Vibrant illustrations and a whimsical premise make this picture book a must-read for young leaf peepers.
A young outdoors enthusiast leaps through the forest chasing leaves in Smetana’s picture book.
A child steps into a forest with crunchy leaves on the ground and a colorful array of fall foliage overhead. A strong gust of wind inspires the book’s recurring motif: “The leaves wiggle, wave, and—WHOOSH!” As leaves drift down from the trees, the child attempts to catch one before it hits the ground. Author and illustrator Smetana uses this framework to teach young readers about different kinds of tree leaves, from gorgeous green sycamores to bright yellow tulip trees. The illustrations are so vivid and textured that children will want to touch them, thanks to Smetana’s unique use of watercolor collages and crayon rubbings of real fallen leaves. As the story continues, the perspective takes on an almost mythical quality, with golden catalpa leaves that appear to be twice the child’s size. While readers never see the leaf chaser’s face, the first-person narration and tactile descriptions place the character right in the action, with each missed leaf gently building the dramatic tension. But this story is no nail-biter; the steady rise and fall of action is as soothing as a crisp fall breeze. This lyrical ode to leaves is guaranteed to resonate with the burgeoning nature lover in your life.
Vibrant illustrations and a whimsical premise make this picture book a must-read for young leaf peepers.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2026
ISBN: 9798992228427
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Flying Cardinal Press
Review Posted Online: May 14, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn.
A young owl achieves his grand ambition.
Owl, an adorably earnest and gallant little owlet, dreams of being a knight. He imagines himself defeating dragons and winning favor far and wide through his brave exploits. When a record number of knights go missing, Owl applies to Knight School and is surprisingly accepted. He is much smaller than the other knights-in-training, struggles to wield weapons, and has “a habit of nodding off during the day.” Nevertheless, he graduates and is assigned to the Knight Night Watch. While patrolling the castle walls one night, a hungry dragon shows up and Owl must use his wits to avoid meeting a terrible end. The result is both humorous and heartwarming, offering an affirmation of courage and clear thinking no matter one’s size…and demonstrating the power of a midnight snack. The story never directly addresses the question of the missing knights, but it is hinted that they became the dragon’s fodder, leaving readers to question Owl’s decision to befriend the beast. Humor is supplied by the characters’ facial expressions and accented by the fact that Owl is the only animal in his order of big, burly human knights. Denise’s accomplished digital illustrations—many of which are full bleeds—often use a warm sepia palette that evokes a feeling of antiquity, and some spreads feature a pleasing play of chiaroscuro that creates suspense and drama.
A charming blend of whimsy and medieval heroism highlighting the triumph of brains over brawn. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: March 15, 2022
ISBN: 978-0-316-31062-8
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books
Review Posted Online: Dec. 15, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2022
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions.
Ellis, known for her illustrations for Colin Meloy’s Wildwood series, here riffs on the concept of “home.”
Shifting among homes mundane and speculative, contemporary and not, Ellis begins and ends with views of her own home and a peek into her studio. She highlights palaces and mansions, but she also takes readers to animal homes and a certain famously folkloric shoe (whose iconic Old Woman manages a passel of multiethnic kids absorbed in daring games). One spread showcases “some folks” who “live on the road”; a band unloads its tour bus in front of a theater marquee. Ellis’ compelling ink and gouache paintings, in a palette of blue-grays, sepia and brick red, depict scenes ranging from mythical, underwater Atlantis to a distant moonscape. Another spread, depicting a garden and large building under connected, transparent domes, invites readers to wonder: “Who in the world lives here? / And why?” (Earth is seen as a distant blue marble.) Some of Ellis’ chosen depictions, oddly juxtaposed and stripped of any historical or cultural context due to the stylized design and spare text, become stereotypical. “Some homes are boats. / Some homes are wigwams.” A sailing ship’s crew seems poised to land near a trio of men clad in breechcloths—otherwise unidentified and unremarked upon.
Visually accomplished but marred by stereotypical cultural depictions. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-7636-6529-6
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: Nov. 17, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2014
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