The Fox and the Falling Leaves

Not in condition advertised. The description said “acceptable,” but it was far from the commonly understood definition. The book was dirty, with what looked like food stains and smudges on many of the pages. I usually have luck with this site and will give them another chance. But I’m never buying another book rated “acceptable.”

This is a great book to teach the little ones about the change in seasons (from Fall to Winter). It also teaches about caring for others. My son loved it and the art is really beautiful. Great book!

A change of seasons is in the air. Fletcher the fox doesn't understand and now he's worried. He sees his favorite tree changing colors and losing leaves. What else would a good friend do but try to help? Fletcher tries to save the tree's leaves but they insist on falling to the ground. He tries to catch them and return them to their owner but that doesn't work. Even the other creatures of the forest aren't cooperating. A squirrel is happy to have Fletcher's friend's leaves in his nest. A porcupine is thrilled to have the leaves to help keep him warm. Fletcher feels like he's failing his friend the tree. He only manages to save one leaf and promises to take good care of it. His curiosity over what is happening to his friend and his concern that something is going terribly wrong leads Fletcher back to the tree. What awaits him is something he never expected. Fletcher and the Falling Leaves is an excellent lesson in the change of seasons for children. The illustrations are very unique and resemble beautiful watercolor paintings. The words are easy to follow for young readers. The best part is, it's a great story for parents to read to children of every age and Fletcher's story will surely become a child's favorite.

It's rare that a children's book comes along where both the artwork and the language reach the heights offered up by Fletcher and the Falling Leaves. The story's premise--a young fox attempts to protect his favorite tree from the encroachment of autumn, trying in vain to keep it leaved, literally to the last leaf--could have easily become overly sentimental and cloying. Instead, there is a true sense of sadness and empathy leavened by some wonderfully quirky moments all of which lead to a close that is as satisfying as it is moving. As it is, the story could certainly have stood on its own for plot alone, regardless of language or art. But the artwork is simply sensational, the impressionistic watercolors perfectly matching each page's tone and sentiment, matching the movement of time through day and night, from fall to winter, culminating in perfect pace with the plot in a final illustration of the tree that is simply beautiful. It's a good book for the story, an excellent book for the story plus the art. What makes it a great book, truly a beautiful book, is the language, which never fails to please, to startle, to jostle. The words are sharp and vivid, the rhythm carries you along, and the rhymes and slant rhymes sneak up on you in singular moments of sheer joy in language. The book is a pure clinic in children's picture books as all three elements--plot, art, and language--each alone a superior example, come together to create a whole even greater than its impressive parts. A great book, highly recommended.

This is a beautiful book.Fletcher is a young fox that has noticed the forest is changing as the summer comes to an end.He has a favorite tree.When he sees the way the leaves are changing he thinks that the tree is sick.He does everything he can think of to help the tree keep it's leaves.Of course in the end he can't save the leaves and he goes home very sad with the last leave that was on the tree. The next day he wakes up and goes to his tree and is mesmarized by the sight of the tree.It's beautiful it's covered in icicles and shining in the morning sunlight.He asks the tree if it is okay and the tree in a sense answers him. The wind blows and the tree shakes and the icicles tingle.To Fletcher it sounds like the tree is laughing and he takes this to mean that the tree is alright. The illustrations are wonderful and the last one of the tree with the icicles is fabulous it is done with a type of glitter.Very pretty effect.I very much recommend this book