Leaves

Leaves by David Ezra Stein

            Picture Book—PreK-1

            Rating: 5 Stars

            Summary: A young bear marvels at the changing seasons and worries about the leaves as they fall from the trees. When he grows tired, he curls up for the winter and wakes up to the newly budding trees of spring!

            In Leaves, Stein portrays the sheer amazement and awe of a young bear as he experiences the world for the first time. I love that he is a little shocked at the first leaf that falls, and tries to help by spearing the gathering leaves back onto the bare branches. I felt a surge of compassion for the bear at his concern for the leaves. At first, I thought that the simplistic lines of the story left something to be desired, but I have come to realize that this approach is what makes this story come alive. The simple text allows us as the reader to take in the beautiful pictures and notice the subtle details of the bear’s existence, especially on the pages where there are no words at all. Stein has also framed his illustrations, which I feel creates a sense of intimacy with the bear. His expressions illuminate his curiosity and bewilderment as the leave are falling, and helps to demonstrate his overall innocence as a young animal learning about the wonders of the world. The simple lines also complement the peacefulness and steady flow of the changing seasons, which helps to form an appreciation for nature as the bear is living through autumn, winter, and finally spring.

            This book would be a great choice for curriculum dealing with a number of topics: leaves, the changing of seasons, or hibernation. The story is so accessible because of its simplicity, which I think would allow children to explore the text and make whatever meaning that they want to out of it. While one child may value the text and pictures for its description of seasons, another student might be enamored by the cycle of hibernation that is described in the storyline and detailed in the illustrations. Also, the bear’s curiosity and innocence are relatable for children. I think younger students would especially enjoy seeing him ponder why the leaves are falling and would relate to the amazement that many of us experience when we are young and learning about the world. Overall, I truly enjoyed this story and definitely hope to have it in my classroom so that my students can enjoy it as well.