How The Leopard Got His Spots

A sandy-colored leopard hunts easily on the open plains until the animals flee to a shadowy, spotted forest — leaving him to find a clever way to blend in or go hungry.

For the kid who wants to know why animals look the way they do, this classic turns a leopard's spots into a story worth telling.

• Big idea: Adapting to a new world sometimes means changing how you look, not who you are.
• Vibes: Warm, wise, and rooted in the rhythms of the African plains.

• enjoy classic just-so stories
• are curious about why animals look the way they do
• like to talk about camouflage and blending in
• respond well to rich, painterly illustrations

• Story & problem-solving: Why did the leopard have to leave the yellow plains and follow the other animals?
• Imagination: If you were the leopard, how would you figure out how to hide in a spotted forest?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever had to change something about yourself to fit into a new place?
• Feelings & empathy: How do you think the leopard felt when hunting suddenly got hard?
• Look closer: What do you notice about how the forest looks different from the plains in the pictures?