Leo the Late Bloomer

by Robert Kraus

Other authorsJose Aruego (Illustrator)
Paperback, 1971

Status

Check shelf

Call number

E K

Publication

Scholastic (1971), Paperback

Description

Leo, a young tiger, finally blooms under the anxious eyes of his parents.

Local notes

1309-039

User reviews

LibraryThing member eadavis83
This is a good book to have in your classroom for chidlren who may not be developing at the same pace as the other children. This book is good to let children know that everyone is different and everyone learns at a different pace. It would be good to talk to your students about how everyone is
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different and explain this book further.
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LibraryThing member ds119933
Leo the tiger is a late bloomer. His father is so worried that Leo is not able to write, eat neatly, or roar. Leo’s mother is not worried and tells the father that Leo is just a late bloomer and he will do things in his own time. Still worried, his father follows Leo all day long hoping that he
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will bloom, but he does not. In the end, Leo “blooms” and he eats neatly, writes his name, and lets out a ROAR. His father is so proud of him and realized that Leo was just a late bloomer.

This story of Leo rings true for many children and their parents who are expecting them to do things that they are not ready to do. All children grow and learn at different rates and I think Leo the Late Bloomer is a great story to convey that message to children as well as parents.

As extensions to this book, my future students can make their own book of their accomplishments since school started or their milestones from a baby. This would evolve the parents too, by telling their child when they walked or what their first words were. Another idea might be drawing different animals and their sounds and maybe learning about a new animal that inhabits another country.
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LibraryThing member kaiserestates
Leo's father watches for him to do things that other lion cubs do. He does not begin to do things that other cubs do. Leos mother tells him to be patient. Leos father does it see it happening. Until one day Leo finally blooms.
LibraryThing member perihan
Leo and his father do not believe that Leo is a late bloomer. Every day Leo’s father watches his son to do things like the other lion cubs do, but Leo does not. Leo’s mother tells them to wait with patience. One day, when the time is right for Leo, he blooms.
LibraryThing member dg_turner
Very colorful illustrations and a good story about every child (or cub) developing at their own pace.
LibraryThing member slovepb
For those whoare aren't quite up with the pace.
LibraryThing member AuntKrissy
Available in hardback, paperback, and as a board book. Companion book: Little Louie the Baby Bloomer. Author has written and illustrated over 100 picture books for children, including a series about a mouse. When Barbara Bush was first lady she read Leo the Late Bloomer on television as part of her
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literacy campaign. About 450 of his cartoons appeared in The New Yorker.
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LibraryThing member arewald
Leo the tiger can't do a lot of things his friends can, like write, or eat neatly, or speak. His father is worried but his mother says Leo is just a late bloomer. A good book for teaching kids about perseverance, and that everyone learns in their own time.
LibraryThing member kaylada3
This book is about a tiger that has difficulty accomplishing tasks that come easy to others. He can't do the things that his friends can and his father is worried, however his mother believes that he will do the things when he is ready, and he does. I am chosing to add this to my read aloud
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collection so that each student knows that they will shine on their own time, and that is okay.
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LibraryThing member mmontet
Leo can't do the things that his friends can do, which upsets him. However, his mother tells him that he will be able to do them later when he is ready, and he does. This is a great book that teaches the fact that everyone is different and it takes patience to become good at something.
LibraryThing member ilex011
I love this book. I don't care that I'm pushing 40. This, like God Bless the Gargoyles and The Giving Tree, is a book that should always be kept in one's library, regardless of one's age.
LibraryThing member cerritos
Leo isn't reading, or writing, or drawing, or even speaking, and his father is concerned. But Leo's mother isn't. She knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he's ready. 'Reassuring for other late bloomers, this book is illustrated with beguiling pictures.' -- Saturday Review.
LibraryThing member JudesThree
Brightly colored illustrations and a good story about every child (or cub) developing at their own pace with a happy ending.
LibraryThing member dlow
This book is about a young lion that can’t talk, walk, or do much of anything like the other lions, but suddenly he has abilities just like everyone else. The book ends happily. The book is for young children aged 3-6, but is rather vague on the message. The book implies that everyone is
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different but in the end we are all the same. I was disappointed in the book because the main character didn’t face any challenges. I would not suggest this book for purposes of teaching about disabilities, but it is a cute story. I believe young children can handle a little more information and description as to why Leo was different and slower then the other lions. Had the story addressed a specific disability I would have suggested the story for a classroom read aloud. The story did tell children that being slow or behind was ok, but it didn’t address the bigger picture, and that usually people are always different, not just for a short time.
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LibraryThing member Camsterw27
I think this book could be used in a classroom to explain the all students are different and to not judge them for being different.
LibraryThing member akwon3
I liked this book for two reasons. One reason I liked this book was because of the main character. I felt that Leo was a very relatable character. He struggled with being on the "same level" as his other animal friends. I think that this is very relatable for children because they may feel like
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they are also falling behind in certain aspects that their peers may be excelling at. Another reason I liked this book was for the plot. In the beginning of the book, it talked about all the things that his animal friends could do that he couldn't do. Even his parents began to worry. But, then at the end, he finally bloomed in his own time. I thought that the plot portrayed a very powerful message, and that is what made this story great. Overall, I think that the big message of this book was that everyone grows up in their own time and in their own way.
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LibraryThing member rjones34
Summary: "Leo the Late Bloomer" is about a tiger named Leo who is a late bloomer. He cannot write, draw, eat neatly, or say a word. His father worries about him and begins watching him to see when he will bloom. As seasons change, Leo does not bloom and his father stops watching him. Soon after,
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Leo blooms in his own time and he is able to write, draw, eat neatly and speak a sentence just like the others his age.

Review: The main idea of this story is Leo is a late bloomer which worries his father, however soon Leo blooms on his good time. I thought this story had many amazing pictures that helped carry along the story. For example, when the book discussed how Leo could not write, it illustrated all the other animals being able to write. This symbolizes how Leo is considered a late bloomer since he does not have the skills compared to the other animals.
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LibraryThing member allisonpollack
Summary: This book is about Leo who is a late bloomer. He cannot read, write or spell. Leo and his family is very sad that Leo is not like the rest of them, but eventually he learns! His first statement is "I made it!" which makes his family so happy!

Personal reflection: This book is good for
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younger students to hear and read because it shows them that everyone has struggles when they are first starting to learn how to read and write.

Class use: Have students write about a time when they felt like a late bloomer.
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LibraryThing member RaineyNicole
This is a sweet picture book about a tiger who is just a late bloomer than all the other kids. This teaches that not everybody is always going to move at the same pace scholastically. Such a cute read for students who may feel discouraged.
LibraryThing member SammiP
Great story about being a late bloomer.
LibraryThing member wichitafriendsschool
Leo isn't reading, or writing, or drawing, or even speaking, and his father is concerned. But Leo's mother isn't. She knows her son will do all those things, and more, when he's ready. 'Reassuring for other late bloomers, this book is illustrated with beguiling pictures.' -- Saturday Review.
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
Leo the tiger was a late bloomer. He didn't learn to read and write when the other baby animals did, and he couldn't draw, eat neatly, or speak when they could. His father wondered aloud what the problem was, but his mother counseled patience, declaring that he would bloom when it was his time.
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After much worried watching, his father eventually let him be, and then... Leo bloomed!

Originally published in 1971, this classic picture-book addresses a common childhood (and parent) concern: the feeling that one's development, either overall or in some specific area, is delayed, because it doesn't happen at exactly the same time as it does with one's peers. The simple story here gently drives home the point that everyone is on their own schedule, and that it shouldn't be a cause of undue concern when one child develops a skill at a different time than another. I found Robert Kraus's text quite humorous, especially the depiction of Leo's father and his worried watching, and thought the illustrations by José Aruego, whose artwork I am familiar with from various folkloric retellings he has been involved in, were colorful and appealing. Recommended to anyone, parent or child, worried about development schedules.
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LibraryThing member jfe16
Poor Leo can’t seem to do anything right . . . he can’t read, he can’t write, he can’t draw. He’s a sloppy eater, and he doesn’t speak. What is the matter with Leo?

“Nothing,” says Leo’s mother. “Leo is just a late bloomer.”

But will Leo ever bloom?

Charming illustrations
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accompany the simply narrative that helps young readers learn that everyone blooms in their own good time. A delightful tale for parents and children to enjoy together.

Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member HillaryBertucci
I really liked this book because it didn't really say Leo has a disability, it just expresses he is a late bloomer. I would love to share this with kids because not all children develop at the same place. This book could definitely help motivate a student who may be a little behind.
LibraryThing member alatebloomer
This was one of my favorite books as a kid, and still is! Poor little Leo. He comes out great in the end though. My other favorite book was "The Poky Little Puppy" but that's a whole other story!

Subjects

Language

Original publication date

1971

ISBN

0153152044 / 9780153152047

Barcode

34747000068110

Other editions

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