My favorite place to be is outside. Even in winter, I bundle up and go out for my walk.
Spending this much time outside, and growing up in a plant-loving household means I know the names of the local trees and the book I'm reviewing today is perfect for kids who are like me.
Title: If You Find a Leaf
Author/Illustrator: Aimee Sicuro
Publisher: Random House Studio, 2022, Concept book
Best for ages: 2+
Themes: Nature, Creativity, Art
Opening Lines:
If you find a leaf
You could dream the day away.
It could be a hat on a chilly day."
Why I like this book:
The way this book sparks a reader's creativity makes it appropriate for a wide age range. The leaf parade would be perfect for little ones and older reader's can make their own leaf-incorporated drawings. While the child and her dog have a dreamy quality, the leaves in the illustrations and vibrant, realistic representations. Using the endpapers, kids can learn to identify leaves as well as take inspiration from the suggestions in the text. What I like best of all is the way the book puts reader's in charge of their ideas. YOU can create whatever you want!
Activities:
There are TONS of leaf activities available on the web, so I'll let you choose your own this time!
The book includes an activity at the end for preserving leaves. I was always a press-between-paper or iron between two sheets of wax paper parent, so I learned something new! If you need more inspiration to create your own leaf drawing, illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi is one of my favorites for drawings that include pieces of nature as well as other 'found objects'.
Let me know if you enjoyed this book recommendation in the comments!
My review is part of Perfect Picture Book Friday created and hosted by author Susanna Leonard Hill. The opinion in the review is wholly my own.
