Miss Leoparda - by Natalia Shaloshvili (Hardcover)

About the Book

"When the animals on Miss Leoparda's bus route abandon the bus for cars, traffic jams and deforestation ensue, prompting Miss Leoparda to help her community rediscover the importance of nature and togetherness"--

Book Synopsis

Beautiful illustrations from an internationally recognized fine artist make this fun, ecologically-minded book about a bus-driving, tree-loving leopard a standout!

When Miss Leoparda isn't sleeping in her beloved tree home, she drives the bus, taking her animal friends around town on their animal business.

Every day, all of the bus's seats are taken . . . until the day something amazing and new appears: a little car that speeds off into the distance, leaving clouds of smoke in its wake. Intrigued, the bus's passengers each get a car of their own, one by one, until the day that Miss Leoparda is the only one left on the bus.

But more and more cars on the road mean more and more traffic jams, more and more arguments, and fewer and fewer trees--as trees, it seems, are just getting in the way of the jammed-up travelers.

Will Miss Leoparda be able to nourish a new awareness and help her community return to their senses? With humor, insight, and gorgeous art, this is a picture book about the importance of the natural world and the value of community, to read again and again.

Review Quotes

A Five Books Best New Kids' Book of 2024! "This picture book is full of personality, combining deadpan humour with expressive acrylic and crayon illustrations."--Five Books

One of The Telegraph India, My Kolkata's Must-Read Books for Kids of 2024! "[Shaloshvili] highlights the importance of the natural world through the plight of Miss Leoparda, a bus driver caught in chaotic traffic jams."--The Telegraph India, My Kolkata

One of Betsy Bird's Top 15 Translated Children's Picture Books of 2024! "A gentle environmental tale told with wit and humor... Consider this a clever little tale about the encroachment of cars, how much they take over, and the natural way to alleviate some of their problems. Shaloshvili has a lovely artistic style... The expressions on the animals' faces are fantastic. Love that two-page spread when they've seen a car for the first time and they're acting like Mr. Toad from Wind in the Willows. A book with a message that doesn't whap you over the head with it. Extra points to the delicious translation from Traer."--Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (A School Library Journal blog)

STARRED REVIEW! ★ "A delightful fable... The message feels organic rather than heavy-handed, reinforced by the pleasantly hazy illustrations. Shaloshvili's artwork is as expressive in its landscapes ... as in the animals' expressions, which, somewhat reminiscent of Jon Klassen's illustrations, manage to be both deadpan and surprisingly expressive. This one's sure to get budding environmentalists eager to enact change in their own communities."--BookPage

STARRED REVIEW! ★ "This humorous fable, translated from Russian, explores how our obsession with so-called progress leads to gentrification and the destruction of our communities and the environment. The acrylic illustrations capture the beauty of untouched land and the dark, crowded vistas of clogged roadways. The expressive, Jon Klassen-like visages of the wildlife perfectly encapsulate the emotions felt by those in similar situations, from the disassociation required by riders on crowded public transit to the exasperation of being stuck in endless traffic. A truly amazing look at how to cherish nature and build a greener community."--Kirkus Reviews

"Shaloshvili's use of watercolor pencils, acrylic, and crayons creates intricate textures in this world run by animals, beautifully capturing a bear's furry essence or an elephant's heavy wrinkles. The cool, muted color palette contrasts against Miss Leoparda's bright, yellow optimism and her golden bus, the centerpieces of the book... A heartwarming story that highlights the importance of preventing climate change and reducing one's carbon footprint, this book will surely impact readers of all ages."--Booklist

About the Author

Natalia Shaloshvili writes and illustrates books for children. Her picture books Miss Leoparda and What a Small Cat Needs have been translated into many languages, with more books coming soon. She creates illustrations with acrylic paints and watercolor pencils, finishing them digitally. Besides making picture books, Natalia is an artist, with works showcased in exhibitions worldwide and held in private collections. She lives in London with her family. She likes big and small cats and riding a bike. Lena Traer is a Russian- and English-language literary translator with a focus on books for children and young adults. She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her past projects include translating Wind: Discovering Air in Motion, On the Edge of the World, and How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend into English and translating a variety of picture books and scientific materials into Russian. Born and raised in Siberia, Russia, Lena now lives in San Francisco.