At some point, we all have to face our fears. The Little Yellow Leaf is a gentle
introduction to this concept for your little one, with the ultimate lesson
being that it's okay to wait until you're ready, and sometimes it's easier to
face fears alongside a friend. The tree the little leaf clings changes throughout the story, bringing the concept
of height and fear even more alive for readers. Although the illustrations take
a mixed media approach, creating shapes from different types of recycled paper
and fabric, the images comes across as elegantly minimalistic. The words are
set up a little differently on each page, with the font changing style, color,
size, and location to reflect the story being told. For example, each word in
the sentence, "and the sun sank slow," is located below the prior word and
encapsulated in an orange orb (presumably, a sun). The story also has a
smooth cadence when read aloud. "Not ready, thought
the Little Yellow Leaf as apples grew musky, pumpkins heavy, and flocks of
geese took wing."
The variety in the way each page is set up keeps readers
interested and eager to see more. The multimedia pictures add texture
to the images and will likely encourage your little one to reach out and touch
the page. Color is used with purpose to create a mood for each scene, whether
it's fear, trepidation, suspense, or excitement. There are also numbers hidden within the pictures on the different scraps of paper used to create an
image, so you can make a game out of finding and identifying those numbers with
your child. Finally, the messages in the book are a natural discussion topic with your child. Just like the leaf, they will someday
find themselves in a position where they are just not ready to 'let go', or
move forward. Stress that it's okay to wait until you feel ready, and perhaps even
find a comforting friend to face the fear with - just as the leaf did.
I read this lovely story with my niece when she was three
years old. When I first flipped
through the book and saw the unique illustrations, I knew she would like them
and was eager to share. I was right. Emily ooed and awed after every flip of
the page. She is actually the one who noticed the numbers hidden throughout the
pages and made a game of finding them. This is a story we've pulled out ever
fall since and it remains near her bedside until winter - when the leaf finally
lets go.
--Audra
