Leaf

Product Information

Talk about the book. What did you like best? What surprised you? What will you remember? Did this book remind you of anything else you've read? Carefully-handled drama activities can be an effective way to develop thinking around such issues, as well as helping children improve their speaking, listening and other language skills. Washed in by the tide, a polar bear arrives on the shores of a northern forest and settles in an abandoned cave.

Is it just me or are pictures books becoming more and more beautiful these days. I've noticed it with a lot of the books we have coming into the library, and now this book, Leaf, is absolutely, strikingly gorgeous. And not just the illustrations but the story and message, too. What a beautiful sequence of story and visuals as the other animals are deciding whether or not to care, whether or not to help. Talk about the ice covering the Arctic and Antarctic regions, and the icebergs floating in the sea. Collect words to describe ice and snow, and how it feels to be very cold. What animals and other creatures live in these icy regions?Working in small groups, decide who will roleplay the bear and who will be the other animals. Create freezeframes showing the animals ignoring the bear. How will you use your body to show how your character feels? Play ‘Find my Voice’ by tapping a child’s shoulder to hear their character’s thoughts and feelings. On a given signal, bring your freezeframes to life, allowing children to move, speak and show what happens next.

Discuss what you can see in the picture and the questions it raises. What can Leaf see, hear, feel, smell and taste as he falls into the water? What could the animals have done to change things?Discuss possibilities and/or roleplay different outcomes.You know a book has you hooked when your heart is in your throat and you are really, really hoping it doesn't have a sad ending. At its heart Leaf has a number of simple but key messages to draw out - reaching out to outsiders, loneliness, and protecting the environment. Leaf collects leaves to make wings so that he can fly home to his family from whom he was separated because of the melting ice. And that's all it says. There is no lecturing or overt nagging, just a simple message conveyed through the eyes of a lonely polar bear. It provokes key discussion and questions about why the ice has melted, how Leaf might have become separated from his family, what the animals did to help, and what else could be done to help. Find out as much as you can about polar bears (and other animals living in the Arctic.)Why is the ice important to polar bears? What happens if the ice breaks up, or melts? Should we be worried about polar bers and their environment? Who is trying to help? Can we do anything? Double spread 1 – Who can crow see? What might crow be thinking when he sees the polar bear? Why do you think the crow refers to the polar bear as a ‘strange white creature’? How might the polar bear be feeling? Why is he there? Where has he come from? Is the time of day significant? How does it affect the mood and atmosphere? Why not try using a ‘double bubble map’ (Hyerle) to compare and contrast this story with ‘Journey’ by Francesca Sanna or ‘Beegu’ by Alexis Deacon? How are the stories similar? How are they different? What themes do they share in common? Which did you prefer and why? Put the names of the stories in the central two bubbles. In the circles that link to both central bubbles, note the similarities between the stories. The circles that link to only one central bubble are for you to record the differences between the stories. Explore the impact of global warming on the environment, animals and habitats around the world. Hold a class debate – should we change and mend our ways to reduce the effects of global warming or continue as we are?

Read the story of Icarus and Daedalus, the inventor and architect who used bird feathers to create wings so he could escape from King Minos’s prison. Explore the themes, characters and storyline. Leaf didn’t want to leave his home, he had no control over it. But when he entered into the Wildwood, he wasn’t treated kindly. The other animals were scared and didn’t want him there, and they called him names. Leaf’s treatment is reminiscent of the treatment that can be seen in real life. Look at one of the illustrations. Can you work in a group to create a soundscape for that illustration? What noises might you hear? What mood will you try and create? Can you use your body to create percussion and rhythm? The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.This is a beautifully illustrated book, full of vibrant colours and simple, yet emotive language. It would be perfect for initiating discussion relating to global warming, displacement, exclusion, family and journeys.