The Little Leaf [Hardcover]

Chana Zuber-Sharfstein (Author), Chana Sharfstein (Author), Dina Herman Rosenfeld (Author), Hachai Publishing (Author), Rochelle Blumenfeld (Illustrator)

Book Description

A little leaf wonders what will happen next as it experiences the four seasons.
Who would think about the life of a leaf and the stages it goes through from bud to old brown leaf? One might see this as a lovely story for the holiday of Tu b'shvat or perhaps a starting point to talk about life cycle events. However one decides to use this to read to children 3 to 7, it is a beautiful story with bright, colorful, upbeat illustrations. Regardless of one's age, there will be a story in this book. When people are becoming more and more ecology conscious, something we Jews have known all along, this book will be a beautiful story to read to or with children.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

The Little Leaf is a picture book for young readers with a Tu B'Shvat theme: It's the cheerful story of a leaf, from its first spring appearance as a bud to its decay and uplift by the wind. A recurring refrain throughout the lifecycle is "Everything that Hashem does is really for the best."

Review

This beautiful book with its unusual full-color illustrations contains a message for all ages. (It would even make a great gift for someone in the throes of a mid-life crisis!). By following the life-cycle of a little leaf, from a bird to a green shoot, to a colorful fall leaf, to a dry brown one, the author reminds us that every stage of life has beauty and purpose. All we need to get through the changing seasons is the firm belief that everything that Hashem does is really for the best. --N'shei Newsletter, February 1995

This charming book is the tale of a leaf whose unending faith in God determines its life. As the story begins, the leaf is but a bud who is fearful, yet excited by the future. He wonders; What will happen to me next? and then is delighted to find he is the first sign of spring for two passing children. Later, the bud becomes a leaf which helps give shade to the two children, shelters passerby from the rain, and moves in the breeze to comfort a mother walking with her infant. With each step, the leaf finds joy: ;Now I can be kind to people and protect them from the sun and rain; he thinks. Now I see that everything Hashem does is really for the best. At last the leafs falls to the ground, and again he is afraid. Is this the end of everything?; he worries. But here, too, he finds he has a purpose: He covers a lonely seed, saying, I will keep you safe and warm. Soon, the seed grows into a beautiful plant. The leaf is dry and brown and wonders what will happen next. But blessed with the certainty that God will care for him, the leaf says he will go where the wind carries me. --The Jewish News, MI, April 1997

This tender account of the life cycle of a leaf is an allegory for all ages. It demonstrates how Divine Providence guides us, and how every stage of life has a unique purpose. Accompanied by exquisite oil paintings, each page is a work of art in itself. --Jewish World News, KS, March 1997

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hachai Pubns; 1st edition (September 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0922613184
• ISBN-13: 978-0922613182
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,976,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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