A Leaf Can Be . . .

January 9, 2012
Salas explores the many functions a leaf can serve with simple grace. “A leaf is a leaf—/ a bit of a tree./ But when cool days come chasing,/ it can also be a... Lake glider/ Wind rider/ Pile grower/ Hill glow-er/ Frost catcher/ Moth matcher.” Dabija bathes her mixed-media scenes in a fuzzy glow, creating a welcoming environment in every spread. Leaves serve as a “Bat shelter” in a rainforest enclave, and as a “Ground warmer” in a snowy, mint green clearing. Appended notes elaborate upon the poetic descriptions, providing more insight into the integral roles that leaves play in life cycles. Ages 5–8.

March 1, 2012

K-Gr 2-In a simple rhyming text, Salas examines the ways that leaves play a part in our world's ecosystem. They can softly cradle moths, act as a water ladle for animals, shade people and creatures, shelter from the rainfall, provide meals, clean the air, warm the ground, etc. The rhyme is a bit forced at times, but the acrylic-and-ink folk-art-like illustrations are charming and help to balance out that shortcoming. Dabija uses greens and oranges with a smattering of other colors that complement her palette. With a spare text and full-page illustrations, the book has a layout that can be successfully used in storytime presentations. A lovely observation about nature, suitable for a variety of science units or individual sharing.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2012
A leaf's various purposes are contemplated in this gentle celebration of nature. Fresh leaves burst forth in Salas' opening stanza, followed by two- to four-word couplets listing a leaf's many functions. This pattern continues for fall and winter, allowing her rhymed verse to reinforce the cyclical nature of the seasons. What pours forth in free-association-like fashion is sometimes poetic ("Wind rider / Lake glider"), oftentimes purposeful ("Air cleaner / Earth greener") and mostly playful ("Frost catcher / "Moth matcher"). Dabija's soft, ethereal illustrations lend a warmth and vibrancy to the text. Her palette, dictated by the weather, is full of lush greens, sultry browns, golden yellows and dusky blues. Through heavy use of the computer, she layers textures into varied patterns and shapes, giving each illustration an organic feel. While this effect is skillfully used on the backgrounds, it is less effective on the primary objects, leaving people and animals to appear pasted in, rather than integrated into the artwork. Compositionally, the images are nicely designed, but since one does not visually lead to the next, they are more like tableaux than a continuous visual narrative. An addendum explaining the author's word choices (what does she mean by "mouth filler"?) is included, as well as a suggested reading list and glossary. Simple and pleasing, with classroom-discussion and read-aloud appeal. (Picture book. 5-8)

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March 15, 2012
Preschool-G A leaf is a leaf begins this imaginative picture book, which goes on to suggest many other things that a leaf can be: Soft cradle / Water ladle / Sun taker / Food maker. Each two-word phrase has a meaning to be figured out with the help of the artwork. A little knowledge of science is definitely helpful, but those who don't know that a leaf can be, for example, an Air cleaner / Earth greener, the appended section More about Leaves offers a bit of information explaining each concept, as well as a glossary and a short reading list. Most of the phrases are illustrated on single pages, though occasionally they double up or share a spread, such as the dazzling autumn-landscape scene illustrating Pile grower / Hill glow-er. While this poetic text concerns concepts rather than narrative, the changing seasons create an underlying structure. Some of the illustrations, muted in tone, seem magical and mysterious, while others are joyfully, spectacularly colorful. A great read-aloud choice for fall story hours and classroom units on leaves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)