- Picture Books
- Ages 3–6
- Comedy
The Flower Thief
Book 2 of 4 in The Leaf ThiefView the full series
It's spring, and flowers are appearing everywhere, which naturally leads Squirrel to conclude that someone is planting them illegally. Bird has the real explanation. Squirrel is suspicious. The second Leaf Thief book brings the same winning formula to spring.
- Best for3–6
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Conversational
- Comedic
- Repetitive
- Onomatopoeic
Tone
- Warm
- Funny
- Silly
- Gentle
- Heartwarming
- Whimsical
- Cosy
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
Spring has arrived, and with it an outbreak of flowers. Squirrel is not sure about this. Who is putting flowers everywhere, and why haven't they asked permission? Bird, patiently, tries to explain about seeds and seasons and the general way that spring works. Squirrel remains unconvinced. Alice Hemming returns to the same structure that made The Leaf Thief work so well, the deeply sceptical Squirrel, the long-suffering Bird, the natural phenomenon being misread as a conspiracy, and the spring setting gives it fresh material. The comedy is grounded in the same logic-resistant certainty that characterises the first book, and the educational content (how seeds become flowers, what spring actually means) is woven in with the same light touch. Nicola Slater's illustrations shift the palette to the brighter, warmer tones of the season without losing the expressiveness that makes the characters funny. A confident, enjoyable sequel that works as a standalone if readers haven't encountered The Leaf Thief yet.
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 3–6
- Read aloud · 2–6
- Independent · 5–7
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Very
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Reluctant readers
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
4 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Read aloud performance
- Seasonal book
- Nature education
- Laugh out loud
- Spring book
Avoid if
No common reasons to avoid this one — a rare clean sweep on the sensitivity flags.
Particularly good for children who are…
- Anxiety and worry
- Interested in science
- Making friends
In the classroom
How it works in school.
A funny, gentle read-aloud about the changing seasons and a squirrel's worries — a lovely companion for autumn and seasons topics.
A book children love that happens to support school — never a stand-in for the texts a class is taught with. Reviewed for the classroom · June 2026.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
The specific delight is Squirrel's certainty — flowers suddenly appearing everywhere in spring, Squirrel convinced someone is planting them illegally without permission, Bird patiently trying to explain about seeds. The Leaf Thief sequel for the suspicious-of-spring child.
- Animal companions
- Friendship and belonging
- Trickery and cleverness
- Making a difference
Why parents love it
The Leaf Thief follow-up for spring — same Squirrel logic-resistance, same Bird patience, Nicola Slater's palette warming up to the season. Educational content on seeds and growing woven in lightly. Works standalone if you don't have the first. Reliable seasonal pick.
- Shared humour
- Bedtime appropriate
- Quick to read
- Beautiful illustrations
In the series
The Leaf Thief.
4 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
If you liked this, try…
Lateral matches. Same shelf, different texture.
Come into this from…
Easier or preparing reads — perfect lead-ins.
Where to go next…
Escalation reads — a step up in scale, silliness, or stakes.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
Buy or borrow
Pick up a copy.
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- Waterstones ↗
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- Hive ↗
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