ALA Booklist (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

First published in the 1970s, this political fable still makes provocative reading. GrandPré's new Lion King style illustrations both capture the tale's intensity and provide a needed contemporary look. Leopard, clawless and with small teeth, reigns over a peaceful kingdom until surly Dog, mocked and marginalized for his sharp teeth, takes over the communally built rain shelter and viciously drives Leopard away. Enraged when the other animals fearfully declare Dog their king, Leopard outfits himself with bronze claws and teeth and returns to send Dog off bleeding to a new alliance with the human hunter. From that day on, strong animals attack the weak, and with help from the dog, the hunter kills them all. Though the story sometimes shows its age rticularly in the single reference to the animals' "wives and their children" e stately prose will make a profound impression on readers, as will the large, dimly lit close-ups of snarling jaws and strong animal bodies. A great discussion starter, but think before sharing it with younger audiences. Despite similar titles, it's nothing like Kipling's "How the Leopard Got His Spots."

Horn Book

With John Iroaganachi. Achebe tells how the dog's greedy behavior sowed discord among the animals of the jungle, forever destroying their blissful existence and resulting in the leopard sprouting claws and the dog allying with Man. The tale, with its elements of fable, allegory, and just-so story, is unfocused. Luminous acrylic illustrations in jungle hues are eye-pleasing.

Kirkus Reviews

When the dog's coup deposed King Leopard, the former ruler of the animal world exiled himself, returning with claws and sharp teeth of his own to govern by terror instead of with his previous gentle kindness. This literary fable by the internationally eminent Achebe (based on a story by Iroaganachi and including a poem by Christopher Okigbo, killed in Nigeria's civil war), reflects the secession and return of Biafra in the late 1960s. First published here in 1972, it has been beautifully re-illustrated by GrandPré, famed for her Harry Potter covers. These lush acrylic paintings have both texture and depth. Presented full-bleed across two pages or in rough rectangles set on white space, with bits extending beyond the edges, they tend to be dark and crowded with animals, whose expressive faces and bodies support the action. Each spread includes a decorative band of sharp triangles, a tooth-and-claw motif. Halfway through the story, the dog and not-yet-armed King fight fiercely, each glowing with orange battle heat. The conclusion explains the harshness of the jungle and the bond between dog and man, a satisfying ending for young readers unlikely to know or be ready for the political background. Whether read as a fable with African roots or as an allegory, this is a handsome treatment of a memorable tale. (Picture book. 7-14)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Despite the innocuous title, Achebe's (Things Fall Apart) explanations for three interwoven mysteries-why animals are enemies, why dogs live among humans, and why the leopard is so fearsomely armed-are grim and sometimes bloody. King Leopard has no claws at first, ruling with kindness, but when the malcontent dog takes over the hall the animals have built together, the animals switch sides without a second thought. "We love his head, we love his jaws,/ We love his feet and all his claws," the toad sings in praise of the dog. King Leopard defeats him in the end, but only with violence. First published in the '70s, this is a child's version of Animal Farm, a closely observed account of the way the manipulation of fear can poison civil society. The characterizations are disturbingly true to life, deriving in all likelihood from Achebe's experience of political upheaval in Nigeria. In GrandPré's warmly lit acrylic paintings, new to this edition, the animals burst forth from the pages; their anguish would be heartbreaking if not for their comically exaggerated features. Used with skill, the story could form the centerpiece of a substantive discussion. Ages. 7-11. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Gr 6-9 Written in 1976, this story has been released with new bold, deep-toned illustrations that aptly fit the dark message. Seemingly more for adults than children, the narrative reveals how a dog's lust for power and the animals' cowardice eventually drive the formerly benevolent leopard, with the help of a blacksmith and Thunder, to revenge and bring havoc to a once peaceful existence in the forest. The end of the story, in which the now-fearful dog makes a vile alliance with a hunter (portrayed as a human), leaves little hope for change. Upper-grade teachers may find that this picture book offers takeoff points to discuss violence, political power, and vindictiveness in today's world, but it is doubtful that young readers will pick it up on their own. Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA