Review by Booklist Review
A leaf is a leaf begins this imaginative picture book, which goes on to suggest many other things that a leaf can be: Soft cradle / Water ladle / Sun taker / Food maker. Each two-word phrase has a meaning to be figured out with the help of the artwork. A little knowledge of science is definitely helpful, but those who don't know that a leaf can be, for example, an Air cleaner / Earth greener, the appended section More about Leaves offers a bit of information explaining each concept, as well as a glossary and a short reading list. Most of the phrases are illustrated on single pages, though occasionally they double up or share a spread, such as the dazzling autumn-landscape scene illustrating Pile grower / Hill glow-er. While this poetic text concerns concepts rather than narrative, the changing seasons create an underlying structure. Some of the illustrations, muted in tone, seem magical and mysterious, while others are joyfully, spectacularly colorful. A great read-aloud choice for fall story hours and classroom units on leaves.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Salas explores the many functions a leaf can serve with simple grace. "A leaf is a leaf-/ a bit of a tree./ But when cool days come chasing,/ it can also be a... Lake glider/ Wind rider/ Pile grower/ Hill glow-er/ Frost catcher/ Moth matcher." Dabija bathes her mixed-media scenes in a fuzzy glow, creating a welcoming environment in every spread. Leaves serve as a "Bat shelter" in a rainforest enclave, and as a "Ground warmer" in a snowy, mint green clearing. Appended notes elaborate upon the poetic descriptions, providing more insight into the integral roles that leaves play in life cycles. Ages 5-8. (Mar.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-In a simple rhyming text, Salas examines the ways that leaves play a part in our world's ecosystem. They can softly cradle moths, act as a water ladle for animals, shade people and creatures, shelter from the rainfall, provide meals, clean the air, warm the ground, etc. The rhyme is a bit forced at times, but the acrylic-and-ink folk-art-like illustrations are charming and help to balance out that shortcoming. Dabija uses greens and oranges with a smattering of other colors that complement her palette. With a spare text and full-page illustrations, the book has a layout that can be successfully used in storytime presentations. A lovely observation about nature, suitable for a variety of science units or individual sharing.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
A leaf can be a... Soft cradle / Water ladle / Sun taker / Food maker." This simple rhyming text shows how leaves perform different functions, by accident or design, often with cleverly surprising contrasts: "Skin welter / Bat shelter." The green-infused illustrations match the texts playful tone; more information about leaves is included at the back. Reading list. Glos. (c) Copyright 2012. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
(Picture book. 5-8)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
