Biography
Guillot was born at his parents' home in Courcoury in the Charente-Maritime department. After studying science, he moved to Senegal to work as a teacher, spending over 20 years in Africa. Most of the material for his many books comes from this time.
His books include ''Kpo the Leopard'', ''The King of Cats'', ''Sirga: Queen of the African Bush'', and ''Oworo''.
''Kpo the Leopard'' was published in 1955 and was also included in ''The Hamish Hamilton Book of Wise Animals'', edited by Eilis Dillon, illustrated by Bernard Brett (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1975. ), together with pieces featuring "fabulous animals" such as Edgar Allan Poe's Raven, E. Nesbit's Psammead, T. S. Eliot's Mr. Mistoffelees, and Rollicum Bitem the Fox from ''The Midnight Folk'' by John Masefield.
Two [films], (both directed by Patrick Grandperret) have been made from Guillot's children's books:
''L'Enfant Lion (The Lion Child)'' in 1993, based on Guillot's ''Sirga the Lioness'', and ''Le Maître des éléphants (The Elephant Master)'' in 1995.
A live-action version of ''Little Dog Lost'', featuring a Welsh Corgi, was made for the ''Disneyland'' show and was broadcast in 1963.
There was also a movie, ''Fort de la solitude'' (1948), directed by Robert Vernay, based on one of René Guillot's adult novels.
