Miss Leoparda

Translated from Russian, Miss Leoparda tells of a leopard bus driver who loses her job after her passengers start driving cars instead. More drivers soon lead to heavy traffic, creating more demands for space, which results in Miss Leoparda's tree home being cut down. Unhoused and unemployed, she must find a solution to this problem, both for herself and for her community. 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. As the story ramps up, the text on the pages grows more crowded, visually mirroring the congested nature of being stuck in traffic. Meanwhile, Shaloshvili also gives space for readers to slow down and process Miss Leoparda's feelings of loss. 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.

Natural beauty is sacrificed in the name of more space. Miss Leoparda sleeps in a tree and drives a bus that takes her fellow animals wherever they need to go. One day, she and her passengers see a "little black car coughing up smoke." As the days pass, more and more cars fill the road, and bus ridership declines. Miss Leoparda stops driving her bus; soon, her tree is cut down to make room for more roads. As the paths get more crowded and the cars continue "huffing and puffing clouds of smoke, stuck in an endless traffic jam," much to the frustration of the beastly drivers, Miss Leoparda patiently regrows her tree. She also takes to the road on a bicycle, prompting the other citizens to abandon their cars in favor of the greener option. 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 and crayon 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. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.