What do you think?
Rate this book
Leopold
Dr. Ruth Westheimer's grandson, Ben, is afraid to join the soccer team. To help out, she tells him the story of Leopold the Turtle, who always stays on the shore. It terrifies him to go join the other turtles and play in the water and sun on the rocks. Leopold just can't get out of his shell, and the longer he waits the more he starts to doubt. Even though Leopold feels quite alone, he stays on the riverbank where it's safe. But Freddy the Frog is a little concerned about Leopold and asks him to join them in the river. Leopold has to choose whether to brave the unknown and join his friends or to stay lonely and remain safe on land. This charming rhyming tale of a turtle too afraid to set foot in the river proves that facing your fears can set you free.
- GenresPicture Books
Audio CD
First published August 4, 2015
251 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Westheimer
69 books141 followersKarola Ruth Westheimer, better known as Dr. Ruth, was a German-American sex therapist, talk show host, author, professor, and Holocaust survivor.
Westheimer was born in Germany to a Jewish family. As the Nazis came to power, her parents sent the ten-year-old girl to a school in Switzerland for safety, remaining behind themselves because of her elderly grandmother. They were both subsequently sent to concentration camps by the Gestapo, where they were killed. After World War II ended, she immigrated to British-controlled Mandatory Palestine. Despite being only 4 feet 7 inches (1.39 m) tall and 17 years of age, she joined the Haganah, and was trained as a sniper, but never saw combat. On her 20th birthday, Westheimer was seriously wounded in action by an exploding shell during a mortar fire attack on Jerusalem during the 1947–1949 Palestine war, and almost lost both of her feet. Moving to Paris, France two years later, she studied psychology at the Sorbonne. Immigrating to the United States in 1956, she worked as a maid to put herself through graduate school, earned an M.A. degree in sociology from The New School in 1959, and earned a doctorate at 42 years of age from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1970. Over the next decade, she taught at a number of universities, and had a private sex therapy practice.
Westheimer's media career began in 1980 with the radio call-in show Sexually Speaking, which continued until 1990. In 1983 it was the top-rated radio show in the area, in the country's largest radio market. She then launched a television show, The Dr. Ruth Show, which by 1985 attracted 2 million viewers a week. She became known for giving serious advice while being candid, but also warm, cheerful, funny, and respectful, and for her tag phrase: "Get some". In 1984 The New York Times noted that she had risen "from obscurity to almost instant stardom." She hosted several series on the Lifetime Channel and other cable television networks from 1984 to 1993. She became a household name and major cultural figure, appeared on several network TV shows, co-starred in a movie with Gérard Depardieu, appeared on the cover of People, sang on a Tom Chapin album, appeared in several commercials, and hosted Playboy videos. She is the author of 45 books on sex and sexuality.
The one-woman 2013 play Becoming Dr. Ruth, written by Mark St. Germain, is about her life, as is the 2019 documentary, Ask Dr. Ruth, directed by Ryan White. Westheimer had been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, and awarded the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Leo Baeck Medal, the Planned Parenthood Margaret Sanger Award, and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Westheimer was born in Germany to a Jewish family. As the Nazis came to power, her parents sent the ten-year-old girl to a school in Switzerland for safety, remaining behind themselves because of her elderly grandmother. They were both subsequently sent to concentration camps by the Gestapo, where they were killed. After World War II ended, she immigrated to British-controlled Mandatory Palestine. Despite being only 4 feet 7 inches (1.39 m) tall and 17 years of age, she joined the Haganah, and was trained as a sniper, but never saw combat. On her 20th birthday, Westheimer was seriously wounded in action by an exploding shell during a mortar fire attack on Jerusalem during the 1947–1949 Palestine war, and almost lost both of her feet. Moving to Paris, France two years later, she studied psychology at the Sorbonne. Immigrating to the United States in 1956, she worked as a maid to put herself through graduate school, earned an M.A. degree in sociology from The New School in 1959, and earned a doctorate at 42 years of age from Teachers College, Columbia University, in 1970. Over the next decade, she taught at a number of universities, and had a private sex therapy practice.
Westheimer's media career began in 1980 with the radio call-in show Sexually Speaking, which continued until 1990. In 1983 it was the top-rated radio show in the area, in the country's largest radio market. She then launched a television show, The Dr. Ruth Show, which by 1985 attracted 2 million viewers a week. She became known for giving serious advice while being candid, but also warm, cheerful, funny, and respectful, and for her tag phrase: "Get some". In 1984 The New York Times noted that she had risen "from obscurity to almost instant stardom." She hosted several series on the Lifetime Channel and other cable television networks from 1984 to 1993. She became a household name and major cultural figure, appeared on several network TV shows, co-starred in a movie with Gérard Depardieu, appeared on the cover of People, sang on a Tom Chapin album, appeared in several commercials, and hosted Playboy videos. She is the author of 45 books on sex and sexuality.
The one-woman 2013 play Becoming Dr. Ruth, written by Mark St. Germain, is about her life, as is the 2019 documentary, Ask Dr. Ruth, directed by Ryan White. Westheimer had been inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame, and awarded the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Leo Baeck Medal, the Planned Parenthood Margaret Sanger Award, and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 14, 2015
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Leopold by Dr. Ruth Westheimer and illustrated by Suzanne Beaky is a cute story about a turtle afraid to join the other turtles in the lake. Full of beautiful illustrations and prose, it was an easy read for my little one and kept his attention from the first word (not an easy feat for a 4 year old little boy!).
The story starts with Ben, Ruth's grandson, who is afraid to join the soccer team. His first practice is that afternoon and he is thinking about just not going. Grandma Ruth then tells him Leopold's story.
And Ben learns just that! Listening to his Grandma Ruth he goes to practice AND he had a good time. Leopold is a turtle we can all learn from as we learn to conquer our fears.
Leopold by Dr. Ruth Westheimer and illustrated by Suzanne Beaky is a cute story about a turtle afraid to join the other turtles in the lake. Full of beautiful illustrations and prose, it was an easy read for my little one and kept his attention from the first word (not an easy feat for a 4 year old little boy!).
The story starts with Ben, Ruth's grandson, who is afraid to join the soccer team. His first practice is that afternoon and he is thinking about just not going. Grandma Ruth then tells him Leopold's story.
All the young turtles were sunning on rocks.Leopold's story is perfect for little one's who may have a fear of something. For us (and probably more me than little man), it's starting preschool. This book uses easy to understand language to convey that it's okay to be scared, but keep moving forward! You'll never know what you'll like until you try it ;)
There was Boxy, Snappy, Shelly, and Socks.
They were busy soaking up the sun's rays,
Something they always did on beautiful days.
Only Leopold remained on the shore;
It's not that he liked the shade so much more,
but he was too afraid to leave the safety of his home,
and so he stayed in one place, never to roam.
And Ben learns just that! Listening to his Grandma Ruth he goes to practice AND he had a good time. Leopold is a turtle we can all learn from as we learn to conquer our fears.
August 14, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from Turner Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
What a charming story! This will be a good read aloud for children who are experiencing new situations in which they might be uncomfortable. It's difficult to put yourself out there in a new situation, even though you think you might enjoy it - if only you were brave enough to try.
Ben's grandmother realizes that Ben might need a little push to venture out to join the soccer team, so she tells him the story of Leopold. Leopold, the turtle, prefers to stay in his shell, where he knows it's safe. But he's lonely. His friends finally convince him to come out into the water and play with them, and guess what! He has a wonderful time.
And guess what! Ben has a wonderful time playing with his soccer team (named the Turtles) - he even makes a goal!
What a charming story! This will be a good read aloud for children who are experiencing new situations in which they might be uncomfortable. It's difficult to put yourself out there in a new situation, even though you think you might enjoy it - if only you were brave enough to try.
Ben's grandmother realizes that Ben might need a little push to venture out to join the soccer team, so she tells him the story of Leopold. Leopold, the turtle, prefers to stay in his shell, where he knows it's safe. But he's lonely. His friends finally convince him to come out into the water and play with them, and guess what! He has a wonderful time.
And guess what! Ben has a wonderful time playing with his soccer team (named the Turtles) - he even makes a goal!
September 15, 2015
I received this book from Turner
Publishing in exchange for a honest review. I read this book with my three year old before bed. We both like the story, rhyming, great big exciting pictures and cute Leo! It was great and can tell it will be one I'll be reading her again soon.
Publishing in exchange for a honest review. I read this book with my three year old before bed. We both like the story, rhyming, great big exciting pictures and cute Leo! It was great and can tell it will be one I'll be reading her again soon.
January 18, 2016
A really cute picture book about a boy who is scared to join the soccer team. His grandma, Dr. Ruth, tells him a story about Leopold the Turtle who was scared to leave his shell in order to inspire him to leave his own "shell."
Read
September 16, 2015This was a cute book. A great way to introduce kids to dealing with new experiences.
Disclaimer: This copy was won through Goodreads First Reads.
Disclaimer: This copy was won through Goodreads First Reads.
December 5, 2015
Great story for kids who might not feel like they fit in.
January 24, 2016
Cute little story about having the courage to be yourself and to sometimes step outside of your comfort zone, try something new, and discover great things.
July 8, 2018
What an awesome children's book to teach children that it'd okay to come out of your "shell" (pun Intended!)
Thank you to Turner publishing for this ARC for it not only being a really cute rhyming story but the fact that a "Turtle" lover received it!
And the illustrations are beautiful as well.
Not a typical book you'd expect from Dr. Ruth.
Thank you to Turner publishing for this ARC for it not only being a really cute rhyming story but the fact that a "Turtle" lover received it!
And the illustrations are beautiful as well.
Not a typical book you'd expect from Dr. Ruth.
September 5, 2021
Read this to my kids in class for a growth mindset! It has been a favourite each year with different classes coming! It not only has a message, we can also use this to introduce children to rhyming words. Great book to get the children to learn to take that leap!
June 27, 2018
Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
April 2, 2022
This story was amazing. It was so very cute. I loved the pictures also. Bright and colorful.
July 24, 2024
A gentle story about a young boy who lacks the courage to try a new activity until his grandmother, the author, tells him a story about Leopold, the turtle who had the same experience.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews