Leaves [Hardcover]

David Ezra Stein (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 16, 2007 | Age Level: 1 and up

It’s a young bear’s first autumn, and the falling leaves surprise him. He tries to put them back on the trees, but it doesn’t work. Eventually, he gets sleepy, and burrows into the fallen leaves for a long nap. When he wakes up, it’s spring—and there are suddenly brand-new leaves all around, welcoming him.

Graceful illustrations and a childlike main character offer the perfect way to talk to children about the wonder of the changing seasons.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Stein's (Cowboy Ned and Andy) pen-and-ink illustrations conjure a place readers will wish they could visit, a tiny island that pokes up out of a bay. Drawn in mossy greens and golds, the island is home to a very young bear—so young that when the leaves start falling in the autumn, he's a little shocked: He tried to catch them and put them back on... but it was not the same. The bear doesn't despair; he grows sleepy, goes off to hibernate and wakes in the spring. This set of events is depicted in a series of panels trained on the entrance to the bear's den; the single tree above it loses its leaves, is blanketed by snow, and receives visits first by a rabbit and then by a pair of cardinals.) Eventually the bear sticks his head back out to greet the spring sunshine and spies the tiny buds on the trees. 'Welcome!' he cried. And, he thought, the leaves welcomed him. Many things contribute to the success of Stein's tale: the joyously colored panels that hang on the pages like paintings—more intimate, somehow, than double-page spreads—the island's eight trees and their leaves, which seem lively and animate and entirely worthy of friendship; the innocence of the bear; and Stein's willingness to let the story assume its own haiku-like shape. His autumnal pictures seem to glow, while the bear himself has the irresistible appeal of a well-loved toy. All ages. (Aug.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* To Bear, in his first year, everything is new. He lives on a tiny island with a few trees, flowers, berries, and butterflies, and he dances with joy — until he sees a leaf fall to the ground. He wonders, "Are you okay?" More leaves fall. "He tried to catch them and put them back on . . . but it was not the same." As he watches the leaves fall and blanket the ground, he grows sleepy, finds a cave-like hole, fills it with leaves, and burrows into it to sleep away the winter. In spring, he joyfully welcomes the tiny leaves unfolding on the trees. The narrative works seamlessly with the freewheeling, expressive artwork. Created with bamboo pen, the energetic, sensitive drawings are tinted with subtle shades of color. Just as Stein uses white space effectively in the art, he uses "white space" well in the spare, precise text, leaving some details for children to notice in the pictures alone, such as how the leaves have been stuck back on the trees by spearing them onto the living twigs. Teachers will find this picture book a natural for curriculum units on leaves or hibernation, and children will enjoy seeing fall anew through the eyes of a big-hearted character more innocent than themselves. Wonderfully simple and simply wonderful for sharing with children. Phelan, Carolyn

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 1 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (August 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399246363
• ISBN-13: 978-0399246364
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #468,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sentimental and sweet, September 25, 2007

By 

V. C. Callan (Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Leaves (Hardcover)

Through the eyes of a young bear, David Ezra Stein captures the bittersweet feelings of autumn. With the heart and vocabulary that a toddler will understand, the bear expresses wonder and concern for the falling leaves. It is a simple story, beautifully written and illustrated, that my 3 year old begs to hear over and over.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exquisite!, March 6, 2009

By 

Epictetus (USA West) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leaves (Hardcover)

I Love this book, and wish I could give it a hundred stars. The illustrations capture the rich colors of autumn and the emotions of a new little bear who has never seen the leaves fall. Best of all it was so true to childhood and a little boy I once knew who wanted to put the leaves back on the trees and was joyful when he discovered that the leaves came back. To read this book is to experience the wonder of childhood the way a child does. Take a bow, David Ezra Stein.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A whimsical story of seasonal changes will delight the very young., November 4, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Leaves (Hardcover)

David Ezra Stein's LEAVES tells of a young bear who has never seen leaves fall off a tree before. Should be try to put them back, or use them as bedding? Leaves are falling all over his island: what should he do? A whimsical story of seasonal changes will delight the very young.