Booklist starred (June 1, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 19))
PreS-Gr. 2. Ehlert's imaginative way with picture books in general and those of the natural world in particular continues with this eye-popping book that follows one bold maple leaf with acorn eyes as the wind blows it here and there. In a brief author's note, Ehlert describes how she picks up leaves wherever she goes. She uses them--gathered from oaks, hawthorns, elms, beeches, and more--to great affect here, cleverly shaping them into the many animals and objects the leaf flies over: chickens, fruits and vegetables and lakes, fish, and rivers. Hints of whimsy are cleverly incorporated in the figures (the tips of a maple leaf form a cow's udder), and scalloped edgings on the tops of the pages, cut at varying heights, artfully give the effect of setting the action against a three-dimensional landscape. There is no real story here, but the book can easily translate into a guessing game, as young eyes pick out the slightly camouflaged shapes. The bright colors and distinctive shapes will make it a pleasure for children to do just that.
When I read this book to first or second graders, they are very engaged with trying to seek out all the different hidden animals within the illustrations in this book. It is a great opportunity for children to also make text connections while you read. I always hear great stories about preserving leaves from children or searching for the most colorful leaves while playing outside. One of the things I love to do is to supply the students with a fall colored piece of construction paper, an assortment of artificial leaves, and a glue stick. Then I have the students create their own version of either the Leaf Man or any other woodland creature they choose.
Posted by Margo Irving
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