Leaf

Product Information

You know a book has you hooked when your heart is in your throat and you are really, really hoping it doesn't have a sad ending. At its heart Leaf has a number of simple but key messages to draw out - reaching out to outsiders, loneliness, and protecting the environment. Leaf collects leaves to make wings so that he can fly home to his family from whom he was separated because of the melting ice. And that's all it says. There is no lecturing or overt nagging, just a simple message conveyed through the eyes of a lonely polar bear. It provokes key discussion and questions about why the ice has melted, how Leaf might have become separated from his family, what the animals did to help, and what else could be done to help. Look at one of the illustrations. Can you work in a group to create a soundscape for that illustration? What noises might you hear? What mood will you try and create? Can you use your body to create percussion and rhythm? Her first book as author and illustrator LEAF was published by Flying Eye Books in June 2017. In 2018 it was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal, long listed for the Klaus Flugge Prize and short listed for the Waterstones Children's book prize. Her next picture book is expected to be out in the summer of 2018.

Deeper meaning resides in the fairy tales told to me in my childhood than in the truth that is taught in life.” Friedrich Schiller Double spread 2 – Where does the polar bear set up his home? Which word or phrase tells you that the animals were wary of the bear? Look at the illustration – what do you notice about the size of the polar bear? What animals can you see in the picture? How do the colours used to depict the bear’s cave compare to the colours used for the animals and foliage? I genuinely can't stop thinking of the utterly vibrant illustrations in here. Like, I tried to close my eyes after reading and all I could see were the lively colors springing up in my mind over and over. Here's a handful of examples of said occurrence: He fails, of course, but at last the others listen to his tale of separation, misery and loneliness.

Explore our most popular collections

Look closely at the plants on the book cover - use magnifiers! – and talk about the shapes and colours you can see But every child is different, so feel free to adapt our activities to suit their interests and abilities! One day, a polar bear washes up on the edge of the wild wood. Never seen such an animal, all the other animals of the wild wood run away from him. Eventually, the animals named the polar bear Leaf, because they want him to leave.

One day, the polar bear Leaf arrives at the coast of the temperate climate wilderness. The first reaction of the animals is fear and confusion, but eventually, they overcome their own fears, and they help Leaf. I really appreciate this, especially now with the refugee crisis. I think to be afraid of the unknown is a normal thing for humans, but often I see not the most helpful attitude towards this fear. We should not shun each other for that; we should approach each other with an open mind and willingness to talk and listen. If there is anyone who deserves to be condemned, it's the politicians who feed and then build their careers on this fear instead of doing something meaningful. Find out as much as you can about polar bears (and other animals living in the Arctic.)Why is the ice important to polar bears? What happens if the ice breaks up, or melts? Should we be worried about polar bers and their environment? Who is trying to help? Can we do anything? Try to write your own cinquain poem based on this book. A cinquain is a non-rhyming poem with five lines. Each line has a set number of syllables: Write a diary entry, imagining you are Leaf. Can you retell how you were split up from your family? How did you feel when you arrived at the wild woods?

What a beautiful sequence of story and visuals as the other animals are deciding whether or not to care, whether or not to help. Leaf spends his days, alone in his dark cave. The animals are afraid of him and run away when they see him, they don’t talk to him but they talk about him. This tale of acceptance gently highlighting the plight of polar bears in today's changing climate had me enraptured from start to finish. Double spread 12 – How are the crows helping Leaf? Imagine you are Leaf, saying goodbye to all the animals – what might you say? Do you think Leaf has forgiven the animals for being so mean to him? What do you think the moral is this story is? Does this story remind you of anything? Is this story a fairytale? Do you think Leaf will be reunited with his family? Why do you think the author created this book? A beautifully illustrated story with several great discussion points: loneliness, misunderstanding and fear, bullying, global warming, and environmental protection.”

Girls Who Draw Masquerade exhibition :: Leeds, Sep/Nov 2013Mythical Creatures :: Here Gallery, Bristol UK, Feb 2013 Sandra is represented internationally by Millie Van Grutten at the Caroline Sheldon Literary agency in London, UK.When a polar bear arrives unexpectedly in the woods, the animals fear and avoid him, suspecting him to be dangerous - and his habit of collecting leaves only adds to their distrust. Then one day, they watch as he attempts to fly over the water with wings made of colorful leaves...just trying to go home. The book also touches on the environmental changes going on right now; there is, after all, a polar bear appearing in a temperate climate forest.

Washed in by the tide, a polar bear arrives on the shores of a northern forest and settles in an abandoned cave.Why not try using a ‘double bubble map’ (Hyerle) to compare and contrast this story with ‘Journey’ by Francesca Sanna or ‘Beegu’ by Alexis Deacon? How are the stories similar? How are they different? What themes do they share in common? Which did you prefer and why? Put the names of the stories in the central two bubbles. In the circles that link to both central bubbles, note the similarities between the stories. The circles that link to only one central bubble are for you to record the differences between the stories. I was looking for something comforting and light to read when I couldn't fall asleep in the middle of the night, and then I see the completely stunning cover of this picture book and was instantly enchanted...