Leaf Jumpers

Children's Literature

Is it a picture book? Is it a science book? It is both—and very well done meshing text and illustrations. A nice escape into an autumn ritual, as well as providing factual information about identifying leaves and the reasons they turn color. Oak leaves are compared to sturdy fingers, red maple leaves to flames on a match. The allusions are magnificent, and the linoleum-cut illustrations bring clarity and beauty to the text. Two children (brother and sister?) are celebrating the fall foliage—but it is the little brown and white dog that seems to take delight in the leaves the most! As appropriate as this work is for a season-themed unit, this could easily enhance the art room library as well. A lesson on shading moves easily from the fur on the dog to the leaf pile. A terrific example of shapes, shadows and colors. Hopefully there will be more from this duo; the other three seasons need attention now. 2004, Charlesbridge Publishing, Ages 4 to 8.
—Elizabeth Young

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-The crisp excitement that fall brings sparkles on each page of this book. Image-packed poetry and watercolor and linoleum-block prints introduce the various trees as they are observed by a boy and girl and their dog. Not only are the children shown as active participants in autumn's fun, raking and jumping in the fallen foliage, but the leaves themselves "-flutter through the air, drifting downward gracefully." The vividly colored illustrations provide interesting perspectives as readers view the children and their dog at ground level, from high among the tree branches, at eye level with the children, and at shoe level. Even with the simple vocabulary, Gerber's words and images convey all the texture, shape, and color of various types of leaves. The last page has an explanation of why they fall, and this text is surrounded by identified pictures of the leaves discussed in the main body of the book. A great introduction to the season either for group or individual reading.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.