy issues.
January 5, 2016
This review posted on The Children's Book and Media Review published by Brigham Young University.
Sadie is pretty sure that she is sick and won’t be able to go to kindergarten. Mama tries to figure out why Sadie is sick, and Sadie starts to turn into a leopard. She has leopardpox! Sadie’s brothers suggest taking her to the doctor so they take her to a pediatrician, but the other parents don’t want a leopard there and the pediatrician says he’s only a doctor for children. Instead they go to the animal clinic, but the veterinarian doesn’t have a solution for them so they take her to the zoo. When Mama says that a leopard should stay with her own mother, they decide to go home instead and decide to take care of Sadie themselves. Finally Sadie turns into a little girl again, but now Mama’s caught leopardpox too!
While this book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, it has enough charm to still entertain many readers. The relationship of the family is sweet, especially how her brothers are so determined to help Sadie when she is sick. The illustrations are whimsical and amusing, but the font choice could be more difficult for early readers. The story of this book is certainly unbelievable, but children will enjoy the quirky nature of it.
Sadie is pretty sure that she is sick and won’t be able to go to kindergarten. Mama tries to figure out why Sadie is sick, and Sadie starts to turn into a leopard. She has leopardpox! Sadie’s brothers suggest taking her to the doctor so they take her to a pediatrician, but the other parents don’t want a leopard there and the pediatrician says he’s only a doctor for children. Instead they go to the animal clinic, but the veterinarian doesn’t have a solution for them so they take her to the zoo. When Mama says that a leopard should stay with her own mother, they decide to go home instead and decide to take care of Sadie themselves. Finally Sadie turns into a little girl again, but now Mama’s caught leopardpox too!
While this book requires a lot of suspension of disbelief, it has enough charm to still entertain many readers. The relationship of the family is sweet, especially how her brothers are so determined to help Sadie when she is sick. The illustrations are whimsical and amusing, but the font choice could be more difficult for early readers. The story of this book is certainly unbelievable, but children will enjoy the quirky nature of it.
December 14, 2016
My son loved this one, and I love the understated way it communicates how much parents love their children. It's funny where it should be, sweet where it should be, and Hoffman's drawings are both fresh and comforting at the same time.
Sadie wakes up one morning feeling strange. She doesn't think she should go to school... and it's good that she didn't, because she's come down with Leopardpox, a bizarre disease that turns people into leopards! Her distraught mother must find a cure. As cute as baby leopards are, a leopard is no replacement for a daughter.
One of my favorite aspects was the lack of sibling conflict. Sadie's three brothers help pick up the mess their leopard sister is making, accompany Mom to the various places they visit trying to get help, and make well-intended suggestions on how to cure their sister. (I'm sure they wouldn't act that way all the time in real life, but it was nice.)
Sadie wakes up one morning feeling strange. She doesn't think she should go to school... and it's good that she didn't, because she's come down with Leopardpox, a bizarre disease that turns people into leopards! Her distraught mother must find a cure. As cute as baby leopards are, a leopard is no replacement for a daughter.
One of my favorite aspects was the lack of sibling conflict. Sadie's three brothers help pick up the mess their leopard sister is making, accompany Mom to the various places they visit trying to get help, and make well-intended suggestions on how to cure their sister. (I'm sure they wouldn't act that way all the time in real life, but it was nice.)
June 9, 2015
A bit under the weather, Sadie feels a little catty when she wakes up one morning, and she turns out to have a case of leopardpox. Young readers will enjoy watching her mother and three brothers as they clean up all the messes she leaves behind her as they seek help from a pediatrician, a veterinarian, and the zoo. but sometimes a little TLC goes a long way, and the leopardpox runs its course. Silliness abounds in the text and the mixed media illustrations, which show an increasingly frustrated mother determined to help her little girl. It might be fun to pair this book, originally published in Israel, with A Bad Case of Stripes.
June 4, 2015
Sadie comes down with leopardpox and turns into a leopard. Quirky, silly tale young children will enjoy.
May 22, 2018
This is an amusing "sick day" story that made us laugh.
February 18, 2018
All it takes a little tender loving care to cure a hard case of the leopardpox, but will it keep the condition from spreading?
March 18, 2020
Loved this book! So amusing, well written and a tongue-in-cheek whimsical ending. Children will love it and want to have it read and re-read to them. I absolutely recommend it!
August 9, 2020
A little girl feels weird and turns into a leopard.
A visit to the doctor, the vet, and the zoo provide no help.
Luckily, by the end of the day, she returns to herself.
A visit to the doctor, the vet, and the zoo provide no help.
Luckily, by the end of the day, she returns to herself.
January 23, 2024
Super cute story about a mother's love. The illustrations complement the story very well and I thought the siblings were purrfect. I especially liked the surprise ending.
March 2, 2017
megan winter reading 2017, children's book, picture book, illness, leopards, transformation, prek, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, humor,
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2015
Sadie cannot go to school because she is ill. She doesn't have a sore throat or stomachache, but instead is growing claws and getting spots all over her body. She has Leopardpox! Her doctor does not treat animals, the vet says she is a very healthy leopard and she does not want to live in the zoo! The family decides to accept her as she is and takes care of her until she recovers, but who may get ill next?
This silly story of family love is enhanced by the delightfully humorous illustrations. I love the expressions on the character's faces!
(Originally written in Hebrew and published in Israel)
This silly story of family love is enhanced by the delightfully humorous illustrations. I love the expressions on the character's faces!
(Originally written in Hebrew and published in Israel)
February 22, 2015
When Sadie comes down with a case of leopardpox, no one knows how to treat the kid-turned-cat -- not a pediatrician, not a veterinarian, and not even a zoo. But Sadie's family isn't willing to give up on her just yet.
Sure, this hilarious picture book requires a huge suspension of disbelief, but it's a whole lot of fun to read, with some great details in both the text and illustrations. Sadie's family's love for her is heart-warming, and the twist at the end is marvelous. My husband, five-year-old, and I all love this book, and I can't wait to share it with my students as I have a strong feeling it will make the perfect read-aloud.
Sure, this hilarious picture book requires a huge suspension of disbelief, but it's a whole lot of fun to read, with some great details in both the text and illustrations. Sadie's family's love for her is heart-warming, and the twist at the end is marvelous. My husband, five-year-old, and I all love this book, and I can't wait to share it with my students as I have a strong feeling it will make the perfect read-aloud.
September 25, 2015
Sadie doesn't feel well and doesn't think she can go to school. She starts to cough, then turns into a leopard! Sadie starts running around, jumping and playing just like a leopard cub. Sadie's family doesn't know what to do. They take her to the pediatrician, then to a veterinarian, but no one knows how to cure LEOPARDPOX!
This is a cute book. The story is unbelievable, but adorable. The illustrations look like pen and ink drawings that really add to the story. The font is LA Headlights, which are not conducive for very early readers, but this is one you'd want to read together anyway. I would recommend this for leisure reading.
This is a cute book. The story is unbelievable, but adorable. The illustrations look like pen and ink drawings that really add to the story. The font is LA Headlights, which are not conducive for very early readers, but this is one you'd want to read together anyway. I would recommend this for leisure reading.
February 16, 2015
Sure hope the leopardpox doesn't spread to my school! Observant young readers will notice clues in the illustrations long before the text confirms most of the events. Not sure if the tag line on the front cover is exactly correct, it's not necessarily the "funniest" sick day ever.
March 21, 2015
Oh, this is such a cute book! I love the family relationships, especially the mother's connection to her leopardpox-infected daughter. Beautifully illustrated as well. I'd love to read this at storytime!
September 12, 2015
Sometimes, we are grouchy. The little girl in the story wakes up with "leopard pox."
I only rated this three stars because I work at a zoo and we can't share this book because of the way the zoo is approached here. Otherwise, a fun read.
I only rated this three stars because I work at a zoo and we can't share this book because of the way the zoo is approached here. Otherwise, a fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2016
This is a cute story of a little girl turning into a leopard due to catching the leopardpox. Her flummoxed mother tries to help her through a series of (unsuccessful) visits to a doctor, a vet, and the zoo. In the end, it's mom who helps the little girl get better.
Very fun illustrations.
Very fun illustrations.
February 3, 2015
The pediatrician, the vet, and the zoo don't know what to do when Sadie turns into a leopard. But don't mamas always know just the way to get better?
February 12, 2015
I guess I didn't get it . . .
February 25, 2015
Sometimes there is a bit of leopard in all of us, and if we are just loved by those who know us best and cuddled and coddled--just the right little bit--then we can go back to our former best selves.
March 12, 2015
Cute. Too long for story time. Also, would be hard to theme. You know?
March 24, 2015
Some kind of hairball kitty tale - really quite cute!
April 4, 2015
Imaginative tale about a little girl with "leopardpox" and her family's ideas on how to cure her. Kids will enjoy the surprise ending.
April 16, 2015
Adorable
April 24, 2015
Very cute and sweet. Would recommend to a child who is home sick from school.
June 12, 2015
unique concept
but i didn't get the point of the book
but i didn't get the point of the book
June 18, 2015
The veterinarian was overjoyed. "This is great," he said. "I'm sick of treating cats and dogs. I'm so bored even a mouse would make me happy."
July 14, 2015
This reminded me of Imogene's Antlers.
September 30, 2015
Sadie feels poorly and turns into a leopard. Her mother looks for help but no one can cure leopardpox. A gently humorous problem that resolves itself with mother's cuddles.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews