dougsasser's review against another edition
2.0
The author and her family read the audio version of this book.
lauriehnatiuk's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for an eARC of this title!
Leif is an oak leaf who recognizes that he and the weather are changing and inevitably will be falling to the ground. Leif is anxious and fearful about falling and the other leaves chanting “All leaves fall in the fall” isn’t helping. However, his friend Laurel helps him to think, build and test different solutions to making falling to the ground easier. The two try everything from building a web, to using a vine to tie him down to using a parachute and nothing works. They keep trying until a gust of wind takes Leif off the branch where he lands softly with his friend Laurel on the pile of designs that did not work. A tale of friendship and persistence combining illustrator Merrilee Liddiard’s soft muted autumn colors -make this a great read aloud at the beginning of the school year and the start of autumn.
Leif is an oak leaf who recognizes that he and the weather are changing and inevitably will be falling to the ground. Leif is anxious and fearful about falling and the other leaves chanting “All leaves fall in the fall” isn’t helping. However, his friend Laurel helps him to think, build and test different solutions to making falling to the ground easier. The two try everything from building a web, to using a vine to tie him down to using a parachute and nothing works. They keep trying until a gust of wind takes Leif off the branch where he lands softly with his friend Laurel on the pile of designs that did not work. A tale of friendship and persistence combining illustrator Merrilee Liddiard’s soft muted autumn colors -make this a great read aloud at the beginning of the school year and the start of autumn.
panda_incognito's review against another edition
2.0
This is extremely blah. The color palette and story don't appeal to me at all, and even though this is supposed to make a point about persistence, the ending is boring and lackluster. The main character's anxiety is also never adequately resolved.
hereistheend's review against another edition
4.0
Leif the leaf is feeling very anxious about fall- that is, falling from a tree. With his friend Laurel, he creates a pile of failed experiments to help him fall safely. When none works, he finally falls, and lands safely on the pile. Throughout the book, he is teased for his feelings, but in the end, he only proves himself capable and learns that no failures are useless. This story is not necessarily new or unique, but the illustrations truly stand out: generally on plain brown paper, leaves teeter on the edges of tree branches, expressive with big eyes, eyebrows, little mouths, and even some accessories. Learning about fear and failure could not feel more safe when coming from adorable, gentle looking leaves. The subject matter is also hyper relatable to children; they have all felt fear, and most have witnessed leaves falling from a tree. Not only will they learn empathy, but also they will see real life examples of courage.
lara_lleverino's review against another edition
2.0
As much as I love Adam Grant’s writing for adults I felt like this book somehow missed the mark. The jacket flap says it’s about originality and persistence leading to amazing things but to me it felt more like fear and settling.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Leif is terrified of falling off the tree in fall. He comes up with many ideas, but ultimately learns that some rites of passage are inevitable.
pearlinbloom's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely illustrations, nice message, so-so execution of story.
shayemiller's review against another edition
4.0
Leif is fearful of falling. The other leaves laugh at him and continually remind him that all leaves fall. It's what they're meant to do. But Leif is still afraid. His good buddy Laurel helps him come up with many options for a safe fall, but all of them fail. In the end, he survives the fall and all is well. There are a number of things we all experience in life that are "natural" but that we still fear. Ultimately, we run into the big fear of death. But the story could be a nice way to discuss a wide variety of natural experiences ranging from sleeping alone to going off to school, etc. This book would pair nicely with The Very Last Leaf by Stef Wade, another recent picture book published on the same topic -- an autumn leaf who is fearful of falling.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
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