By Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrations by Violeta Dabija
Millbrook Press, 2012
ISBN #978-0-7613-6203-6
Grades K-2
Nonfiction picture book
Visit Wendy’s Wanderings for all the excellent Nonfiction Monday titles.
“A leaf can be a…Shade spiller…Mouth filler…Tree topper…Rain stopper….”
Spare, simple verse follows the many ways leaves contribute to nature and life in this lovely, appealing picture book. The job of leaves changes with the changing seasons and the book traces these events with Salas’s lyrical poetrytext. Soft greens wash the pages until the seasons change and Dabija’s mixed media art makes the book lovely and soft, inviting the reader into a gentle, and sometimes not so gentle, world of nature.
Back matter includes specific facts and examples of each of the word choices used. The book also has glossary and further reading suggestions.
Activity
Take a leaf walk. Each time you see a different kind of leaf, have one child collect one. Back inside, draw outlines of each leaf. Then decide on a way to organize the leaves by finding similar characteristics. Post and label your collection with the categories.
Scroll down at this site to see lots of leaf activities.
The author has a site with activities to accompany the book. She also has links to fun leaf activities there.
This is an exciting book. Check other reviews at:
National Science Standard: Variation of traits; structure and function
Book provided by Lerner.
Thanks, Shirley! I’m thrilled you like the book–and love the link to simple leaf activities for preschoolers.
Thanks, Laura. When the book arrived, I opened it and immediately fell in love with it. The simplicity is deceptive and it’s one that is much deeper in science and nature than it first appears. Great work on it and congratulations, too!
Shirley
Shirley,
Isn’t this such a gorgeous book? Definitely getting a lot of positive buzz in the children’s nonfiction community.
Thanks for participating in STEM Friday today.
Hi Shirley, this book, I feel, is definitely a must-have. I like all things leafy and windy. And it’s always great to see a fantabulous union of science and verse. I hope I can see a copy of this in our community libraries.
Thank you. I loved the cover and as soon as I opened it, I knew it would be a good one.
What a lovely way of looking at leaves…and the beauty of nature all around us. I will have to check this out. Thanks!