The Leaf Thief

by Alice Hemming, Nicola Slater (Illustrator)

Overview

A New York Times Bestseller!

Perfect for fans of Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, The Leaf Thief is a funny picture book that teaches kids about autumn, adapting to change, and the seasons.

Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree—red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.

With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of autumn is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along Squirrel's forest adventure. Is there truly a leaf thief afoot, or is something else going on in Squirrel's forest? A perfect exploration of change—both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes. Bonus material explaining about the changing of the seasons. Poised to be a new fall classic.

Pick up The Leaf Thief if you are looking for:

A classic read for ages 4 and up

Back to school books, ideal for your classroom, homeschool curriculum, and more!

Seasonal and educational stories about the changing seasons

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728235202
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	08/03/2021
Series:	A Squirrel & Bird Book
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	36,741
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Alice Hemming has worked as a librarian, a website editor, and university outreach manager. She lives in Hertfordshire, England.alicehemming.co.uk

Nicola Slater is a full-time illustrator. She lives in Cheshire, England.

Editorial Reviews

"This is such a silly story of how one little squirrel misunderstands the concept of leaves falling off the trees in the autumn months... The colors are bright and little details add a touch of humor[.]" — Youth Services Book Review, STARRED review

"The personalities of animals who’re ready for hibernation are captured in the bemused details of this fun seasonal story, from a tiny bird’s decorated house to Squirrel’s own warm, happy home." — Foreword

"Squirrel’s wildly dramatic, misguided, and hyperpossessive reaction to a routine seasonal event becomes a rib-tickling farce through clever use of varying type sizes and weights emphasizing his absurd verbal pronouncements as well as exaggerated, comic facial expressions and body language." — Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2021-06-02
A confused squirrel overreacts to the falling autumn leaves.

Relaxing on a tree branch, Squirrel admires the red, gold, and orange leaves. Suddenly Squirrel screams, “One of my leaves is…MISSING!” Searching for the leaf, Squirrel tells Bird, “Someone stole my leaf!” Spying Mouse sailing in a leaf boat, Squirrel asks if Mouse stole the leaf. Mouse calmly replies in the negative. Bird reminds Squirrel it’s “perfectly normal to lose a leaf or two at this time of year.” Next morning Squirrel panics again, shrieking, “MORE LEAVES HAVE BEEN STOLEN!” Noticing Woodpecker arranging colorful leaves, Squirrel queries, “Are those my leaves?” Woodpecker tells Squirrel, “No.” Again, Bird assures Squirrel that no one’s taking the leaves and that the same thing happened last year, then encourages Squirrel to relax. Too wired to relax despite some yoga and a bath, the next day Squirrel cries “DISASTER” at the sight of bare branches. Frantic now, Squirrel becomes suspicious upon discovering Bird decorating with multicolored leaves. Is Bird the culprit? In response, Bird shows Squirrel the real Leaf Thief: the wind. Squirrel’s wildly dramatic, misguided, and hyperpossessive reaction to a routine seasonal event becomes a rib-tickling farce through clever use of varying type sizes and weights emphasizing his absurd verbal pronouncements as well as exaggerated, comic facial expressions and body language. Bold colors, arresting perspectives, and intense close-ups enhance Squirrel’s histrionics. Endnotes explain the science behind the phenomenon.

A hilarious autumnal comedy of errors. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews