Leopard in Mumbai
by Lubaina Bandukwala and illustrated by Allen Shaw
“Leopard in Mumbai” by Lubaina Bandukwala and illustrated by Allen Shaw. Published by Karadi Tales. A hilarious story of a leopard going all around Mumbai and not able to figure out why people are behaving so weirdly looking at her.
A leopard decides to step out to Mumbai from Sanjay Gandhi National Park. She wants to experience the city’s iconic sights and food. However one thing that’s common at every place is the reaction of the people. Why are they running away from her? All that she wants is to have some fun. What is wrong in travelling by train or trying to buy a toy at a fair or trying some Bhel Puri and Vada Pav?! Why can’t she ask the driver of the iconic double decker bus to stop?
Will the leopard be able to go back to the national park? Go along with her to experience the sights and attractions of Mumbai and know more about the hustling city and its history. The illustrations are charming and enhance the armchair travel experience.
My 7.5 year old enjoyed reading the book and we read it again just before I wrote the review. The first time we were reading it, he dashed out of the room suddenly. I was wondering what happened when he came back with his double decker toy bus and stuffed tiger (as a substitute for the leopard). He kept the tiger atop the bus and asked me if this is how the leopard must have looked riding the bus :D Such was the effect of the story on him!
We loved the different words used each time to describe the reaction of people. In some ways the book reminded us of “A Lion in Paris” that we had read before. Though the reactions of the Parisians in that one were a total contrast compared to the Mumbaikars here :)
This book is a part of “The City Series”. Another book that we recently read and enjoyed from the same series is “Looking For Laddoo” set in Chennai.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 5+.
Reasons to Read
For a virtual trip to the iconic sights of Mumbai with a dash of humour.
Where to buy from?
The publishers Karadi Tales here.
An independent indie bookstore, Funky Rainbow, from where I buy many of my books.