Esme Evans - Aged 8 - Runner Up!
We fell in love with this tale and its leopards before reading the first word. The illustrations were fantastic! Then we got to the brilliantly structured story: the use of adverbs brought the dialogue to life and the writer used great adjectives through the piece too. Each character was clearly and believably described! This is a fun-filled tale for all leopards (and maybe even all children). We particularly loved this line, as we felt it could apply to most things in life: ‘Even the dirtiest things can be turned into the most sparkly, shiny creations’. We were very impressed with how the writer consistently showed that leopards (or anyone) can achieve so much when working together with great communication. Well done!
The Lazy Leopards
Chapter 1 – The News
Once there were lots of leopards living together but they were very, very lazy. And when I say lazy, I mean it! They barely wanted to move! But there were three leopards that were not lazy, and their names were Sophie, Layla and Ruby.
They were always active and ready for anything that could stand in their way. They always helped one and another, had brilliant ideas and they were SUPER healthy and happy.
One lovely day they went out for a walk together. “Did you see what was on the news last night?” Sophie asked. “Of course I did!” Ruby beamed as Layla shook her head.
“The news reporter said that everyone is too lazy and should do active things more.” Sophie seriously said. “Well, that means we should change that!" Ruby said excitedly.
While they walked along the path of the neighborhood, they noticed that in the window of every house, every leopard they could see were sitting on the sofa watching tv.
Suddenly, Sophie thought of an idea. “Maybe we should make posters so all of the leopards know that they shouldn't be lazy anymore”. Sophie was the creative one. She always liked making stuff out of things. Even the dirtiest things can be turned into the most sparkly, shiny creations.
Chapter 2 – The Plan
“Posters, good idea Sophie!” Ruby smiled. “Let's get to work if we're going to make...”
Layla stopped for a moment. “How many posters are we going to make?” asked Layla.
“THOUSANDS!” Shouted Ruby. “No, we will make as many as we can and stick them on the walls."
"Maybe thousands if we can.” Answered Sophie.
"Wait! Just before we start, I think I know what we need to get!” Ruby thought.
Ruby was the plan maker she was the smartest too. She always knew a solution for problems and figured out ways to do things, but she wasn't the best at the artistic side of things luckily she could leave that to Sophie.
Layla was different to Sophie and Ruby. Layla was good at quizzes and sport and didn't do much on screens. Layla’s favourite sport was netball. She was the best at it and thinks she can stop this laziness with the power of sport.
Chapter 3- Thinking
1. Where will we find paper? Obviously at Sophie’s house! Her Mum is always recycling paper we can use that!
2. What design do we need to draw? Leave that to Ruby, she thinks we should make it vivid, bold and brilliant!
3. What do we need to write on it? Layla thinks we should write that ALL leopards should take part in sports!
4. Where should we display them? All around the neighborhood.
They started walking again. “OK can we finally get started? Because I think that's all.” Ruby decided. Well, that's what she hoped! She wanted to start making the posters right away, so they didn't have to do it later. They had been thinking about it for ages!
“There's one thing that I’m worried about.” Sophie sobbed.
“What it? Tell us tell us!” Layla and Ruby chanted.
“My Mum does sell her recycled paper but for £2 a pack.” Sophie replied.
“DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY MONEY? “Layla asked worriedly.
“I have a penny.” Ruby disappeared behind a bush in such disappointment. They didn't know how they were going to do this. But maybe there was a way?
Chapter 4 –Making things
“Maybe there is a way, maybe there is a...” But Sophie didn't say anything else but turned to Ruby.
“What is it?” Asked Ruby.
“Well I was just thinking maybe YOU would know a way to do this?” Replied Sophie.
“Maybe if Sophie asks really nicely, I'm sure Sophie’s Mum will let us have some packs of paper." Ruby said hopefully.
“Very good idea Ruby!” Sophie ran away to her house to tell her Mum about what they had planned. Sophie came back ten minutes later running along very happily dancing at the same time.
“RUBY, SOPHIE! My Mum said that we can have as much paper as we like. I told her about the plan and how we are going to help the entire neighborhood! She believes that it will turn out well!” Sophie happily bounced. “I haven't got the paper with me because we are going to make the posters in my house” Sophie excitedly told them.
“Let's get there before the sun goes down!” Ruby insisted. They went along the path, though the meadows and along the roads. They got to Sophies house in a flash!
They gathered all the materials from deep in the depths of the cupboard and from the front too.
They had sparkles, pom poms, feathers, pens, pencils, glue and the most important of all, they had LOTS AND LOTS OF PAPER! Together, they made the most fantastic posters!
They made posters to advertise the greatest day in leopard history. They were posters about an amazing SPORTS DAY!
The details read...
Sports day for all!
Soon, on the 1st of June there will be a fun filled fantastic day for all leopards!
Date:1st June
Time: 12:00 Midday Venue: Hunters Park
Come on leopards please join in for fitness and fun!
The posters were brilliant! Sophies posters were the best obviously! But it doesn’t matter whose poster looked better if they made them! Their efforts and teamwork are far more important!
Chapter 5- Placing things around
The three leopard friends started to place all the posters they had made around town as they found good spots like, on a tree, bus stop, lamp post and walls.
To their surprise, even the laziest leopards came out of their houses to see what the posters were all about. They were even interested in joining in!
Leopards big and small looked at the posters in such delight! The three friends couldn't be happier as they witnessed even more leopards coming out of their houses to see what the fuss was about.
The three friends explained to the leopards all about the very special day they had planned.
Layla, Ruby and Sophie even had their Sports Day Event broadcast on the News for the leopards that hadn't come out of their houses to look at the posters, so they know about it too. The plan was done, it had worked!
Chapter 6 – The Super Sports Day
On the 1st of June it was a sunny day with barely any clouds in the sky.
They set up everything a sports day needed, other leopards helped Sophie, Layla and Ruby.
They had a track for the race. They had a pitch for football.
They had nets for basketball and netball. They had obstacles for an assault course.
They had a stand which had a selection of healthy drinks and snacks.
Layla was getting ready to be the football coach. Sophie was getting ready to judge the racing.
Ruby was getting ready to help with the healthy drink and snack stand as well as the different sports events.
Leopards were arriving. They looked happy and ready for action. They were all different ages, young and old.
The leopards looked amazed by all the decorations, the setup of the sports day and they loved the heathy drinks and snacks. But it was time for the first event.
It was time for the race! Sophie looked at the leopards who wanted to take part in the race.
In the first race, Lilly came 1st, she is a young leopard who is 10 years old.
Coming in 2nd place was Tom, age 26 and swift when running.
In 3rd place was Betty, she is 48 years old and came quite close to Tom at times but didn't get ahead.
The races and matches that followed were all a roaring success! There was a football, netball, tennis and basketball match. The leopards thought they were great!
At the end of a busy day, all the leopards thanked Sophie, Layla and Ruby for their wonderful sports day and promised them that they would try to be fit and healthy from now on.
“We did it!” Sophie cheered. “I can't believe it! We are famous in leopard history now we’ve done that!”
Layla happily leaped. “We raised lots of money too for more sports equipment!”
Ruby holds out her hand and they have raised £1853! “I'm speechless right now!” Sophie went on.
“Well, as we are going to organise another sports day next year, I think we should gather and keep the posters we made!” Layla reminded.
“Great recycling idea for our annual event!” Ruby exclaimed.
The winners of the day each had a medal so they can remember their achievements!
For Sophie, Layla and Ruby efforts and commitment, they were each awarded their very own special medal by the leopard community.
The End
