the Leaf Thief
This is a cute fall story that got a couple genuine laughs from my little one. The illustrations, especially the little animals, pull you in and make you want to relate to the squirrel. They’re pretty good at conveying emotion. It’s a simple story, but also has a few aspects that could potentially spur a fun and/or educational discussion about the fall, the wind, trees, and whatever similar ideas your little one is interested in.
Cautions: The only part of this story we didn’t like is the style of dialogue. It feels very rapid fire, almost argumentative even when no one is arguing. We try not to teach our little one that style of conversation. The story can be read differently than how it is written, but that has to be an intentional choice by the reader.
