- Picture Books
- Ages 3–7
- Nature
Leaves
A luminous, tender picture book in which a wise old tree raises a tiny sapling, using falling leaves as a gentle metaphor for the memories we keep when someone we love is gone.
- Best for3–7
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Lyrical
- Literary
Tone
- Gentle
- Heartwarming
- Bittersweet
- Warm
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
When a wise old tree takes a tiny sapling into his care, they both learn what it means to make memories and put down roots. He keeps her sheltered from storms and shaded from the scorching sun, and, supported by his love, she grows and grows. There is so much to see and to learn: how to appreciate the beauty of the world, how to be strong against the wind but flexible enough to bend. Together they make memories to hold on to forever. But when the old tree's leaves begin to fall, it is time for the sapling to grow up and take her own place in the world, and to learn how to keep hold of what mattered most. Stephen Hogtun's debut picture book is filled with glowing, layered artwork, and it tells a universal story about intergenerational love, letting go and the circle of life. Gentle enough for the very young and moving enough for the adults reading aloud, it is a beautiful, quietly consoling book for talking about growing up and remembering those we have lost.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
Best shared aloud with children of about 3-7, and treasured by the adult reading it. Because the old tree's passing is central, though handled very gently, it suits families ready to touch on memory, change and loss.
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- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 3–7
- Independent · 6–8
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
Preview before sharing if a child is sensitive to: grief, death of character.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
3 / 5 · Mostly fine
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Gentle grief
- Read aloud
- Beautiful art
- Growing up
- Gifting
Avoid if
- Wants action
- Recently bereaved very sensitive
Particularly good for children who are…
- Bereavement
- Pet death
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The little sapling growing tall under the old tree's care is easy for children to follow, and the falling leaves give them a soft, visual way to understand memory and change. The glowing pictures are lovely to pore over.
- Cosy safety
- Having a wise mentor
- Friendship and belonging
Why parents love it
Stephen Hogtun's luminous artwork and lyrical text make this a genuinely moving read-aloud that handles growing up and loss with great tenderness. It gives families a gentle, hopeful way to talk about remembering someone who has gone.
- Beautiful illustrations
- Great writing
- Bedtime appropriate
- Conversation starter
About the author & illustrator
Stephen Hogtun.
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