The Leopard has the best and biggest drum in all of the jungle, but he won't share ti with anyone. He boasts and brags to all the other animals. the Sky God asks the animals to bring him the drum and he will reward them with anything they want. All animals fail and underestimate the tortoise, but he is triumphant using the vanity of the Leopard against him. This folktale is to explain where tortoises get their shells from. It was a very cute and simple story with lively illustrations that make it enjoyable for all. ( )

The language used in this book had an African feeling to it. The names of the characters were African names. The book was written with repetitive words, so children would get engaged into the book. Lastly, the pictures in the book were illustrated well to go along with the book. I liked how this book can teach children a lesson at the end of it. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. ( )

Osebo is a leopard who has a large, magnificent drum. He plays it in the forest, and he will not let anyone else touch the drum. One day, the Sky-God, Nyame, wants to borrow the drum, but Osebo will not let him. Nyame tells the animals that whoever brings him the drum will receive a great reward. Different animals try to take Osebo’s drum, but they are not successful. The last animal to attempt to take the drum is a tortoise. The other animals tell the tortoise that he has no chance, but the tortoise tries anyway. Instead of trying to steal the drum like the other animals did, the tortoise outsmarts the leopard, trapping him inside of the drum and bringing it to Nyame. As a reward, the tortoise is granted a hard shell for protection, which tortoises still have today.
I thought this was a very cute tale about how the tortoise got a hard shell. I also think it is a good book to show students not to be greedy. The leopard would not let anyone near his drum because he wanted it all for himself. In the end, the leopard was outsmarted and Nyame got the drum. ( )

Osebo, the leopard, had the most magnificent drum in all of West Africa. Every animal envied Osebo, especially the Sky God. When Osebo refused to give Nyame his drum, he challenged all of the animals in the forest to retrieve the drum. All of the animals tried but unfortunately failed. No snake, elephant, or monkey could get past Osebo. It was up to the tortoise to get the drum, even though the odds were against him and no one thought he could do it, Achi-cheri believed! With much determination Achi-cheri was able to trick Osebo and retrieve the drum for Nyame. Because of this courageous act, Nyame awarded Achi-cheri with a hard shell to protect tortoises from all of the dangerous predators out there. Legend has it this is why tortoises still have their hard shells today.
The strongest, fastest, and biggest people don't always come out to be the winners. With self confidence, motivation and determination, anyone can achieve anything. Although it is cliché, never judge a book by it's cover. No one believed in Achi-cheri but because he believed in himself he was able to reach his goals. The author did a great job relaying such a powerful message. This book also included West African culture by including the Sky God.

Osebo is a leopard who thinks has the biggest and most magnificent drum. He is very selfish with his drum and will not let anyone play it. He won't even let the Sky God play it. The Sky God gets upset with the leopard and sends all the other animals on a mission to steel the drum away. Plenty of animals try, but fail. That was until the tortoise tried. People underestimated him because he was so slow and could never out run a leopard. The tortoise proves everyone wrong because he stills away the drum with this cleverness.

This is a great story. It is a lot like the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. The tortoise may be small and slow, but that does not mean anything. It teaches that your appearance does not always matter and you should give everything a shot. ( )