“Leaf Man,” by Lois Ehlert. Harcourt Inc., New York, 2005, 40 pages, K-2.
In the northern hemisphere, each season of the year brings its own beauty. During winter, the world is covered with frost and cold air. It is a time for hot chocolate and thoughts of sleigh rides. Spring beckons to us with the unfolding of another year. As the flowers bloom, people begin to think of the return of warmth and the singing of birds. When summer comes, our memories recall pleasant days at the swimming pool and the delights of picnics. But fall, or autumn as it is sometimes called is quite different. All the leaves on trees show their splendor as they turn to a glorious red, pink, orange and brown. Nature is preparing to go to sleep for the winter. Lois Ehlert has written a stunning picture book showing this beautiful natural event. The name of this fine book is “Leaf Man.”
The story begins with a Leaf Man being blown from a pile of leaves. Looking into the swirl of leaves, the author has drawn the face of the Leaf Man with acorns, seeds and leaves. As the wind carries him along, many adventures begin to happen. Though he doesn’t have any travel plans, the Leaf Man heads east and soars over a flock of chickens. Sure enough, readers can spy the chicken in an enchanting arrangement of leaves. Next, the Leaf Man blows over a marsh filled with ducks and geese. All across the water, the leaves form a flock of ducks with webbed feet. After several more scenes, the Leaf Man flies over a turkey, carefully shaped out of a pattern of leaves. As the Leaf Man continues to meander along his journey, he will cross prairie meadows, lakes, rivers and farms with different animals. But the delightful journey must come to an end. Where does the Leaf Man finally land?
Does the Leaf Man find a comfortable home? Why do the leaves show so many expressions in his journey? Have you ever looked carefully at leaves? Why are they so different, and how does the Leaf Man teach us so many things about the beauty of nature? To find out, go to the library and check out this lovely book, “Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert.
“Leaf Man” is a highly recommended picture book. It is an outstanding example of a book that is a story in how it is designed. The book starts out with full pages which begin to shrink with each passing picture. Then the pages in the book begin to expand as the story reaches the climax. It is brilliantly done. Another remarkable quality of the book is the animal designs that are created from different leaves. All of the animals and fish mentioned in the text are found embedded in the art. Older readers can help younger children find the creatures by studying the leaf formations. It will be a delightful experience for both the readers and the children. I can just see children clapping their hands when they figure out the shapes in the drawings. It is an incredibly satisfying book to read and decipher the animals and fish in the leaf designs. If you want to have fun reading to a younger child in your family, this is the book for you. I had a great time reading it and think you will as well. Enjoy!
