The Pointless Leopard: What Good Are Kids Anyway? - Softcover

Gutman, Colas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1782690409 ISBN 13: 9781782690405

Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books, 2014

Synopsis

A walk in the woods turns into a funny, philosophical and irresistibly charming mini-adventure.

In this witty tale of insistent parents and talking animals, a child questions his purpose.

In the country, there's nothing to do, except: admire. It's the same as being bored, but with your eyes wide open.

The hilarious story of grumpy city-child Leonard, forced to go for country walks with his greenery-loving mum and dad, is a wonderful reminder of what use we may be to the world. What do we know? What can we do? And is any of it of real value?

The Pointless Leopard is a charming tale for all, about the parts we play in the lives of others.

About this title

About the Author

Colas Gutman’s parents were writers, and for a long time he was convinced that it was the worst profession in the world... Until one day the joy of writing grabbed him. And it hasn't let him go since. He is still a big kid, and writes his books in exactly the same way he used to do his homework when he was younger - lying on his bed, using a comic book as his desk.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

"I don’t like it in the country, it’s ugly, it’s green and it’s boring!"

"Leonard, you can’t say that! It’s wonderful in the country!" said Mum.

"That’s right, all children love it in the country," said Dad.

"Well, not me."

At the weekend, what my parents like to do above all is drink tea in front of an open fire, listening to the silence. They call this country life. It’s horrible.

Me, what I like to do is walk on the pavement, jump on benches, go to the cinema, and run after the pigeons. In the country there’s nothing to do, except: admire. It’s the same as being bored, but with your eyes wide open.

So I’m allowed to get bored in front of the open fire, the ducks, the hens, the trees and sometimes the tractors, which go by in slow motion.

When Dad and Mum aren’t drinking tea around the fire like cavemen, they take me for a walk. Most of the time it’s raining, it makes your feet hurt and it makes you thirsty. It’s worse than anything.

But last weekend, something finally happened.

"Look how beautiful it is!" said Mum.

"It’s not beautiful, it’s green," I said.

"That’s because of all the rain," said Dad.

"Yes, it rains all the time," I said.

"What about taking this track?" said Mum.?A track is a street without shops, and with grass in the middle, stones that make you twist your ankles, and stinging nettles at the sides.

My parents love walking along tracks they don’t know. They say they’re magical places.

Mum said:?"I’m sure there are hens on this track."

"Seeing all these animals running free – it’s really heart-warming," said Dad.
Me, I thought of the tigers, the bears and the monkeys that are printed on my duvet, and I stepped into a big puddle.

Edition details

• Publisher: Pushkin Children's Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1782690409
• ISBN 13: 9781782690405
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 48
• Illustrator: Perret Delphine