A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 167

Terrific Trio: Book 2

Picture Book: Fletcher and the Falling Leaves                   

Author: Julia Rawlinson

Illustrator: Tiphanie Beeke

Summary: Fletcher, a young fox, loves a particular tree that is beginning to turn brown and lose some leaves. He begins to panic and tells his mom, but she’s not worried. His animal neighbors seem to think the fallen leaves are theirs to use. This confuses Fletcher. He manages to recruit a flock of birds to put some of the leaves back on, but a wind sends the leaves sailing again. Fletcher tries to hold the last leaf in place but to no avail so he takes the leaf home and makes a bed for it. When Fletcher awakes at dawn, it is significantly colder so he checks on his tree and sees that it has been transformed with icicles. It’s more beautiful than ever. “Are you alright?” he asks. The tree shivers in the wind. The tinkling answer of the icicles is comfort enough for Fletcher who hugs his tree and goes back to his den.   

Hanna’s Comments: I think I especially loved this book because the fox seems so human. Fletcher thinks he understands, but he’s panicking for no reason. Also, his need for control is comical. What he dreads is beyond his comprehension and inevitable. Like Fletcher’s concerns, many of my worries are due to my very limited understanding and my desire to fix that which I don’t really understand. Fortunately, Fletcher recognizes the beauty in his tree’s changes and begins to trust that what is happening is as it should be. Like Fletcher, I am learning to trust the Creator more and rely less on my own understanding.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Greenwillow Books, 2001

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 32

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: Audible audio CD, This video is in the collection The Curious Garden and Other Stories. 

PBT Category: Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: acceptance, action, anxiety/worry, beauty, breath/breathing/wind, caring/tending, challenges, change, the environment/nature, fear, flowers/leaves/trees, friends/friendship, intercession, judgment/judges/judging, power, prayer, transformation

Scripture Connections: Trust in the Lord…do not lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5); For everything there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1); Do not be anxious (Matthew 6:25 & Philippians 4:6); Tell me in the morning about your love, because I trust you. (Psalm 143:8)

Idea(s) for Application: This would be a great book when talking with young children about change or worry and how the Holy Scriptures and our faith in God comfort us in these circumstances.