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The Gift
When Leo opens his birthday presents, he receives an amazing gift: a pen! Inside it, Papa says, are many beautiful things. But how do you get them out? None of his friends can guess. Super-Zombo doesn’t get anywhere by blowing on it, and Coco-Tembo thinks it’s too tiny to hold anything important. Maybe Leo’s mama will know how to reveal all the wonders inside…
This warm, charming story is a perfect introduction to the joy of writing. Like Leo, young readers will discover how a simple utensil can express all the words in the world—even one’s own name.
This warm, charming story is a perfect introduction to the joy of writing. Like Leo, young readers will discover how a simple utensil can express all the words in the world—even one’s own name.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
About the author
Alain Serge Dzotap
23 books2 followersAlain Serge Dzotap is a Cameroonian children's author and poet. Born in Bafoussam, he started to write poetry after devouring book after book from the city library. Today he promotes literacy across Cameroon through workshops, school visits, and his publishing house Les Bruits de l'encre. Alain's books have received the Saint-Exupéry Valeurs Jeunesse Prize and have been included in the International Youth Library's White Ravens catalog. In 2016, Alain was recognized with Cameroon's medal of knight. The Gift is his first book published in English.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 8, 2021
Le plus beau des cadeaux, c'est un stylo avec tous les beaux mots du monde qui sont à l'intérieur. L'écriture est donc le plus beau des cadeaux à qui sait l'utiliser.
April 28, 2025
The Gift, authored by Alain Serge Dzotap, was found on the Outside In World website as a book reviewed in May 2023. It has won the 2023 CLEL Bell Award Book for WRITE, the Saint-Exupéry Valeurs Jeunesse Prize, and has been included in the International Youth Library's White Ravens catalog.
This international book, originally published in France and in the French language, shows that a simple gift of a pen can hold so many things inside. It conveys a message that the simple things in life are what really matter and is a look at things from a different perspective of people who do not have a lot. The book further shows that children can become independent when learning from adults, as the little jaguar’s mother helps him write then he proceeds to draw on his own.
This book would be suitable for parents to read to their young children. Parents will appreciate the opportunity to easily include an activity after reading the book, such as presenting their child with a gift of a pen, helping them to write words, and giving them the freedom to draw on their own as the little jaguar does in the story. Additionally, the author provides the reader with interactive activities including reading the simple words the little jaguar has written and opportunities to play I Spy in the jaguar’s drawings at the end of the book and locating the lizard that follows the little jaguar on each page. This book would also be suitable for children in the middle grades of elementary and above to read on their own. The colorful pages and wonder of the young jaguar is sure to keep them engaged.
I borrowed this book from the library as a hardcover. I appreciated that several different kinds of animals were incorporated and it was a quick and simple read. It brought to mind a gratitude for the little things, such as a pen, which can have an authentically positive impact on an individual’s life.
This international book, originally published in France and in the French language, shows that a simple gift of a pen can hold so many things inside. It conveys a message that the simple things in life are what really matter and is a look at things from a different perspective of people who do not have a lot. The book further shows that children can become independent when learning from adults, as the little jaguar’s mother helps him write then he proceeds to draw on his own.
This book would be suitable for parents to read to their young children. Parents will appreciate the opportunity to easily include an activity after reading the book, such as presenting their child with a gift of a pen, helping them to write words, and giving them the freedom to draw on their own as the little jaguar does in the story. Additionally, the author provides the reader with interactive activities including reading the simple words the little jaguar has written and opportunities to play I Spy in the jaguar’s drawings at the end of the book and locating the lizard that follows the little jaguar on each page. This book would also be suitable for children in the middle grades of elementary and above to read on their own. The colorful pages and wonder of the young jaguar is sure to keep them engaged.
I borrowed this book from the library as a hardcover. I appreciated that several different kinds of animals were incorporated and it was a quick and simple read. It brought to mind a gratitude for the little things, such as a pen, which can have an authentically positive impact on an individual’s life.
May 6, 2022
It's Leo's birthday and he receives many lovely gift - but a pen from his dad is his favorite. I appreciate the illustrations and the premise of creating the world through words and images created on a piece of paper, though my 4-year-old figured out the premise after the first couple of pages and wasn't very engaged with the story.
January 24, 2022
What magical things could this gift hold? The pen contains multitudes! If only Leo could figure out how to get them out. A fun tribute to creativity...and persistence from a Cameroonian author and French illustrator with a lovely vintage look.
January 30, 2022
The Gift is a sweet and simple book about a dad who gives his son the gift of artistic expression. Well, it’s simpler than that—it’s just a pen—but what that pen can do opens up worlds for young Leo. The first part of the story leaves Leo to discover what his dad meant by there being all sorts of beautiful things inside his pen. Dad promised to show him when he got back from the market, but Leo just can’t wait. He asks several others but they aren’t able to help. Coco-Tembo, the hen, thinks it is too small to have anything beautiful inside. Super-Zombo, the giraffe, believes it to be a flute.
Finally, Mama shows Leo how to use the pen. Working hand over hand, they write his name. L-E-O. Leo learns that the gift of words is in his pen and he can write whatever he wants. He can draw, too! Soon the whole world is coming out of his pen. I wondered what would happen when Papa came home, given that he had said he would help Leo when he returned? Some children’s books may have made this a morality tale about patience, how Leo should have waited, but Papa is thrilled that Leo has discovered the value of his gift.
The more I reflect on that, the more I appreciate it. Papa isn’t upset that Leo didn’t wait. He’s excited with Leo over Leo’s ability to express himself through art. Papa doesn’t lecture about impatience, he completely understands Leo’s hunger and drive to learn and discover. It’s such a pure and wholesome lesson.
Alain Serge Dzotap is a Cameroonian children’s author and poet. That background is reflected in the animals used to illustrate the book. Leo is a cheetah (leopard?...I’m not an animalologist). Coco-Tembo is a hen. Super-Zombo is a giraffe. Dzotap is well-known in Cameroon as a children’s author, and the original French language edition of The Gift (Le Cadeau) released in 2020. This is his first English language translation, but I’m hoping for more!
One of my favorite things about Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers is their commitment to sharing children’s books from other cultures and originally written in other languages. In Anglocentric society, we may not think much about books written in other languages, especially books for children. But books like this provide authors with a new platform and audience, and provide readers with the opportunity to engage in a cultural perspective and background they would not otherwise have. The Gift is a pure, wholesome, and utterly lovable read.
Finally, Mama shows Leo how to use the pen. Working hand over hand, they write his name. L-E-O. Leo learns that the gift of words is in his pen and he can write whatever he wants. He can draw, too! Soon the whole world is coming out of his pen. I wondered what would happen when Papa came home, given that he had said he would help Leo when he returned? Some children’s books may have made this a morality tale about patience, how Leo should have waited, but Papa is thrilled that Leo has discovered the value of his gift.
The more I reflect on that, the more I appreciate it. Papa isn’t upset that Leo didn’t wait. He’s excited with Leo over Leo’s ability to express himself through art. Papa doesn’t lecture about impatience, he completely understands Leo’s hunger and drive to learn and discover. It’s such a pure and wholesome lesson.
Alain Serge Dzotap is a Cameroonian children’s author and poet. That background is reflected in the animals used to illustrate the book. Leo is a cheetah (leopard?...I’m not an animalologist). Coco-Tembo is a hen. Super-Zombo is a giraffe. Dzotap is well-known in Cameroon as a children’s author, and the original French language edition of The Gift (Le Cadeau) released in 2020. This is his first English language translation, but I’m hoping for more!
One of my favorite things about Eerdman’s Books for Young Readers is their commitment to sharing children’s books from other cultures and originally written in other languages. In Anglocentric society, we may not think much about books written in other languages, especially books for children. But books like this provide authors with a new platform and audience, and provide readers with the opportunity to engage in a cultural perspective and background they would not otherwise have. The Gift is a pure, wholesome, and utterly lovable read.
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November 6, 2021A little yellow leopard named Leo gets a writing pen for his birthday. His father tells him that the pen has many beautiful things inside. This is a mystery to Leo. But his father goes off to the market before he can explain. How do you get the beautiful things out? Leo, accompanied by his pet lizard (a gecko?) asks his sister to explain. But she just shakes the pen until ink drops out. Leo's bird friend doesn't believe anything of importance can be in something so small. Leo’s giraffe friend blows on the pen, but no music comes out. Then Leo’s mama shows him that the pen contains his name “and all the world.” Together, Leo and his mother write his name. “Is there cake in my pen?" asks Leo.” His mother holds his paw as they write the word cake and many other words. On his own, Leo draws pages and pages of pictures.
Back from the market Leo’s dad admires his drawings and the many things he found in his pen— “Well done, my darling— you’re a natural!"
Delphine Renon's clean and colorful illustrations suit the text. The Gift is a lovely way to introduce kids to the magic of writing and drawing. This book, paired with a pen, is the perfect gift for a budding author or illustrator. Thank you to Eerdmans for the review copy.
Back from the market Leo’s dad admires his drawings and the many things he found in his pen— “Well done, my darling— you’re a natural!"
Delphine Renon's clean and colorful illustrations suit the text. The Gift is a lovely way to introduce kids to the magic of writing and drawing. This book, paired with a pen, is the perfect gift for a budding author or illustrator. Thank you to Eerdmans for the review copy.
April 22, 2023
A young leopard receives a very special gift: a pan. His father tells him that whole worlds are inside, but Dad has to go to work, and no one seems to know how the pen works. The young one tries everything he can think of, but finally his mother shows him how a pen can create anything one can imagine.
This is a gentle book with a warm plot. It has a few words but a lot of artwork. It's the sort of book that inspires one to dream.
This is a gentle book with a warm plot. It has a few words but a lot of artwork. It's the sort of book that inspires one to dream.
February 24, 2022
K-2
Really great story to encourage kids in writing because it is about a child who is given the gift of a pen and told there is magic inside. There are all kinds of beautiful things inside your pen and then he tries to figure out what that magic is.
Really great story to encourage kids in writing because it is about a child who is given the gift of a pen and told there is magic inside. There are all kinds of beautiful things inside your pen and then he tries to figure out what that magic is.
May 22, 2022
Papa tells Leo, a young cheetah cub, that the pen he is given for his birthday holds many beautiful things. None of Leo's jungle frends can tell him how to find those beautiful things until his mother gives him a peice of paper and helps him write his name. Originally published in France.
August 4, 2022
I don't love the story itself but I do think this could be great for a library lesson with kinder or 1st grade about learning to write and draw, expressing creativity.
Story: 3
Illustrations: 4
Read-aloud: 4
Story: 3
Illustrations: 4
Read-aloud: 4
December 16, 2022
Another book that I liked more than I expected. (Although the size of the text is still far to small). I will use this book when I do ECRTR classes as it is an excellent one to use with teaching print awareness and letter knowledge. What do we need to write? What happens when we learn letters?
June 27, 2023
Leo discovers what's "inside" his pen, which makes it the best gift of all. My 4-year-old can't get enough of this book. He loves cheetahs, and even though I'm pretty sure the main character is a leopard, my son calls him a cheetah. He loves this book.
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May 10, 2025I believe this might be my first book by a Cameroonian writer and what a wonderful story about discovering what you can create with the right tools and encouragement. Really lovely, and the illustrations are cute.
February 1, 2022
Cumulative tale with lovely illustrations.
March 21, 2022
Quick read, sweet story, beautiful illustrations
April 22, 2022
Leo learns about the magical world that opens up to you with just a pen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2022
a sweet little story with stylized illustrations that will be a hit for a lot of folks
February 15, 2023
Love the imagination in this story!
May 14, 2023
This book , with its lovely illustrations is a hopeful ode to those youngsters with talent to pull or push wonderful stories and illustrations out of their pens.
September 19, 2023
Holt-Delhi library Preschool story time 09-19-2023
November 20, 2023
A Birthday present? A pen… what can you do with a pen.
January 3, 2021
Un album très poétique et tellement beau !!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews