How the Leopard Got His Claws chronicles the breakdown of peace and harmony in the forest kingdom triggered by a power struggle between the leopard and the dog.

Although the illustrations are absolutely GORGEOUS, I can’t look past this story’s narrative faults. Achebe’s/Iroaganachi’s writing did not particularly impress me—it was inconsistently formal, and the writers seemed to struggle in terms of adhering to the folktale format. I failed to understand the necessity of the intermittent songs within the story.

Additionally, it really bothered me that Achebe chose to adapt such a dark, grim story for a childhood audience. It’s violent, depressing, and it does NOT have a happy ending. As a kid I would have been traumatized by this book. Plus, it portrays dogs in a really nasty light.