Spotting the Leopard

Spotting the Leopard is a historical fiction chapter book set in Oklahoma City during the late 1930s, offering a glimpse into life during the Great Depression. The story follows H.J. Harper, a young boy who is deeply committed to helping his older sister achieve her dream of becoming a veterinarian, a challenging aspiration for a girl in that era. Simultaneously, H.J. becomes engrossed in the thrilling, and somewhat dangerous, task of tracking a leopard that has escaped from the local zoo. This book beautifully weaves together themes of family support, perseverance in the face of economic hardship, and the excitement of a real-world adventure, making it suitable for children aged 4-11, either as a read-aloud or for independent reading.

In the late 1930s, H.J. Harper is intent on finding a way to help his older sister become a veterinarian and on tracking down a leopard that has escaped from the zoo in Oklahoma City where his father is working on a W.P.A. project.